The Economic Crisis and its Aftermath in the Nordic and Baltic Countries

The Economic Crisis and its Aftermath in the Nordic and Baltic Countries
Author: Hilmar Hilmarsson
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 251
Release: 2018-09-25
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1351046810

The Nordic-Baltic region has become highly integrated. The Nordic countries have been successful in balancing competitiveness and economic growth with social inclusiveness, while the Baltic States have grown economically but remain vulnerable with weak social systems and highly unequal income distribution. European Union (EU) membership and inter-linkages with the continental Nordic banking systems appear to have affected the 2008/09 crisis response of the Baltic States. In spite of their strengths, including their social systems, continental Nordic states are faced with a challenging mix of large, cross-border banks and highly indebted households at a time of rather weak global growth. The Baltic States are challenged by slow economic growth post-crisis, security concerns, and large-scale outward migration of the youngest and most highly educated people. It is now a decade since the Baltic States were hit by the global crisis. It is time to take stock of their progress and assess their relations with other countries in the region and with the EU. This book focuses on the Baltics and their Nordic partners pre- and post-crisis: successes, failures, lessons learned, and future challenges, examining and comparing the crisis response of these various small states that enjoy different income levels, operate different welfare and tax systems, and seek different levels of integration with the EU.

The Nordic, Baltic and Visegrád Small Powers in Europe

The Nordic, Baltic and Visegrád Small Powers in Europe
Author: Hilmar Þór Hilmarsson
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 195
Release: 2023-03-10
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 100085213X

This volume addresses and seeks to answer a number of questions on the current issues facing small states/powers in Europe. How can small European states survive and prosper within a multipolar world of great powers? What part should small states take in European integration? Are EU fiscal and monetary policies allowing for Keynesian economic stimulus when needed and are euro area convergence criteria viable as the world recovers from the COVID-19 crisis? Are small state alliances within the EU useful to counterbalance the influence of the larger EU member states? How far should EU and NATO expansion go? Should it include countries such as Ukraine? Can the EU rely on US leadership of NATO for its security? How should small states relate to great powers seeking to influence Europe, most notably the US, the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation? Do smaller states need to choose a single ally among the major powers? Using an interdisciplinary approach, the author discusses issues of economic policy, international relations and politics, economic and political integration, as well as the effects of global and regional institutions, and priorities in bilateral development cooperation, demonstrating how policies are shaped by the interaction between small states (small powers) and large states (great powers).

Japan and the Growth-Equity-Small Government Impossible Triangle

Japan and the Growth-Equity-Small Government Impossible Triangle
Author: Jun Saito
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 262
Release: 2024-03-05
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1003856918

This volume examines and analyzes the current situation of, and the future prospects for, the Japanese economy, particularly in the context of inequality. The country's economy is facing the ageing and the shrinking of its population, both of which will reduce the potential growth rate, which has already become very low. By introducing a new policy framework, namely the `Equity-Growth-Small Government Impossible Triangle', based on reviewing, comparing and contrasting the policies of the United States, the Nordic economies and Japan, the book proposes a policy direction that could be pursued by Japan. If Japan wants to sustain growth while preventing inequality to widen and preserve an egalitarian society, there is no other choice but to further promote globalization and innovation and, at the same time, surrender preserving a small government by reforming itself to become a dynamic and resilient welfare state. The volume will be an invaluable resource for students, professionals and researchers with an interest in economics, inequality, the Japanese economy and comparative economic policies.

The Japanese Economy

The Japanese Economy
Author: Randall Jones
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 439
Release: 2022-05-23
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1000566080

Japan has many unique strengths, but it also faces numerous challenges, many of which are related to population ageing. Rapid demographic change is projected to reduce Japan’s population by one-quarter by 2060 while increasing the share of elderly people from 29% of the total population to 38%, which would be the highest share among advanced countries. This book analyses the Japanese economy and the challenges it faces, and suggests policies to promote wellbeing, high living standards, fiscal sustainability, social inclusion and environmental sustainability. The book’s 24 chapters focus on key aspects of Japan’s economy, including the labour market, innovation, education, women in the workforce, corporate governance, small and medium-sized enterprises, the service sector, agriculture, fiscal and monetary policy, income distribution and policies to address climate change. The volume aims to increase understanding of Japan, the world’s third-largest economy and a key player in the global economy. It will assist policymakers and serve as a resource for academics and students of economics and public policy. As Japan is a front-runner in population ageing, the book’s analysis and policy recommendations are highly relevant to other countries that are, or soon will be, facing similar challenges.

