In the blog post Denmark: Competitiveness challenges we found slow productivity growth as well as high and rising wage costs among the major hurdles for the future of the Danish economy.
What does the National Reform Programme (NRP) tell us about growth-enhancing structural reforms in Denmark?
The Danish Government's NRP in English:
Denmark's National Reform Programme (May 2011; 67 pages)
Employment rate
The more people work, the more they pay taxes and social contributions. This is good for the budget balance, especially when the demand for social benefits decreases when people move into employment. The ”work first” principle of the Swedish government guides decisions not only on taxes and benefits, but practically every aspect of government policy.
The more successful societies seem able to mobilise more talent than the governments in the less competitive countries. Participation by women and real retirement ages are obvious factors, as are youth, people with an immigration background, the unemployed and various marginal groups.
Denmark is well known for its flexicurity model, but the government of the day promised further reforms in order to reach an employment rate of 80 per cent among 20-64 year olds by 2020 (page 14).
Denmark, like some of the other highly competitive EU member states, targets a clearly higher employment rate than the EU2020 headline target of 75 per cent.
According to Eurostat, the Danish employment rate 76.1 per cent already surpassed the EU end goal in 2010.
The European Union as a whole (EU-27), with an employment rate of 68.6 per cent, has a steep climb ahead of it to reach even the 75 per cent target by 2020.
The Danish NPR offers inspiration based on a constant stream of Initiatives to promote labour supply and employment (Box 2.1, pages 15-16).
The NPR of Denmark (page 17) found that the national efforts were in line with the Annual Growth Survey COM(2011) 11 from the European Commission, where the recommendations to mobilise the labour markets and to create job opportunities are found on the pages 5-7.
However, the AGS found that the European Union as a whole was going to miss the much lower headline goal of 75 per cent on existing trends, so there is a great need for effective labour market reforms in the EU member states.
Ralf Grahn
Showing posts with label Eurostat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eurostat. Show all posts
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Monday, 24 May 2010
EU and eurozone membership paradoxes
The Copenhagen criteria for accession to the European Union require, among other things, democracy. Thus, the EU would not qualify for membership.
According to Eurostat, in 2009 the government deficit in the euro area was 6.3 per cent and government debt at 78.7 per cent of GDP.
Following the financial crisis and the economic downturn, which led to huge bail-outs and high unemployment, the eurozone as a whole wildly overshoots the reference values of 3 per cent and 60 per cent of GDP.
Thus, the eurozone as a whole would fail the convergence criteria of the Stability and Growth Pact for euro introduction, based on the figures for last year.
Here are the main Eurostat findings:
Is there any correlation between both sets of membership criteria?
Ralf Grahn
According to Eurostat, in 2009 the government deficit in the euro area was 6.3 per cent and government debt at 78.7 per cent of GDP.
Following the financial crisis and the economic downturn, which led to huge bail-outs and high unemployment, the eurozone as a whole wildly overshoots the reference values of 3 per cent and 60 per cent of GDP.
Thus, the eurozone as a whole would fail the convergence criteria of the Stability and Growth Pact for euro introduction, based on the figures for last year.
Here are the main Eurostat findings:
In 2009 the largest government deficits in percentage of GDP were recorded by Ireland (-14.3%), Greece (-13.6%) the United Kingdom (-11.5%), Spain (-11.2%), Portugal (-9.4%), Latvia (-9.0%), Lithuania (-8.9%), Romania (-8.3%), France (-7.5%) and Poland (-7.1%). No Member State registered a government surplus in 2009. The lowest deficits were recorded by Sweden (-0.5%), Luxembourg (-0.7%) and Estonia (-1.7%). In all, 25 Member States recorded a worsening in their government balance relative to GDP in 2009 compared with 2008, and two (Estonia and Malta) an improvement.
At the end of 2009, the lowest ratios of government debt to GDP were recorded in Estonia (7.2%), Luxembourg (14.5%), Bulgaria (14.8%), Romania (23.7%), Lithuania (29.3%) and the Czech Republic (35.4%). Twelve Member States had government debt ratios higher than 60% of GDP in 2009: Italy (115.8%), Greece (115.1%), Belgium (96.7%), Hungary (78.3%), France (77.6%), Portugal (76.8%), Germany (73.2%), Malta (69.1%), the United Kingdom (68.1%), Austria (66.5%), Ireland (64.0%) and the Netherlands (60.9%).
