The ECB and the Fed

By: Charles Wyplosz, Graduate Institute of International Studies

Facing different situations, the Fed and the ECB muddle through, each in its own way.

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.

The case for adapting the policy framework in the euro area

By: Jean Pisani-Ferry, André Sapir and Alan Ahearne

Financial market turbulence, an appreciating euro, inflation pressures and a slowing economy pose serious challenges for the euro area. At a time when euro area member states increasingly pursue national strategies, there is growing doubt about the euro area’s ability to meet these challenges. A report by the think tank Bruegel published last week provides a blueprint of how to improve the policy making system. Eurointelligence has asked three of the authors – all regular contributors to our EMU Monitor - to outline the main issues. Their main message is that the maintenance of a learning mindset and a willingness to adapt the policy framework in light of the experience gained is crucial to the long term success of the euro.

Who is Henri Guaino?

President Sarkozy's European advisor is either stupid or he wants to destroy the euro area - or both.

Eurozone breakup would trigger the mother of all financial crises

By: Barry Eichengreen

Households and firms would shift deposits to other euro-area banks producing a system-wide bank run. Investors would create a bond-market crisis. Here is what the train wreck would look like.

Some thougths about the future of the euro

By: Susanne Mundschenk and Wolfgang Münchau

Forget Italy, or Spain. The real danger to the long-term sustainability of the euro are the continued ideological differences between France and Germany, which have widened since the start of the EMU in 1999.