Incentivising structural reforms in Europe? A blueprint for the European Commission’s Reform Support Programme

How can a faster implementation of structural reforms fostering the process of economic convergence in Europe be achieved? In our latest policy brief, EconPol researchers discuss the rationale and potential adverse effects of providing financial incentives for structural reforms and present a proposal of national convergence roadmaps. Although these proposals deviate from the Commission proposal in some key dimensions, they reflect the fact that ensuring progress towards convergence targets is primarily a responsibility of the individual member states - not of the EU or European institutions and bodies like the European Commission and the Eurogroup.

Publication: Mathias Dolls, Clemens Fuest, Carla Krolage, Florian Neumeier and Daniel Stöhlker: Incentivising structural reforms in Europe? A blueprint for the European Commission’s Reform Support Programme, EconPol Policy Brief 14, February 2019.

Press release: Eurozone budget: Member states should be responsible for structural reforms in Europe, but targeted incentives may foster convergence and competitiveness