Is there any correlation between both sets of membership criteria?
Ralf Grahn
Saturday, 4 July 2009
EU: Consumers in Europe 2009
The 2009 edition of the Eurostat publication Consumers in Europe is available at the EU Bookshop.
The abstract of the 382 page Consumers in Europe 2009 offers a view of the contents of this fourth edition, useful for businesses and policy makers:
The 2009 edition of Consumers in Europe presents a comprehensive set of data and related information concerning consumer markets and consumer protection issues within the European Union. The aim of the publication is to bring together the most relevant and useful information for the evaluation and development of consumer policy, not only as a tool for policy-makers, but also for those interested in end-markets and consumer affairs, such as representative organisations, public authorities, or suppliers of goods and services. Much of the data that has been used will feed into the consumer markets scoreboard which has been designed to monitor outcomes in the single market and to make European Union policy in this area more responsive to the expectations and concerns of consumers.
The publication starts with an overview of the single market from the consumer’s perspective, presenting a profi le of European consumers and the retail network, as well as issues relating to access and choice, before looking at key indicators for consumption and prices. The overview also presents information on consumer satisfaction, the quality and safety of goods and services, as well consumer representation and protection.
The remainder of the publication is devoted to 12 specific consumer markets (for example, food and non-alcoholic beverages, housing, transport, or recreation and culture); each chapter covers one top-level heading within the classification of individual consumption by purpose (COICOP), the main classification used to provide detailed data on consumer prices, price levels and consumption expenditure. The chapters are structured in a similar manner to the overview, in an attempt to present harmonised data and a range of key indicators that may be compared across the publication.
***
Consumer policy
The introduction on Consumer policy (from page 11) presents the Commission’s main objectives concerning consumers:
• to empower EU consumers so they make more informed choices and thus boost competition and competitiveness;
• to enhance EU consumers’ welfare in terms of price, choice, quality, diversity, affordability and safety;
• to protect consumers eff ectively from the serious risks and threats that they cannot tackle as individuals.
The publication then presents the principal aims of the EU Consumer Policy Strategy 2007-2013 (COM(2007) 99 final), as well as monitoring and consumer protection.
***
12 consumer markets
After an overview, a considerable part of the publication is devoted to 12 specific consumer markets:
• food and nonalcoholic beverages;
• alcoholic beverages and tobacco;
• clothing and footwear;
• housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels;
• furnishings, household equipment and maintenance;
• health;
• transport;
• communications;
• recreation and culture;
• education; hotels,
• cafes and restaurants;
• miscellaneous goods and services)
Ralf Grahn
The abstract of the 382 page Consumers in Europe 2009 offers a view of the contents of this fourth edition, useful for businesses and policy makers:
The 2009 edition of Consumers in Europe presents a comprehensive set of data and related information concerning consumer markets and consumer protection issues within the European Union. The aim of the publication is to bring together the most relevant and useful information for the evaluation and development of consumer policy, not only as a tool for policy-makers, but also for those interested in end-markets and consumer affairs, such as representative organisations, public authorities, or suppliers of goods and services. Much of the data that has been used will feed into the consumer markets scoreboard which has been designed to monitor outcomes in the single market and to make European Union policy in this area more responsive to the expectations and concerns of consumers.
The publication starts with an overview of the single market from the consumer’s perspective, presenting a profi le of European consumers and the retail network, as well as issues relating to access and choice, before looking at key indicators for consumption and prices. The overview also presents information on consumer satisfaction, the quality and safety of goods and services, as well consumer representation and protection.
The remainder of the publication is devoted to 12 specific consumer markets (for example, food and non-alcoholic beverages, housing, transport, or recreation and culture); each chapter covers one top-level heading within the classification of individual consumption by purpose (COICOP), the main classification used to provide detailed data on consumer prices, price levels and consumption expenditure. The chapters are structured in a similar manner to the overview, in an attempt to present harmonised data and a range of key indicators that may be compared across the publication.
