Positioning of the programmes
The general structure
Requirements

Social Economics

Internships

Double degree programme
Outside contacts
Job market perspectives

European Economic Policy

European Economic Policy is concerned with the economic problems and challenges faced by the European Union (EU). A first challenge is to define an optimal fiscal and monetary policy for the euro area. Currently, monetary policy is dominated by anti-inflation policies of the European Central Bank (ECB), while fiscal policy is decentralized but restricted in the stability and growth pact (SGP). Does this policy minimize the variability in output and employment? What have been policy responses to economic shocks so far? On the other hand, despite the rapid development of the European Monetary Union (EMU) area, capital and banking markets are far from integrated. Why is this? What are the consequences for the European financial markets? Note that this monetary policy is not only relevant for the Euro zone because new members must have pegged their exchange rates to the Euro for at least two years and depend on the monetary policy of the ECB as well. Second, since the publication of the Sapir-report and the Lisbon agenda, labour-market reforms have gained much attention in the member states. What reforms are needed and are there still possibilities for different labour-market institutions within the various countries of the EU? How will labour markets of new member states be integrated in the EU? Can we isolate labour-market reforms from capital-market reforms? Third, increasing globalization and rapid development of the Asian economies, in particular China and India have made clear that Europe is currently one of three economic superpowers. The economic relationship between the EU, the United States and Asia in a globalizing world is another area of investigation. Areas of interest are migration of labour and brain drain, capital and technology flows, exchange rate policies, international trade policies, the common agricultural policy (CAP), and sustainable development.

For a more detailed programme see Programme EEP

The European Economic Policy programme

In four consecutive blocks we explore the four “internal” policy fields: monetary policy, policies concerning sustainable economic growth, fiscal policy, and labour-market policies. Moreover, since the aim of the programme is to train students to analyse and judge economic problems and economic research, the programme starts with a course in economic policy research. Below the scheme for EEP starting in September is shown, the programme also starts in february. The contents of the blocks are described in more detail under each link in the scheme The thesis and internship are discussed elsewhere. 

Note that the track offers an in-depth and specialized programme: we offer 5 courses, of which three are compulsory and 2 are recommended choices. On the other hand, the set-up is flexible and enables to closely relate teaching to actual developments in the European economy. This flexibility is reached because the courses focus on policy themes more so than on specific topics. In each course a specific policy report from the EU on the topic at hand is the starting point of the study activities. The course therefore has an up-to-date focus. For example, in one year the relation between the monetary policy of the FED and ECB might be a central theme. Then Taylor rules and inflation targeting need to be discussed in-depth. In another year the effects of monetary policy in the various EMU countries might be a policy issue for the EU. Now monetary transmission mechanisms and integration of financial markets must be stressed in the course. It goes without saying that all courses are based on advanced textbook material as well as journal articles.

Its strong specialization enables us to make a coherent programme. For, basically all policy fields are closely related and in particular when discussing long term policies and the relations between the EU and the outside world a number of these relations must be incorporated in the discussion. For that reason we have a lot of contacts with the field.

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