Economy & Business

Who Is Really Leading the EU?

By Ulrike Guérot, World Politics Review

From Ulrike Guérot, World Politics Review:  Throughout the European Union’s sovereign debt crisis, the conventional wisdom has portrayed Germany as leading the EU, in particular by imposing its economic policy preferences on the eurozone.

In France, Hollande’s honeymoon period ends

By Edward Cody, the Washington Post

From Edward Cody, the Washington Post:  After a swell of euphoria over President Francois Hollande’s electoral victory in May and a blissful timeout for summer vacation, France is coming to grips with a harsh reality of high unemployment, tax increases and budget cuts imposed by a flat-lining economy and Europe’s perilous debt crisis.

Founding Father of a Federal Europe

By Ben Carliner

Formally, the European Central Bank has but a single mandate – price stability. But as the debt crisis facing the Eurozone has evolved into an existential challenge, the ECB has been pushed into taking on responsibilities far beyond its original raison d’etre.

Germany and China: The New Special Relationship

By Stephan Richter, the Globalist

From Stephan Richter, the Globalist:  Now that the German Chancellor is once again visiting China, accompanied by scores of her top ministers and an outsized contingent of CEOs, the world is beginning to take note.

What if Europe Fails?

By Thomas Wright, the Washington Quarterly

From Thomas Wright, the Washington Quarterly:  Western Europe has been an integral part of the U.S.-led international order since its foundation in the years after World War II.

Canada: Europe needs to do much more

By Rob Gillies, the AP