ZEW policy briefs

Barely a day goes by without claims of increasing inequality making the headlines. According to a study carried out by Credit Suisse, 0.7 per cent of the world population owns 45 per cent of all wealth. The…

Customised products and services, flexible working arrangements, productivity growth, and increasing prosperity – these are just some of the advantages promised by a digitised and connected economy. Business…

The experiences of the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe highlight the failures of the current model of having the EU and its members states share responsibility for asylum policies. Based on standard criteria of…

Even in situations of uncertainty, early and credible commitments like "intended nationally determined contributions" (INDCs) serve as important signals for future climate cooperation. Given that situations and…

Over the past five years, the euro area's fiscal rules have been reformed and extended. It is not clear, however, whether these changes have been effective at boosting fiscal prudence, and whether they go far…

Fighting cartels is a major priority of EU competition policy. Acting in concert with national com¬petition authorities in the EU, the European Commission (EC) has made considerable efforts to promote…

The debate about reforms of the EU budget and the system of own resources has a long history. Many reform proposals have been made. Some of them are restricted to marginal adjustments of the existing system,…

Encouraging private investment in the EU is currently a primary goal of the European Commission. However, the effectiveness of public policies to stimulate private investment – such as a European Fund for…