Philippe Legrain

It’s economically significant and politically beneficial, but it leaves the eurozone’s deeper problems unresolved. Read my latest for Project Syndicate

Eurozone finance ministers have finally agreed a package of measures to respond to the coronavirus crisis. But in the face of an unprecedented medical and economic emergency, it is inadequate. What the eurozone needs is a large, temporary coronavirus Marshall Plan, funded by common debt that the ECB would buy and hold for the foreseeable […]

As Europe faces an unprecedented coronavirus crisis that is so far hitting Italy and Spain particularly hard and is straining the EU to breaking point, an exceptional “corona bond” would provide the fiscal firepower to support stricken businesses and workers and demonstrate European solidarity. If not now, when? Read my latest for Brussels Times My […]

“The eurozone’s trend rate of growth is very low due to poor productivity and dismal demography, so cyclical downturns easily lead to stagnation,” said Philippe Legrain, visiting senior fellow at the London School of Economics. “In addition, monetary policy can’t do much more, while fiscal stimulus is likely to be too little, too late.” Read […]

Does the flagging eurozone need a fiscal boost as well as a monetary one? The debate in policy circles is slowly shifting. I’m quoted right at the start of this excellent analysis piece by Mark John for Reuters. “There is a shift towards talking about stimulus but there is no dramatic leap forward,” said Philippe […]

My latest for Project Syndicate

Is the eurozone heading for recession? How will policymakers react if the slowdown does get worse? And what damage could an economic downturn do to Europe’s already fractious politics? Those pressing questions ought to be at the top of policymakers’ minds in the run-up to the European Parliament elections in May. Read my latest column […]

Angela Merkel’s announcement of her political departure has prompted a predictable response from many quarters: that she was the “steady hand” that held Europe together, and that her “strong and stabilising leadership” will be sorely missed. Nonsense. Merkel’s 13 years in office have involved domestic drift and European decay. She has complacently coasted along, failing to […]

While Europe’s economy has picked up and there is no immediate sign of financial stress, many analysts maintain that reforms are needed to protect the single currency. “Make no mistake, the euro desperately needs revamping,” Philippe Legrain, a former adviser to the European Commission president and a senior visiting fellow at the London School of […]

Germany’s economy is doing fine right now and it finally has a new government. So it’s perhaps understandable that it seems content to coast along. Why mess with an ostensibly winning formula? Steady-as-she-goes, business-as-usual Merkelism seems successful and safe. Yet Germany is actually far more vulnerable than it seems. Europe’s export powerhouse has long been […]

While GDP growth has strengthened, that tells us little about whether societal wellbeing is improving, let alone whether everyone in society is thriving. My latest for Brussels Times tries to provide an answer.

At the University of Amsterdam’s Room for Discussion on 21 September

My wrap-up piece for Project Syndicate

President Macron’s election has created new hope that the eurozone can be fixed. But the optimism is exaggerated, and things might even end up worse off. My column for Brussels Times set out how to actually fix the eurozone.

My letter to the FT

Celebrate Emmanuel Macron’s victory, but beware of pitfalls ahead. Populism is far from dead. My latest column for Project Syndicate

My column for Project Syndicate

I was an expert witness to the House of Lords’ European Union Committee report into completing Europe’s economic and monetary union. In the final report published in May 2016, I am quoted several times. Philippe Legrain… argued, in contrast, that this reduction in Germany’s surplus with the eurozone meant “that it is exporting its capital elsewhere, […]

I was interviewed by Aron Kuthi of Magyar Nemzet, a Hungarian newspaper. Since I don’t read Hungarian and the article isn’t online, I can’t be sure what it says!

My column for Brussels Times