Donato Ndongo | The Old Continent will soon be the continent of the old. With families ever less structure and birth rates falling, we should ask if countries without children and with single person households have a future.
Shaun Riordan | The currency markets seem to have given the Turkish Lira a temporary respite. But the underlying problems remain the same: an unsustainable current account deficit; excessive dependence on foreign currency denominated (especially dollar denominated) debt; and high inflation.
Israel Rafalovich (Brussels) | A rise in Unfair Trade Practices in the EU detailing 46 ongoing investigations for unfair commercial practices in 2017 the EU Commission reported in its annual report.
Obsessed by minor issues, Europe forgets the important thing. If it really wants to avoid a repetition of the banking crisis, it should apply itself to guaranteeing high and sustainable growth, as well as introducing solid cushions of own funds for hard times and a more efficient preventive supervision. However, reducing the problems of the Eurozone to no more than the health of the banks is an exercise in short sightedness.
Israel Rafalovich | During a meeting on Friday in Brussels between the European Commission and the Spanish government both sides decided to continue the dialogue and cooperation on migration and especially in regard to the challenges Spain face because of the increased migration pressure along the Western Mediterranean route.
When an economy or area is jostled from monetary equilibrium, underlying “problems” show up. In this case, what became evident from lack of “integration” was the current account “imbalances” between the “core” and “periphery”.Using Germany and Spain as “representative agents” for the “core” and “periphery”, respectively, we get a good handle on the lack of integration.
Israel Rafalovich | French President Emanuel Macron met with two southern allies, Spain and Portugal in his attempt to overhaul the European Union while Spain and Portugal are trying to get French help to connect the countries energy grids to Europe.
Trump is contagious. The President of Bavaria, Markus Söder, and the conservative Interior Minister, Horst Seehofer, both Social Christians, have found the magic recipe of Germany first politics to defend their coalition’s -CSU is the partner of Merkel’s CDU in Berlin- absolute majority in the next state elections in the region in October.
The French football team was proclaimed FIFA World Cup Champion two weeks ago in Moscow. Far for the epic victory- we all witnessed PM Emmanuelle Macron’s euphoria- Philippe Wächter, Chief Economist, Ostrum AM wonders in a note to investors whether a football win could propel France into the leading position in Europe in terms of growth too. And looking to the euro area at large – whether it could make up for Germany’s defeat in the early stages of the competition and Spain’s poor performance.
Six years ago in London, Mario Draghi made the famous pledge that the ECB would do “whatever it takes” to maintain the unity of the Eurozone. This speech marked an important turning point in the crisis. For economists at DWS, “it is time to remember the hidden costs of saving the Eurozone.”