Can the IMF Save the World?

By: Barry Eichengreen, University of California, Berkeley

Only if the IMF comes up with some new ideas.

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.

Mr Sarkozy and the euro

By: Jean Pisani-Ferry, Bruegel

By attending the eurogroup meeting this week, Nicolas Sarkozy was above all making a political statement. After a decade of conspicuous absence by the heads of state and government at these meetings, Nicolas Sarkozy clearly intended to start a new chapter. But he lacks credibility. France cannot at the same time plead for a strengthening of the euro area governance and ignore the agreements that have already been reached.

The gentlemen's agreement fails Europe too

By: Wolfgang Münchau

The euro area member states should consolidate their shareholdings at the IMF, currently 23%, reduce the total to 17%, the level of the US, and make the rest available to broaden the shareholder base.

Nine questions about what to expect from Sarkozy's trip to Brussels next week

Here are nine questions and answers about what might or might not happen next week when Nicholas Sarkozy, the French president, addresses the Ecofin meeting.

Sarkozy jeopardises the future of the euro area

By: Wolfgang Münchau

Germany is heading for a balanced budget by 2011. France is heading for a fiscal shock. An old conflict is re-emerging, and it could prove highly destabilising for the euro area in the medium term.