***
Consumer policy
The introduction on Consumer policy (from page 11) presents the Commission’s main objectives concerning consumers:
• to empower EU consumers so they make more informed choices and thus boost competition and competitiveness;
• to enhance EU consumers’ welfare in terms of price, choice, quality, diversity, affordability and safety;
• to protect consumers eff ectively from the serious risks and threats that they cannot tackle as individuals.
The publication then presents the principal aims of the EU Consumer Policy Strategy 2007-2013 (COM(2007) 99 final), as well as monitoring and consumer protection.
***
12 consumer markets
After an overview, a considerable part of the publication is devoted to 12 specific consumer markets:
• food and nonalcoholic beverages;
• alcoholic beverages and tobacco;
• clothing and footwear;
• housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels;
• furnishings, household equipment and maintenance;
• health;
• transport;
• communications;
• recreation and culture;
• education; hotels,
• cafes and restaurants;
• miscellaneous goods and services)
Ralf Grahn
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
European Union: Social situation report
The preambles of existing and future treaties mention economic and social progress among the main reasons for European integration.
The Commission has a treaty obligation to report annually on the achievement of the social policy objectives and on the demographic situation in the European Community (European Union).
We look at the relevant provisions of the current Treaty establishing the European Community and of the Lisbon Treaty.
The latest annual report The social situation in the European Union 2007, published 22 May 2008, calls for social cohesion through equal opportunities. In other words, its message is to invest in people.
Students, researchers and politicians can profit from the report for the benefit of EU citizens.
***
Article 143 TEC
According to Article 143 (ex Article 120) of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) the Commission has the obligation to produce an annual report on the achievement of the social policy objectives of the Community. To these is added the demographic situation of the Community.
The second paragraph entitles the European Parliament to request special reports on social questions.
The current Article 143 TEC, as published in the latest consolidated version of the treaties, OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/110:
Article 143 TEC
The Commission shall draw up a report each year on progress in achieving the objectives of Article 136, including the demographic situation in the Community. It shall forward the report to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee.
The European Parliament may invite the Commission to draw up reports on particular problems concerning the social situation.
***
Social policy objectives
The social policy objectives of the European Community (European Union) mentioned in Article 136 TEC (ex Article 117), in the latest consolidated version of the treaties, OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/103, are:
– promotion of employment
– improved and harmonised living and working conditions
– social protection
– dialogue between management and labour
– development of human resources
– combating exclusion.
Article 143 TEC adds the demographic situation in the Community to the matters to be covered in the report. The European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee are named as recipients of this annual report.
***
More reporting?
Article 145 TEC (ex Article 122) adds the obligation to include a separate chapter on social developments in the Commission’s (general) annual report and mandates the European Parliament to ask for specific reports on social conditions. The second paragraphs of Article 143 and Article 145 are almost identical:
Article 145 TEC
The Commission shall include a separate chapter on social developments within the Community in its annual report to the European Parliament.
The European Parliament may invite the Commission to draw up reports on any particular problems concerning social conditions.
***
Original Lisbon Treaty (ToL)
Article 2, point 120 of the original Treaty of Lisbon (ToL) amends Article 143 TEC (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/82):
120) In Article 143, the second paragraph shall be deleted.
***
Renumbering ToL
The Table of equivalences of the original Treaty of Lisbon tells us that the social policy title was to be renumbered Title X. Article 143 TEC first became Article 143 TFEU (ToL), then then to be renumbered Article 159 TFEU in the consolidated versions of the amending treaties (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/216).
***
Consolidated Lisbon Treaty
Following renumbering of Article and referral, the horizontal amendment replacing ‘Community’ by ‘Union’ and the specific amendment deleting the second paragraph, Article 159 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), appears as follows in the consolidated TFEU, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/118,:
(TITLE X
SOCIAL POLICY)
Article 159 TFEU
(ex Article 143 TEC)
The Commission shall draw up a report each year on progress in achieving the objectives of Article 151, including the demographic situation in the Union. It shall forward the report to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee.
***
The Lisbon Treaty eliminates one of the overlapping second paragraphs concerning particular problems.