Deficit Politics in the United States

Deficit Politics in the United States
Author: Dennis Ippolito
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 214
Release: 2022-02-22
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1000538990

From the clashes between Federalists and Republicans in the 1790s until today, partisan battles over taxing, spending, and public debt have shaped American political development. These battles were formerly constrained by fiscal norms that mandated balanced budgets and low debt. In his Farewell Address, President George Washington counseled the nation to "cherish public credit" by using "it as sparingly as possible". In the 1980s, however, tax cuts and spending increases created large structural deficits and much higher debt levels. With only a brief interruption in the late 1990s, deficit politics has been a mainstay ever since. Over this period, the Republican Party has passed large tax cuts but failed to retrench the large entitlement programs that continue to raise spending. Likewise, the Democratic Party has expanded the domestic role of government but has abandoned the broad-based taxation it supported in the 1990s. Funding their domestic agenda with matching revenues is now as unappealing for Democrats as entitlement cutbacks are for Republicans, contributing to the current stalemate of Republican tax policy, Democratic spending policy, and soaring deficits and debt. The economic risks this entails are serious, yet an end to the era of deficit politics is nowhere in sight.

Unravelling The Persistence of Dollarization

Unravelling The Persistence of Dollarization
Author: Ia Eradze
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 232
Release: 2023-06-22
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1000719030

This volume engages with the roots, dimensions, and implications of foreign currency domination in states with a national currency. Referred to as unofficial dollarization in literature, this is a worldwide phenomenon among developing countries and has a long history. This monograph provides a political economic analysis of dollarization in Georgia and is structured around three themes: the genesis of dollarization (1991–2003), the persistence of dollarization (2003–12) and the politicization of dollarization (2012–19). The case of Georgia is especially representative of the post-socialist transition states, but also has wider applicability. A high level of dollarization is a significant barrier to economic growth, macroeconomic and political stability, functional monetary policy, as well as social welfare. The Covid-19 crisis and the increasing debt of developing countries in foreign currency exacerbate dollarization-related vulnerabilities for these economies. This book will be of interest to postgraduate students in global/comparative political economy, development economics or transition economies, researchers in monetary sovereignty, central banking, exchange rate policies, currency hierarchy, money, financialization, and policy makers in dollarized countries and global institutions.

The Nordic Banking Crisis

The Nordic Banking Crisis
Author: Mr.Burkhard Drees
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 52
Release: 1998-04-20
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9781557757005

This study examines the banking crises in Finland, Norway and Sweden, which took place in the early 1990s, and draws some policy conclusions from their experiences. One key conclusion is that factors in addition to business cycle effects explain the Nordic countries financial problems. Although the timing of the deregulation in all three countries coincided with a strongly expansionary macroeconomic momentum, the main reasons for the banking crises were the delayed policy responses, the structural characteristics of the financial systems, and the banks inadequate internal risk-management controls.

Challenges to the Welfare State

Challenges to the Welfare State
Author: Aidukaite, Jolanta
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Total Pages: 320
Release: 2021-12-07
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 1839106115

This comprehensive and innovative book demonstrates the dynamics of welfare policies in different socioeconomic settings by providing comparative analyses of the Baltic and Nordic welfare state systems. The book contributes to finding and reflecting upon innovative solutions to common challenges in European welfare states.

Emigration and Its Economic Impact on Eastern Europe

Emigration and Its Economic Impact on Eastern Europe
Author: Mr.Ruben Atoyan
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 48
Release: 2016-07-20
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1498367453

This paper analyses the impact of large and persistent emigration from Eastern European countries over the past 25 years on these countries’ growth and income convergence to advanced Europe. While emigration has likely benefited migrants themselves, the receiving countries and the EU as a whole, its impact on sending countries’ economies has been largely negative. The analysis suggests that labor outflows, particularly of skilled workers, lowered productivity growth, pushed up wages, and slowed growth and income convergence. At the same time, while remittance inflows supported financial deepening, consumption and investment in some countries, they also reduced incentives to work and led to exchange rate appreciations, eroding competiveness. The departure of the young also added to the fiscal pressures of already aging populations in Eastern Europe. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for sending countries to mitigate the negative impact of emigration on their economies, and the EU-wide initiatives that could support these efforts.

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania: Country Studies

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania: Country Studies
Author: Walter Iwaskiw
Publisher: CreateSpace
Total Pages: 334
Release: 2013-06-13
Genre:
ISBN: 9781490435572

This volume is one in a continuing series of books prepared by the Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress. This volume is about Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.