TASC-FEPS Conference 'Reconstructing the European Economy (June 14th)

“Reconstructing the European Economy”
Croke Park Conference Centre, Dublin, Ireland

Registration is still open for the TASC-FEPS conference on 14th June: 'Reconstructing the European Economy'. This is an opportunity to hear progressive economists discussing the current Irish and European situation and proposing alternative solutions.

To register for the free-of-charge event please email Sylvia at sbyrne@tascnet.ie

The Conference is taking place in the Conference Centre, Croke Park (Ash Suite) from 9am to 5.15pm. The entrance is from St. Joseph’s Avenue (Cusack Stand, beside the GAA Museum). Please click here to download a map showing directions.

Reconstructing the European economy will require evidence-based policy making and a willingness to challenge the status quo and prevailing conventions. The annual TASC-FEPS conference is an opportunity to hear progressive, evidence-based ideas on how sustainable economic recovery can be achieved in the European and Irish economies.

The Conference will be opened by Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr Pat Rabbitte TD.

Confirmed speakers include: Mr Lars Andersen (ECLM, Denmark); Dr Hannah Bargawi (SOAS, University of London); Professor Malcolm Sawyer (Leeds University); Dr Susan Newman (ISS, Netherlands), Professor Terry McKinley (SOAS), Ms Noelle O’Connell (European Movement Ireland), Dr Stephen Kinsella (University of Limerick) and Professor David Jacobson (DCU). The afternoon keynote address will be given by Professor John Weeks, Professor Emeritus and Senior Researcher at CDPR, University of London.

Context
The European economy remains in crisis. Unemployment in the Euro zone has reached a record high of 12 per cent. Almost one third of Euro zone member states have already been forced into official bail-out programmes, while other member states’ economies remain enfeebled. The financial sector remains dysfunctional and the Euro zone itself is characterised by structural competitiveness imbalances and widely diverging economic prospects. The economic crisis is a systemic crisis that requires systematic solutions. The official response to the crisis has been insufficient and often incoherent. The current responses have been preventive and reactive rather than building the institutional and economic foundations of a system that would put Europe on a different developmental trajectory where job creation and equitable growth takes centre stage.

A Europe facing the prospect of stagnation and high unemployment needs innovation and reindustrialisation from modern evidence-based industrial policy together with alternative macroeconomic policies. Likewise, the institutions of the Euro zone proved to be inadequate to deal with the scale of the catastrophe in Europe’s financial institutions, and inadequate to prevent the explosion of public and private debt. Fundamental changes to ECB and Euro zone rules may be required if the currency is to assist job growth and a strong European economy in future. Design flaws must be rectified.

The quality of the economic policy debate must be strengthened at national and European level. Reconstructing the European economy will need evidence-based policy making and a willingness to challenge the status quo and prevailing conventions. The annual TASC-FEPS conference is an opportunity to hear progressive, evidence-based ideas on how sustainable economic recovery can be achieved in the European and Irish economies.