Topics
Bruegel researchers tackle a range of economic topics and issues, grouped across wider topics which cover the breadth of our expertise.
Through publications, events, social media, and a lively blog, Bruegel has carved a unique discussion space for everyone interested in improving the quality of economic policy. Through a dual focus on analysis and impact, and dynamic relationships with policymakers at every governance level, it has also established itself as a vibrant laboratory for economic policies.
Explore some of the hot topics in economic policy below:
Climate change
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.
How can the European Union adapt to climate change?
A stronger adaptation governance framework would benefit adaptation efforts.
Energy
Europe Needs a Grand Bargain on Energy
Why a “Go It Alone” Approach Will Leave Countries in the Cold This Winter
Europe needs energy solidarity — not a North-South rift
The bloc must urgently implement a compensation scheme to prevent Putin from dividing member countries.
An individual tax on fuel consumption is an effective, flexible and sustainable solution to combat inflation
COVID-19
COVID-19 in the European Union: health impacts and effects on economic activity
What matters when it comes to managing the pandemic is to prevent intensive-care admissions and deaths arising from COVID-19.
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.
Ukraine
Ukraine and what it means for European Union enlargement
The real issue for EU leaders when they discuss Ukraine’s application at a 23-24 June summit and beyond, is what kind of club the EU should be.
Xi, Biden switching strategies for dominance
The US now sees Asia more through an economic lens, while China shifts toward a security focus
Does the war in Ukraine call for a new Next Generation EU?
The European Union should take significant economic measures in response to the war in Ukraine, but a new Next Generation EU is not needed yet.
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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