Grigoris Zarotiadis AUTh ASECU gzarotiaecon auth gr European
- Slides: 9
Grigoris Zarotiadis AUTh; ASECU; gzarotia@econ. auth. gr European Union: a cross-eyed Union
Motivation • “… oh, there is also Europe… but, Europe, has just to decide where to go!”
• In 2008 and 2011 OECD claimed that economic growth in developed countries goes together with a persisting deepening of domestic inequality. The “Growing Unequal” Thesis • 2015 statement: “the gap between rich and poor keeps widening”. Anticipating the derived dysfunctions in the world economy, argues that “less inequality benefits all”.
• Spatial inequality: σ convergence of y in EU 15. European Union: a diverging Union Zarotiadis & Gkagka, Journal of Post. Keynesian Economics, 2013, Vol. 35 No. 04 • Social inequality: adjusted wage share in EU-15.
European Union: a stretched-out Union • A sweater in the size “small” can never fit a heavyweight boxer. If you try it, the result will be to damage the sweater – any preexisting tiny imperfections will end up becoming unmanageable holes. • This is the case of the hasty regional enlargement of a defected unification process, full of imperfections: • Economy biased; • Even more, financially biased; • Lacking of political progress, partly because of the neoliberal obsessions (being either a necessary response to the systemic crisis, or caused by the illusion of Fukuyama).
• Transforming historical European Acquis into “Community Acquis”: European Union: a modified Union • Freedom is being converted in Market Liberalization. • Technocratic Legitimization takes over (Central Bank sovereignty and independence; Institutionalization of automatic mechanisms and independent authorities to control fiscal policy; • EU-summit 9/12/2011: European Stability Mechanism (ESM) decisions require a majority of 85%, yet, of the contributing capitals. • German Chancellor: “We have achieved a breakthrough to a Stability Union. A fiscal union, or stability union as I call it…” • TTIP - negotiating secretly. • Inability of dealing with peripheral crises – refugees crisis as the latest incidence.
• The new-arising bipolarism and the position of European Union: a cross-eyed Union
• Seas of Cooperation and Sustainability (SCS) Plan European Union: looking into the future Blue Economy; Social and Environmental Sustainability; Peace, Security and Safety; Freedom and Respect; Preservation of Diversity / Enhancement of Communication. • Quality over Quantity; De-Commercialization and provision of social goods; Towards a new era of democratically legitimated socioeconomic processes.
Instead of an Epilogue History never stops, but progress is not guaranteed. Either we shape History, or we suffer the lack of Progress.
