Europe at the Crossroads

From the beginning, the European Union had a clear objective: to permanently consolidate peace in Europe after two of the bloodiest wars in history. This was supplemented after the fall of communism with a second priority: to become an economic power capable of counterbalancing America's growing dominance. The current state of Europe, however, has sparked a fierce debate on just how well the economy is really doing in comparison to the U.S.--and whether Europe can continue to compete and maintain its generous welfare state.Written by one of Europe's most well-known and respected economists, Europe at the Crossroads analyzes whether the EU is fulfilling its economic and social targets, outlining in a simple and understandable way the main issues facing the EU today and in the future. Drawing upon the recent official data and literature, Guillermo de la Dehesa seeks solutions for Europe by comparing its situation to that of the U.S. and revealing how much more can be achieved in the areas of efficiency, productivity, and innovation.De la Dehesa documents the EU's persistent economic underperformance in recent decades and examines the cause of its slower growth. He then presents a comprehensive blueprint of reforms for increased prosperity and deeper social cohesion, which addresses:The main economic challenge facing both the U.S. and the EU: the impact of aging on public expenditures How to enrich the EU's policy and institutional environments to enhance business conditions for existing firms and new entrepreneurial activities Necessary structural reforms--welfare state, labor and product markets Fostering a knowledge society though increased investments in R&D and higher education The difficulties in implementing the Lisbon Strategy (major strategic goals for improving the EU's economic efficiency) and methods for meeting those challenges Thought-provoking, expertly researched, and brilliantly evaluated, Europe at the Crossroads presents the most informed discussion on the current and future state of Europe's economy.