Introduction The eurozone has entered an uneasy calm. Inflation across the bloc has stabilized at 2.1 percent, the closest it has come to the European Central Bank’s target in nearly three years. Yet the apparent victory hides a growing weakness. Economic growth has nearly stalled, industrial output is shrinking, and household spending is losing momentum. […]
Introduction The European Central Bank published its new stress test results this week, announcing that European banks remain strong. The tone was calm, the message confident, and the presentation sleek. Yet within hours, markets showed hesitation. The euro fell nearly two percent, and bank stocks lost ground across the continent. While officials in Frankfurt spoke […]
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that Europe’s growing public debt levels should prompt governments to fundamentally rethink their role in delivering essential services to citizens across the European Union. In a statement released on Tuesday, the IMF cautioned that the continent’s debt trajectory could become “unsustainable” or even “explosive” unless urgent economic and […]
Portugal’s economy has entered a slower growth phase, with GDP expanding 3.1 percent compared to previous years of stronger recovery. The moderation signals a shift in the country’s post-pandemic trajectory as tighter fiscal policies across the Eurozone and higher interest rates begin to weigh on domestic demand, investment and consumer confidence. For a nation that […]
Introduction In an attempt to make monetary policy more “relatable, shareable, and emotionally sticky,” the European Central Bank has launched the EuroMeme Toolkit, a digital initiative designed to help economists communicate through viral content. The program, revealed in a surprisingly colorful livestream from Frankfurt, aims to bridge the “engagement gap” between central bankers and citizens […]
IntroductionThe European Central Bank is smiling again. After years of fighting runaway prices, it is now proudly saying that inflation is almost back at its target of two percent. To the public this sounds like a victory story. Policymakers have tamed the beast, restored price stability, and can now sleep easier at night. But to […]
