Money market on strike

By: Casper de Vries (Erasmus University Rotterdam) and Jon Danielsson (LSE)

A proposal on how to address information asymmetry.

The case against a Grand Coalition in 2009

By: Wolfgang Münchau

Forget all this hogwash about the responsibility of the cenrtre. Grand coalitions are undemocratic.

Commission warns about centrifugal forces in euro area

Almunia wants to widen the finance ministers’ policy agenda beyond fiscal coordination; Europe is suffering from severe supply shortages of Russian gas; the euro tumbles as market expect interest rates to fall much faster; Germany’s plan to introduce a €100bn fund to help industrial companies through the crisis; the oil price, meanwhile, is back above $50bp.

Two transatlantic policy lessons for crisis management

By: Wolfgang Münchau

This crisis holds two transatlantic lessons. The first, from Sweden, is that governments should recapitalise some, but not all, failing banks. The second is that you need to have a policy in place, and not rely on ad-hoc rescues. This is the euro area's specific problem.

Debunking the Paulson plan

By: Wolfgang Munchau

The Paulson plan raises more questions than it provides answers. This is not just about whether it works, but about its long-term economic effects, the impact on growth, and the future solvency of the US.

European growth : what's to be done

By: Jean Pisani Ferry, Bruegel

Some proposals on how to kick-start the economy.

Two scenarios for the financial crisis

By: Wolfgang Munchau

There are two ways this crisis can development. The financial system will experience a systemic hit, or inflation might rebound. There are circumstances where both can happen.