***
The social situation in the European Union 2007
The Commission’s (Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities; Eurostat) latest annual social policy report is called The Social Situation in the European Union 2007 – Social Cohesion through Equal Opportunities (published 2008; 199 pages):
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/spsi/docs/social_situation/ssr2007_en.pdf
For a quick take on the findings, you can read the press release issued when the report was published, 22 May 2008 (MEMO/08/326):
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/08/326
***
‘Economic and social progress’ denotes that the European Union is more than an economic community.
Ralf Grahn
The Commission has a treaty obligation to report annually on the achievement of the social policy objectives and on the demographic situation in the European Community (European Union).
We look at the relevant provisions of the current Treaty establishing the European Community and of the Lisbon Treaty.
The latest annual report The social situation in the European Union 2007, published 22 May 2008, calls for social cohesion through equal opportunities. In other words, its message is to invest in people.
Students, researchers and politicians can profit from the report for the benefit of EU citizens.
***
Article 143 TEC
According to Article 143 (ex Article 120) of the Treaty establishing the European Community (TEC) the Commission has the obligation to produce an annual report on the achievement of the social policy objectives of the Community. To these is added the demographic situation of the Community.
The second paragraph entitles the European Parliament to request special reports on social questions.
The current Article 143 TEC, as published in the latest consolidated version of the treaties, OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/110:
Article 143 TEC
The Commission shall draw up a report each year on progress in achieving the objectives of Article 136, including the demographic situation in the Community. It shall forward the report to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee.
The European Parliament may invite the Commission to draw up reports on particular problems concerning the social situation.
***
Social policy objectives
The social policy objectives of the European Community (European Union) mentioned in Article 136 TEC (ex Article 117), in the latest consolidated version of the treaties, OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/103, are:
– promotion of employment
– improved and harmonised living and working conditions
– social protection
– dialogue between management and labour
– development of human resources
– combating exclusion.
Article 143 TEC adds the demographic situation in the Community to the matters to be covered in the report. The European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee are named as recipients of this annual report.
***
More reporting?
Article 145 TEC (ex Article 122) adds the obligation to include a separate chapter on social developments in the Commission’s (general) annual report and mandates the European Parliament to ask for specific reports on social conditions. The second paragraphs of Article 143 and Article 145 are almost identical:
Article 145 TEC
The Commission shall include a separate chapter on social developments within the Community in its annual report to the European Parliament.
The European Parliament may invite the Commission to draw up reports on any particular problems concerning social conditions.
***
Original Lisbon Treaty (ToL)
Article 2, point 120 of the original Treaty of Lisbon (ToL) amends Article 143 TEC (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/82):
120) In Article 143, the second paragraph shall be deleted.
***
Renumbering ToL
The Table of equivalences of the original Treaty of Lisbon tells us that the social policy title was to be renumbered Title X. Article 143 TEC first became Article 143 TFEU (ToL), then then to be renumbered Article 159 TFEU in the consolidated versions of the amending treaties (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/216).
***
Consolidated Lisbon Treaty
Following renumbering of Article and referral, the horizontal amendment replacing ‘Community’ by ‘Union’ and the specific amendment deleting the second paragraph, Article 159 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), appears as follows in the consolidated TFEU, published in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJ 9.5.2008 C 115/118,:
(TITLE X
SOCIAL POLICY)
Article 159 TFEU
(ex Article 143 TEC)
The Commission shall draw up a report each year on progress in achieving the objectives of Article 151, including the demographic situation in the Union. It shall forward the report to the European Parliament, the Council and the Economic and Social Committee.
***
The Lisbon Treaty eliminates one of the overlapping second paragraphs concerning particular problems.
***
The social situation in the European Union 2007
The Commission’s (Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities; Eurostat) latest annual social policy report is called The Social Situation in the European Union 2007 – Social Cohesion through Equal Opportunities (published 2008; 199 pages):
http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/spsi/docs/social_situation/ssr2007_en.pdf
For a quick take on the findings, you can read the press release issued when the report was published, 22 May 2008 (MEMO/08/326):
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/08/326
***
‘Economic and social progress’ denotes that the European Union is more than an economic community.
Ralf Grahn
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