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 Covid–19 Pandemic and China’s Economic Slowdown
Any convergence with the U.S. economy will not continue for long.
China protests add to uncertainty for investors
Demonstrations show how the country is struggling to deal with Covid and an easing of lockdowns.
Does inflation hit the poor hardest everywhere?
Low-income households suffer most from high inflation, but in some European Union countries the inflation burden is felt more equally than others.
Xi Jinping’s new smiles got China off the hook at climate talks
Beijing's bandwidth to deliver is shrinking as its economic performance wanes.
Lessons for Europe from China’s quest for semiconductor self-reliance
This paper explores China's quest to become a domestic-demand-driven economy, and the lessons that can be learnt from its quest for self reliance.
Deglobalisation and Protectionism
This paper presents a data-driven examination of whether deglobalisation has happened and whether protectionism was the cause.
Russian foreign trade tracker
Biden, Xi focus on Taiwan and forget about Ukraine
The meet did not seem to offer solutions to the two most pressing problems for the international order.
Lessons from China’s semiconductor technology push
China’s semiconductors push already has lessons for the rest of the world.
Upcoming events
Global cooperation in times of geopolitical strife
How can we build a sustainable system of international cooperation that allows for nations to work together despite their differences?
Book
03 February 2020
Megatrends: Key Forces Forging Our Future
A vision for Europe to prosper and best serve its citizens
Book
28 January 2020
A post-Brexit agreement for research and innovation
This report sets out what the Wellcome Trust and Bruegel have learned from a project to simulate a negotiation process between the UK and EU to create
Policy brief
09 January 2020
Market versus policy Europeanisation: has an imbalance grown over time?
This Policy Contribution tests the hypothesis that an imbalance has grown in Europe over the last few decades because markets have integrated to a gre
Policy brief
18 December 2019
Can EU competition law address market distortions caused by state-controlled enterprises?
The distortive effects that foreign state-owned or state-supported companies can have on European markets and on the European Union’s economic autonom
Working paper
12 December 2019
A new look at net balances in the European Union's next multiannual budget
Whenever the European Union’s budget is discussed, much of the political focus is on net balances – whether countries pay in more than they receive –
Policy brief
11 December 2019
Bridging the divide: new evidence about firms and digitalisation
Small European firms are falling behind in the race to digitalise, but so are their American counterparts.
Policy brief
09 December 2019
The European Union-Russia-China energy triangle
Concern is growing in the European Union that a rapprochement between Russia and China could have negative implications for the EU.
Policy brief
02 December 2019
The next generation of digital currencies: in search of stability
Recent developments have re-opened the debate on the future of money. This Policy Contribution discusses two aspects: the implications of the rise of
Working paper
20 November 2019
The state of China-European Union economic relations
More can be done to capture the untapped trade and investment opportunities that exist between China and the EU. China’s size and dynamism, and its re
Policy brief
19 November 2019
Crisis management for euro-area banks in central Europe
Euro-area bank integration has decreased as post-financial crisis national rules require banks to hold more capital at home. It might be undermined fu
Working paper
18 November 2019
How does China fare on the Russian market? Implications for the European Union
China’s economic ties with Russia are deepening. Meanwhile, Europe remains Russia’s largest trading partner, lender and investor. An analysis of China
Policy brief
05 November 2019
How to make the European Green Deal work
Ursula von der Leyen has proposed a European Green Deal that would make Europe climate neutral by 2050. With this Policy Contribution, the authors pro
Policy brief
10 October 2019
With or without you: are central European countries ready for the euro?
The debate on euro adoption by central European EU countries has intensified in the last years. In this Policy Contribution the author does not review
Policy brief
24 September 2019
The European Union-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement: Prospects and risks
After nearly 20 years of on-off negotiations, the European Union and Mercosur – a customs union covering Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay – in
Working paper
17 September 2019
EU trade policy amid the China-US clash: caught in the crossfire?
What risks face the EU with regard to China’s strategic aims in trade policy and how can the EU respond? The US effort to isolate China poses particul
Policy brief
12 September 2019
Hybrid and cybersecurity threats and the European Union’s financial system
The authors document the rise in hybrid threats and cyber attacks in the European Union. Exploring preparations to increase the resilience of the fina