Can the European Union Contain and Improve Income Inequality?

2021 ◽  
pp. 516-570
Author(s):  
Wiemer Salverda
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Income Inequality ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Earned Income ◽  
Minimum Income ◽  
Strong Focus ◽  
Europe 2020 ◽  
Comprehensive Picture ◽  
Eu Policies

The chapter examines the results of EU-level actions regarding inequalities and their coordination with member countries. A comprehensive picture is drawn of income inequality and poverty for both the average EU country and the European Union as a single entity. Their linkages to the (combined) labour earnings received by households are explored. Contents and instruments of Europe 2020 flagship anti-poverty policymaking are analysed. Lessons are drawn for future EU policies concerning inequality, in particular for the recent European Pillar of Social Rights. As to policy contents, a strong focus on reducing the poverty gap is promoted, supported by introducing a child basic income and an earned income tax credit aimed at offering adequate minimum-income protection. The EU-level itself is addressed and inequality effects of unification scrutinized. Organizationally, a full and equivalent embedding in the dominant mechanism of EU social and economic policy making is advocated.

scholarly journals Can the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy goals be efficient? The challenge for achieving social equality in the European Union

Equilibrium ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Stanickova
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Income Inequality ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Social Inequality ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Social Equality ◽  
Europe 2020 ◽  
Europe 2020 Strategy ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

Research background: Economic crisis hit all the European Union Member States hard, with the impact of crisis varying considerably. The low growth performance in the EU has increased concerns regarding an increasing wage dispersion, income inequality at large, and social exclusion in line with poverty. Inequality should be seen as a cornerstone of both sustainable and inclusive growth under the Europe 2020 Strategy. Social inequality in the EU is a real problem, which hampers sustainable economic growth. Purpose of the article: The purpose of this study is to introduce evaluation of social development convergence and divergence trends between the EU Member States in the context of the Europe 2020 Strategy. The study gives an outline of the issues of the labour market and income disparities and poverty. Policymakers must be clear about what social objectives they are aiming to achieve, therefore special attention is paid to headline national goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy. Methods: The main task of this study is to assess social dimension and inequalities problems in the EU27 by applying Data Envelopment Analysis method, resp. time-series dynamic efficiency analysis in the form of output-oriented Malmquist Productivity Index. This study contains changes of key social equality indicators related to the Europe 2020 Strategy and compares objectives and general outlines of period 2010-2015, as well as the impact on national economics and living conditions. Findings & value added: Results contain elements of typology premises of the EU28 and point to a large diversity in inequality patterns, as the Author observes both increases and decreases in inequality at the EU level. Recent changes in social inequality have been associated with the business cycle, particularly with the accessibility of the labour market and, of course, with income inequality. Additionally, the development challenges are discussed for improvement of the socioeconomic well-being of the EU and to avoid social disparities.

1. An Overview

2020 ◽  
pp. 3-12
Author(s):  
Mark A. Pollack ◽  
Christilla Roederer-Rynning ◽  
Alasdair R. Young
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
European Integration ◽  
Comparative Politics ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Eu Policy ◽  
Eu Policies ◽  
Ongoing Experiment

The European Union represents a remarkable, ongoing experiment in the collective governance of a multinational continent of nearly 450 million citizens and 27 member states. The key aim of this volume is to understand the processes that produce EU policies: that is, the decisions (or non-decisions) by EU public authorities facing choices between alternative courses of public action. We do not advance any single theory of EU policy-making, although we do draw extensively on theories of European integration, international cooperation, comparative politics, and contemporary governance; and we identify five ‘policy modes’ operating across the 15 case study chapters in the volume. This chapter introduces the volume by summarizing our collective approach to understanding policy-making in the EU, identifying the significant developments that have impacted EU policy-making since the seventh edition of this volume, and previewing the case studies and their central findings.

13. The European Commission

2020 ◽  
pp. 238-256
Author(s):  
Simon Bulmer ◽  
Owen Parker ◽  
Ian Bache ◽  
Stephen George ◽  
Charlotte Burns
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
International Relations ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Political Actor ◽  
Member States ◽  
Effective Implementation ◽  
Eu Policies

This chapter examines the European Commission’s functions and structure, along with its role in policy making. The Commission initiates legislation, may act as a mediator, manages some policy areas, is guardian of the Treaties, is a key actor in international relations, and the ‘conscience of the European Union’. The chapter proceeds by discussing the debate on the extent to which the Commission is an autonomous political actor or simply an agent of the member states. Finally, it analyses the increasing challenges faced by the Commission in securing effective implementation of EU policies and its response to concerns over its financial management of EU programmes.

13. The European Commission

2014 ◽  
pp. 231-248
Author(s):  
Ian Bache ◽  
Simon Bulmer ◽  
Stephen George ◽  
Owen Parker
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
International Relations ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Political Actor ◽  
Member States ◽  
Effective Implementation ◽  
Eu Policies

This chapter examines the European Commission’s functions and structure, along with its role in policy making. The Commission initiates legislation, may act as a mediator, manages some policy areas, is guardian of the Treaties, is a key actor in international relations, and the ‘conscience of the European Union’. The chapter proceeds by discussing the debate on the extent to which the Commission is an autonomous political actor or simply an agent of the member states. Finally, it analyses the increasing challenges faced by the Commission in securing effective implementation of EU policies and its response to concerns over its financial management of EU programmes.

