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
The Belt and Road Initiative 2.0 is all about security
How the Belt and Road Initiative has transformed into a geopolitical tool for China.
Is Europe failing on import diversification?
Despite a goal of economic self-reliance, the European Union’s imports are generally sourced from an increasingly limited set of suppliers.
What China’s reopening will mean for the global economy
A timely discussion about the reopening of China after the zero-Covid policy and its implications on the global economy
How should Europe react to the Inflation Reduction Act?
A deep dive into the IRA and its expected impact on the world trade system.
Climate versus trade? Reconciling international subsidy rules with industrial decarbonisation
Environmental subsidies could be justified when emissions taxation is not feasible or is insufficient due to political economy constraints.
Is deglobalisation already happening?
Is the world witnessing a shift away from Hyper-globalisation to Deglobalisation?
The boom, bust and future of China's real estate sector
Is China’s real estate market sustainable?
Global and regional Gini coefficients
Blog post
13 July 2022
Can working solo be good for entrepreneurs?
The self-employed are a diverse group, but they can help us better understand the drivers of well-being at work and help design better policies.
Working paper
12 July 2022
Policy brief
12 July 2022
Policy brief
12 July 2022
An analysis of central bank decision-making
Bank of England MPC celebrates 25 years and we use this occasion to compare its decision-making process to that of the ECB
Blog post
07 July 2022
European Union demand reduction needs to cope with Russian gas cuts
Without Russian gas, the European Union would have to reduce demand by approximately 15%, with big differences between different parts of Europe
Blog post
06 July 2022
Mobilising EU investors to narrow the developing-country climate-finance gap
The EU needs to address through public and private funds the lack of private climate finance to low- and middle-income countries.
Blog post
05 July 2022
How rate increases could impact debt ratios in the euro area’s most-indebted countries
Debt-to-GDP ratios should continue to fall in euro-area countries despite rising interest rates, post 2023 the situation might vary across countries
Working paper
29 June 2022
The role of competition in the transition to climate neutrality
The transition to climate neutrality requires the reallocation of production factors from polluting activities to non-polluting activities.
Blog post
29 June 2022
The implications for public debt of high inflation and monetary tightening
Expected increases in interest rates and reductions in real GDP growth rates will result in relatively small increases in public debt-to-GDP ratios.
Policy brief
28 June 2022
How can the European Union adapt to climate change?
A stronger adaptation governance framework would benefit adaptation efforts.
Blog post
23 June 2022
A new kind of Belt and Road Initiative after the pandemic
The Belt and Road Initiative is turning from infrastructure financing into an instrument for Chinese soft and hard power.
Blog post
22 June 2022
Discretion lets Croatia in but leaves Bulgaria out of the euro area in 2023
Crucial decisions about whether a country can join the euro area depend on questionable discretionary decisions.
Blog post
20 June 2022
A new European tool to deal with unjustified rising spreads
The ECB needs a new tool to prevent the current rise in spreads, triggered by monetary policy tightening, from escalating into a new euro-area crisis.
Working paper
20 June 2022
Measuring macroeconomic uncertainty during the euro’s lifetime
We draw out four indicators of macroeconomic uncertainty, measured over the lifetime of the euro.
Policy brief
16 June 2022
How to make the EU Energy Platform an effective emergency tool
The platform could become an effective emergency tool to safeguard Europe’s gas supply, but policymakers need to address challenges to make it work.
Policy brief
16 June 2022
COVID-19 and the shift to remote work
Hybrid arrangements in which part of the week is spent at the office, and part at home, are likely to become the norm.