Global economy and trade
Explore recurring issues in Europe’s relationship with its extended neighbourhood, and economic relations with China, India and the rest of the world.
The global economy in continues to be affected by the pandemic. However, it is also marked by major geopolitical developments, from President Biden’s inauguration and a revival of the transatlantic relationship, to the continued rivalry with China, with the EU caught in-between these global trends.
Bruegel’s scholars cover the European Union’s increasing assertiveness towards neighbours over the past year, including the external repercussions of the European Green Deal, managing a crisis at its borders, building a future relationship with a former member, strengthening the international role of the euro and tackling a resurgent China.
Recently published and updated
China’s tales of the future
How science fiction is shaping China’s economics, politics and society.
The European Renewal: Making the most of pandemic recovery
COVID-19 remains dangerous, but if Europe can continue its unprecedented fiscal co-operation the crisis could give way to a new era of prosperity.
EU Enlargement in a New Light
A collection of articles compiled following a joint Bruegel-Intereconomics event on EU enlargment.
Euro-dollar parity: beyond symbolism
Lack of certainty that the euro will stay prevents it from a greater international role. Until addressed, the dollar will continue to be hegemon.
What role for China in the global refining crunch?
Despite high prices, China’s substantial spare oil refining capacity remains restricted.
Revisiting Europe’s energy independence
Challenges of an energy independent Europe.
A possible G7 price cap on Russian oil: issues at stake
A price cap on Russian oil might improve the current western sanctions regime, but effectiveness will depend on the west’s willingness
Ukraine and Taiwan on the Biden-Xi chessboard
Overall, Biden and Xi seem to be converging on their strategies for global dominance
A decade of economic policy
Guntram Wolff looks back at the past decade of Bruegel contribution to economic policy in Europe.
Working paper
28 April 2022
Cutting Putin’s energy rent: ‘smart sanctioning’ Russian oil and gas
The most efficient way for Europe to sanction Russian energy would not be an embargo, but the introduction of an import tariff that can be used flexib
Working paper
25 April 2022
The low productivity of European firms: how can policies enhance the allocation of resources?
A summary of the most important policy lessons from research undertaken in the MICROPROD project work package 4, related to the allocation of the fact
Working paper
13 April 2022
Knowledge flows and global value chains
Trade and industrial policy can support productivity growth through global value chains by providing the right legal environment that supports the for
Working paper
11 April 2022
Measuring the intangible economy to address policy challenges
The purpose of the first work package of the MICROPROD project was to improve the firm-level data infrastructure, expand the measurement of intangible
Working paper
05 April 2022
The private sector advances in China: The evolving ownership structures of the largest companies in the Xi Jinping era
This paper documents recent structural changes in China’s corporate landscape, based on company level data, providing a complementary perspective to t
Policy brief
24 March 2022
Better pensions for the European Union’s self-employed
What is the current state of pensions policy in Europe and how are independent workers treated compared with their traditionally employed counterparts
Book
23 February 2022
Greening Europe’s post-COVID-19 recovery
This Blueprint includes some of the Group’s most prominent voices on the different aspects of the multidimensional issue of green recovery.
Policy brief
21 February 2022
Is the post-war trading system ending?
This policy contribution assesses how the trading system has changed over the last five years – roughly coinciding with the start of the Trump adminis
Policy brief
17 February 2022
The failure of global public health governance: a forensic analysis
The emergence of the Omicron variant in November 2021 was a stark reminder of the high overall cost of the persistence globally of extremely unequal a
Policy brief
08 February 2022
Does Europe need a Health Union?
This Policy Contribution assesses the rationale for a Health Union.
Working paper
17 January 2022
The effect of COVID certificates on vaccine uptake, public health, and the economy
An analysis of the incentive effects of COVID certificates on vaccine uptake, health outcomes and the economy.
Policy brief
13 January 2022
Decarbonisation of the energy system
Our analysis highlights that the current national energy and climate plans (NECPs) of EU countries are insufficient to achieve a cost-efficient pathwa
Working paper
23 December 2021
Timely measurement of real effective exchange rates
This paper contributes to the measurement of monthly consumer price index-based real effective exchange rates with two main novelties.
Working paper
16 December 2021
Market power and artificial intelligence work on online labour markets
In this working paper, the authors investigate three alternative but complementary indicators of market power on one of the largest online labour mark
Working paper
13 December 2021
mRNA vaccines: a lucky shot?
How can the background of mRNA technology development help us understand how public vaccine research and development policy can be improved to generat
Policy brief
30 November 2021
What is holding back artificial intelligence adoption in Europe?
To accelerate the roll-out of AI technology across the European Union, policymakers should alleviate constraints to adoption faced by firms, both in t