Redefining
the role of
the state
REDEFINING
THE ROLE OF
THE STATE
For decades, there was a consensus that reducing the role of the state and cutting public debt would generate wealth. This contributed to a chronic underinvestment in education and public infrastructure. New research focuses on establishing when and how governments need to intervene to better contribute to long-term prosperity and to stabilize rather than aggravate economic fluctuations.
LATEST NEWS
Good money - A question of political will? With Philippa Sigl-Glöckner and Stefan Kolev
Good money - A question of political will? With Philippa Sigl-Glöckner and Stefan Kolev
KNOWLEDGE BASE
REDEFINING
THE ROLE OF
THE STATE
The Challenge
Decaying infrastructure and a lack of investment in education and innovation expose the weaknesses of an overly market-driven paradigm.
What went wrong
Reducing the role of the state in the economy was seen as the best way to ensure high levels of growth.
New Economy in Progress
The challenges of our time require us to rethink the role of the state and the need for a more active fiscal policy.
5 POSSIBLE WAYS THAT ARE DISCUSSED TO REDEFINE THE ROLE OF THE STATE
THE STEEP DECLINE IN NET PUBLIC INVESTMENT
Controversy over rent cap
What are the current economic debates on housing? A brief overview of the most important points of contention.
Makronom Series on the Relationship between the Market and the State in the Post-Corona Age
COVID19 and the climate crises, growing inequality and financial market stability: almost everywhere, the relationship between markets and governments needs to be re-examined. A review of the series in the online magazine Makronom.
Stephan Weil on the challenges for the automotive location Lower Saxony
At our recent seminar on the transformation of the German car industry, the Minister President of Lower Saxony talked about the implications of the transformation of the German car industry for the Volkswagen region and the state government's contribution.
A Debt Brake for the 21st Century
In a newly published piece on Makronom, Philippa Sigl-Glöckner lays out her formula for a reform of the German debt brake.
Mariana Mazzucato & Rainer Kattel in the FAZ: "The State must do better"
In a guest article for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, Mariana Mazzucato and Rainer Kattel plead not for more or less state, but for a better one.
New Economy Working Paper - Challenge-driven economic policy - A new framework for Germany
A new study by Mariana Mazzucato and her team from the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose at University College London
New Economy Working Paper out – A new paradigm for Germany’s fiscal policy after Corona
A new study by Michael Hüther (IW Köln) and Jens Südekum (DICE) looks into the past and the future of the German debt brake.
Toward a New Fiscal Constitution
Mariana Mazzucato and Robert Skidelsky call for a new and mission-oriented fiscal constitution. They advocate for new indicators and the implementation of Job Guarantee Programmes.
An Investment Agenda for Germany
The association of German employers (BDI) and the German trade unions (DGB) have called for an increase of investment spending of almost €500bn over the next ten years.
The Macroeconomic Effects of Public Investment: Evidence from Advanced Economies
Abiad, Furceri and Topalova find that increased public infrastructure investment raises output in both the short and long term, particularly during periods of economic weakness. With borrowing costs low, countries with infrastructure needs should boost spending.
Austerity: The history of a Dangerous Idea
Mark Blyth, Oxford University Press, 2013.
OTHER MAIN TOPICS
New Paradigm
NEW PARADIGM
After decades of overly naive market belief, we urgently need new answers to the great challenges of our time. More so, we need a whole new paradigm to guide us. We collect everything about the people and the community who are dealing with the question of a new paradigm and who analyze the historical and present impact of paradigms and narratives – whether in new contributions, performances, books and events.
Remaking
finance
REMAKING
FINANCE
More than a decade after the financial crisis there still seems to be something seriously wrong with the financial system. Financial markets still tend to periodically misprice risk and contribute to boom and bust cycles. A better financial system needs to discourage short-termism and speculative activity, curtail systemic risk and distribute wealth more broadly.
Greening
prosperity
GREENING
PROSPERITY
During the high point of market orthodoxy, economists argued that the most 'efficient' way to combat climate change was to simply let markets determine the price of carbon emissions. Today, there is a growing consensus that prices need to be regulated and that a carbon price on its own might not be enough.
Reducing
inequality
REDUCING
INEQUALITY
The rising gap between rich and poor has become a threat to social cohesion in most rich countries. To reverse this trend it will be crucial to better understand the importance of different drivers of income and wealth inequality.
Innovation Lab
INNOVATION LAB
Do we need a whole new understanding of economic growth? What would be a real alternative? How viable are alternatives to GDP when it comes to measuring prosperity? These and other more fundamental challenges are what this section is about.
Globalization
for all
GLOBALIZATION
FOR ALL
After three decades of poorly managed integration, globalization is threatened by social discontent and the rise of populist forces. A new paradigm will need better ways not only to compensate the groups that have lost, but to distribute the gains more broadly from the start.
Europe
beyond markets
EUROPE
BEYOND MARKETS
The euro was planned during a period in which economic policy making was driven by a deep belief in market liberalism and the near impossibility of systemic financial crises. This belief has been brought into question since the euro crisis, which showed that panics do happen. New thinking needs to focus on developing mechanisms to protect eurozone countries from such panics and to foster economic convergence between members.
Corona Crisis
CORONA CRISIS
The current Corona crisis is probably the worst economic crisis of the post-World War 2 era. Economists are working hard on mitigating the economic effects caused by COVID-19 to prevent a second Great Depression, the break-up of the Eurozone and the end of globalisation. We collect the most important contributions.