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?
Policy brief
11 September 2019
Collective action in a fragmented world
International collective action is in search of a new paradigm. It cannot rely anymore on global binding rules supported by universal institutions. Ne
Book
03 September 2019
Braver, greener, fairer: Memos to the EU leadership 2019-2024
This collected volume, edited by Maria Demertzis and Guntram Wolff, focusing on the most important economic questions at EU level. The memos covering
Book
09 July 2019
Digitalisation and European welfare states
EU policymakers must find answers to pressing questions: if technology has a negative impact on labour income, how will the welfare state be funded? H
Policy brief
08 July 2019
The European Union energy transition: key priorities for the next five years
The new members of the European Parliament and European Commission who start their mandates in 2019 should put in place major policy elements to unlea
Policy brief
04 July 2019
The threats to the European Union’s economic sovereignty
Memo to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The authors describe the current context and the increasing inte
Policy brief
03 July 2019
Preparing for uncertainty
Memo to the president of the European Central Bank. Grégory Claeys, Maria Demertzis and Francesco Papadia present the challenges that the next ECB pre
Policy brief
24 June 2019
Redefining Europe’s economic sovereignty
This Policy Contribution delves into the position of the EU in the current global order. China and the United States increasingly trying to gain geopo
Policy brief
13 June 2019
A strategic agenda for the new EU leadership
Memo to the presidents of the European Commission, Council and Parliament. 'A strategic agenda for the new EU leadership' by Maria Demertzis, André Sa
Working paper
12 June 2019
China and the world trade organisation: towards a better fit
China’s participation in the WTO has been anything but smooth, as its self-proclaimed socialist market economy system has alienated its trading partne
Policy brief
22 May 2019
How to improve European Union cohesion policy for the next decade
This policy contribution investigates the performance of the design, implementation and effectiveness of cohesion policy, the most evaluated EU tool f
Working paper
07 May 2019
Estimating the cost of capital for wind energy investments in Turkey
Wind power represents a key component of Turkey’s national energy strategy. Based on data collected on 138 installations in the country, this paper pr
Working paper
25 April 2019
What drives national implementation of EU policy recommendations?
The authors use a newly-compiled dataset to investigate whether and why European Union countries implement the economic policy recommendations they re
Working paper
08 April 2019
Europe in the midst of China-US strategic competition: What are the European Union's options?
With the trade conflict between the United States and China bringing China-US strategic competition into the open, the European Union faces an urgent
Policy brief
04 April 2019
Promoting sustainable and inclusive growth and convergence in the European Union
This Policy Contribution was written for the Informal ECOFIN Meeting, Bucharest, 5 April 2019. The authors look at the EU’s economic agenda, discussin
Policy brief
27 March 2019
How to make crowdfunding work in Europe
Crowdfunding markets around the world have experienced significant growth rates in recent years, but many questions remain open on their proper design
Policy brief
14 March 2019
The European Union’s response to the trade crisis
The global trading system is under attack on various fronts. In this Policy Contribution, the authors examine the root causes of the current problems,