Bericht

The Euro crisis and the new impossible trinity

The search for solutions to the euro crisis is based on a partial diagnosis that overemphasises the lack of enforcement of existing fiscal rules. Europe's leaders should rather address the euro area's inherent weaknesses revealed by the crisis. At the core of euro-area vulnerability is an impossible trinity of strict no-monetary financing, bank-sovereign interdependence and no co-responsibility for public debt. This Policy Contribution assesses the corresponding three options for reform: a broader European Central Bank (ECB) mandate, the building of a banking federation, and fiscal union with common bonds. None will be easy. The least feasible option is a change to the ECB's mandate; changing market perceptions would require the ECB to credibly commit overwhelming forces, and the ECB is simply not in a position to make such a commitment. The building of a banking federation, meanwhile, involves reforms that are bound to be difficult. Incremental progress is likely, but a breakthrough less so. This leaves fiscal union. It faces major obstacles, but a decision to move in this direction would signal to the markets and ECB a commitment to stronger Economic and Monetary Union. One possibility would be to introduce a limited, experimental scheme through which trust could be rebuilt.

Language
Englisch

Bibliographic citation
Series: Bruegel Policy Contribution ; No. 2012/01

Classification
Wirtschaft
Subject
Geldpolitik
Haushaltskonsolidierung
Internationale wirtschaftspolitische Koordination
Europäische Wirtschafts- und Währungsunion
Eurozone
EU-Staaten

Event
Geistige Schöpfung
(who)
Pisani-Ferry, Jean
Event
Veröffentlichung
(who)
Bruegel
(where)
Brussels
(when)
2012

Handle
Last update
10.03.2025, 11:45 AM CET

Data provider

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Object type

  • Bericht

Associated

  • Pisani-Ferry, Jean
  • Bruegel

Time of origin

  • 2012

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