Toward Adequate Minimum Incomes

2018 ◽  
pp. 269-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bea Cantillon ◽  
Sarah Marchal ◽  
Chris Luigjes
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Minimum Income ◽  
Social Governance ◽  
Soft Governance ◽  
Europe 2020 ◽  
Europe 2020 Strategy ◽  
Output Indicators

Involvement in poverty reduction at the European Union level remains mainly limited to soft governance initiatives, such as the formulation of nonbinding outcome targets and the monitoring of Member States’ progress toward these targets in the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) Social Inclusion and more recently in the revised European Semester. This chapter asks how to give more bite to European social governance and how to further “socialize” the existing Europe 2020 strategy and the European Semester. It argues that binding input governance in the field of minimum income protection is the place to start. As a first step, the chapter proposes augmenting the so-called auxiliary output indicators with relevant input indicators.

scholarly journals Competitiveness, Emu and Cohesion Experiences in the Past (2000–2013); Assessment of the Present (2014–2020) and Lessons for the Future (2020 and Beyond)

2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-50
Author(s):  
Willem Molle
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Inclusive Growth ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Cohesion Policy ◽  
The Past ◽  
Europe 2020 ◽  
Europe 2020 Strategy ◽  
Eu Policies ◽  
Policy Fields

Abstract The European Union has adopted several strategies to cope with a set of inter-related problems. The best known is the Europe 2020 strategy with its focus on smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Another is fostering balanced macro growth via a strengthening of the EMU. Finally the cohesion policy has to cope with spatial unbalances. The objective of this paper is to highlight the main issues in three policy fields: competitiveness, EMU and cohesion.1 Two scenarios for post 2020 development are described, which show the need for further strengthening of EU policies and of the quality of government at all levels.

scholarly journals Assessment of Research and Development Financing Based on the Strategies in EU: Case of Sweden, Slovakia and Romania

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8628
Author(s):  
Emília Duľová Spišáková ◽  
Barbora Gontkovičová ◽  
Emil Spišák
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Research And Development ◽  
Economic Reform ◽  
The European Union ◽  
2030 Agenda ◽  
Processing Data ◽  
Europe 2020 ◽  
Europe 2020 Strategy ◽  
Long Time ◽  
The Given

Research and development have been of interest to the European Union for a long time. This topic is also underlined in economic reform agendas and plans that have the form of strategies with clearly set targets. The article deals with the issue of financing R&D activities from the perspective of the share of expenditure to GDP, the total amount of funds spent on R&D, the share of expenditure per capita, and the structure of expenditure. The aim is to analyze and compare development in the field of R&D financing in selected countries of the European Union with emphasis on achieving the Europe 2020 target and to point out the expected development of the indicator for the first years of the validity of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. During the processing of the article, mathematical and statistical methods (regression and correlation analysis) were used in addition to standard logic methods intended for processing data and drawing conclusions (synthesis, induction). The final evaluates the achievement of the target in the field of R&D financing in accordance with the target of the Europe 2020 strategy and, using regression, predicts the development of the given indicator for coming years.

scholarly journals BREXIT REFERENDUM OF EUROPEAN UNION

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (01) ◽  
pp. 65-83
Author(s):  
Laode Muhamad Fathun
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Development Policy ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Independent State ◽  
Policy Model ◽  
History Of ◽  
Eu Policies ◽  
Union Policy ◽  
Dominant Actor ◽  
The Eu

This paper describes the phenomenon Brexit or Britain Exit on the future of EU regionalism and its impact on Indonesia. This paper will explain in detail the reason for the emergence of a number of policies Brexit. Brexit event caused much speculation related to Brexit in the European Union. The policy is considered full controversial, some experts say that Brexit in the European Union (EU) showed the independence of Britain as an independent state. Other hand, that Britain is the "ancestor" of the Europeans was struck with the release of the policy, meaning European history can not be separated from the history of Britain. In fact the above reasons that Britain came out associated with independence as an independent state related to EU policies that are too large, as a result of the policy model is very holistic policy while Britain desire is wholistic policy, especially in the economic, political, social and cultural. In addition, the geopolitical location of the EU headquarters in Brussels who also became the dominant actor in a union policy that demands as EU countries have been involved in the formulation of development policy, including controversial is related to the ration immigrants. Other reason is the prestige associated with the currency. Although long since Britain does not fully adopt the EU rules but there is the possibility in the EU currency union can only occur with the assumption that the creation of functional perfect integration.

scholarly journals Acquisition practice prior to commercial use in the European Union

2012 ◽  
pp. 153-158
Author(s):  
Ágnes Barbara Berde
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Research Programme ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Special Role ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Pilot Projects ◽  
Business Innovation ◽  
Innovation Research ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Europe 2020

The target of 3% of GDP spent on R&D by the Lisbon priorities seems to be still far away from the reality in some European countries and at EU level as well. The economic crisis determined the priorities and it makes more complicated to dedicate more budget on Research and Development. New methods, new measures are needed in the European Union. Measures that supporting the demand side of the innovation and generates market-pull affects. The Europe 2020 Innovation Union Flagship Initiative dedicates a special role to precommercial procurement for the upcoming 10 years. Nowadays, there are more and more European countries running pilot projects adapting the American SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) programme.

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