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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Policy brief
02 February 2021
The geopolitics of the European Green Deal
The Green Deal will redefine Europe’s global policy priorities; as such, it is a foreign policy development with profound geopolitical consequences
Policy brief
27 January 2021
The nonsense of Next Generation EU net balance calculations
Estimates of payments countries will receive from the Next Generation EU instrument can be made with some degree of precision. But estimating countrie
Working paper
26 January 2021
Platform mergers and antitrust
This paper sets out a framework for addressing competition concerns arising from acquisitions in big platform ecosystems.
Policy brief
21 January 2021
Economic Crisis in the Middle East and North Africa
In the 2010s, the economic outlook of the countries in the Middle East and North Africa region deteriorated, with numerous long-term socio-economic an
Policy brief
06 January 2021
The productivity paradox: policy lessons from MICROPROD
The objective of MICROPROD, an EU-wide research project that runs until the end of 2021, is to understand what is driving the current productivity slo
Policy brief
21 December 2020
Deglobalisation in the context of United States-China decoupling
After decades of increasing globalisation, there now seems to be a slowing, or even a turn to deglobalisation, meaning decelerating trade and investme
Book
17 December 2020
A green industrial policy for Europe
This Blueprint examines how the European Union can develop a coherent green industrial policy that will serve the goals of the European Green Deal.
Working paper
26 November 2020
Understanding the European Union’s regional potential in low-carbon technologies
This research identifies existing and potential specialisation in green technologies in European Union regions, and proposes an approach to identify p
Policy brief
26 November 2020
Green certificates: a better version of green bonds
"The current design of green bonds means they aren't fulfilling their potential. We propose an alternative: issuance of regular bonds with attached gr
Working paper
23 November 2020
Digital platforms and antitrust
The market power of online platforms raises concerns that they may engage in anti-competitive practices, but traditional (ex-post) antitrust intervent
Policy brief
27 October 2020
European Union recovery funds: strings attached, but not tied up in knots
Ensuring effective recovery spending is a high-stakes challenge for the European Union, with the potential for derailment because of fuzzy objectives
Working paper
19 October 2020
The economic growth and income distribution implications of public spending and tax decisions
European Union countries can reduce inequality of opportunity through public spending and tax decisions. Broadly, the most effective approach includes
Policy brief
22 September 2020
Why has COVID-19 hit different European Union economies so differently?
All European Union countries are undergoing severe output losses as a consequence of COVID-19, but some have been hurt more than others. Factors poten
Policy brief
17 September 2020
Emerging Europe and the capital markets union
The European Union's capital market union needs a revamp because of Brexit and the deep recession, and to underpin the European Green Deal. In particu
Policy brief
11 September 2020
Financing the European Union: New Context, New Responses
With the European Union for the first time taking on debt to help finance the economic recovery from the coronavirus, new resources are needed to fund
Policy brief
08 July 2020
Greening the recovery by greening the fiscal consolidation
In the wake of COVID-19, some economic recovery policies will help green the economy – for example, energy renovation of buildings. But there are limi