The journal Intereconomics, published bi-monthly by CEPS and the Leibniz Information Centre for Economics (ZBW), features articles dealing with economic and social policy issues affecting Europe. Each issue contains a Forum section offering an in-depth exploration of a selected topic. All contributions to the Forum section in each issue, as well as the Editorial, are available for free downloading from the CEPS website at the links below (for full content, see www.intereconomics.eu). The July-August 2016 issue develops ideas about a new kind of growth and development strategy for Europe.
Abstract: Beset by an unprecedented combination of challenges including globalisation, demographic shifts, high unemployment and climate change, Europe is in dire need of a new kind of growth and development strategy. The authors make compelling arguments for a socio-ecological transition, in which traditional measures of progress like GDP growth are downplayed in favour of factors such as social inclusion, environmental welfare, high levels of employment and the well-being of European citizens. This article explores some of the issues that must be resolved in order to fully achieve the socio-ecological transition, including the necessary decoupling of non-renewable energy use from GDP growth, the reduction of income and wealth inequalities, and the encouragement of innovation that is not based on fossil fuel technology. The article presents an optimistic path forward for the continent, with practical policy solutions that do not ignore the many obstacles facing a successful transition.
Authors: Steven Blockmans, Brendan O’Leary, Karl Aiginger, Margit Schratzenstaller, Thomas Leoni, Anke Schaffartzik, Dominik Wiedenhofer, Marina Fischer-Kowalski, Reinhilde Veugelers, Arno Behrens
Editorial: Brexit, Globalisation and the Future of the EU
By Steven Blockmans
Forum: A New Strategy for Europe
By Karl Aiginger and Margit Schratzenstaller
Forum: Social Investment as a Perspective on Welfare State Transformation in Europe
By Thomas Leoni
Forum: More Productive, Less Sustainable? On the Need to Consider Material Resource Flows
By Anke Schaffartzik, Dominik Wiedenhofer and Marina Fischer-Kowalski
Forum: Empowering the Green Innovation Machine
By Reinhilde Veugelers
Forum: The Climate Change Impact of Material Use
By Arno Behrens
Letter from America: What May Not Happen in UKexit
By Brendan O’Leary
