IEP@BU - Institute for European Policymaking @ Bocconi University

Live Long and Prosper

Allianz and the IEP announce the publication of a new work dedicated to one of the central themes of Europe’s future: the longevity revolution and the rise of the Silver Economy, the major demographic and economic transformation that is reshaping societies, consumption patterns, and production systems.

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What the EU’s Updated Economic Security Doctrine Still Lacks

The absence of any short-term “what to do” in the face of coercive threats from the US and China leaves the EU navigating without a compass. A commentary by Moreno Berdoldi, and Marco Buti

Why Italy Stands Out as Europe’s Growth Laggard

Italy’s economy is set to grow more slowly than almost all its eurozone peers in 2025, with only Austria, Finland and Germany posting weaker figures — although the latter are expected to recover in 2026. A commentay by Lorenzo Bini Smaghi

Policy Brief n.50 - The EU’s Anti-Poverty Strategy: An Evaluation and Next Steps

Recommendations from the Annual IEP@BU Event on Social Policy. A Policy Brief prepared by Pietro Galeone, and Federica Maria Raiti

Why Governments Cannot Seize Central Bank Gold

For the third time in twenty years, the Italian government is attempting to take the Bank of Italy’s reserves. A commentary by Lorenzo Bini Smaghi

How Europeans can go beyond “limiting unpredictability” and respond to the MAGA doctrine

European leaders must draw up their alternative to the MAGA doctrine and drive deeper integration in the EU. A commentary by Catherine De Vries, and Ilke Toygür

What the European Investment Bank Can Do for Europe’s Common Defence

As the EU confronts a harsher geopolitical reality, the bloc’s development bank is being pushed towards a new, riskier role. A commentary by Rosalba Famà

Why Voters Matter More Than Markets

American consumers’ anger over tariff-driven price increases now shapes the Trump administration’s choices more than Wall Street’s reactions. A commentary by Lorenzo Bini Smaghi

IEP@BU Events

Sala Lettura EGEA, v.le Bligny 22, 20122 Milano

15/01/2026, 18:00 - 15/01/2026, 19:00

Come possiamo reagire ai dazi?

Una conversazione con Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, intervistato da Mariangela Pira

Sala Lettura EGEA, v.le Bligny 22, 20122 Milano

26/02/2026, 18:00 - 26/02/2026, 19:00

Si può fermare il declino dell’Europa?

Una conversazione con Pier Carlo Padoan, intervistato da Silvia Merler.

Sala Lettura EGEA, v.le Bligny 22, Milano

19/03/2026, 18:00 - 19/03/2026, 19:00

La diplomazia può fermare le guerre?

Una conversazione con Pasquale Terracciano, intervistato da Mariangela Pira.

Sala Lettura EGEA, v.le Bligny 22, Milano

23/04/2026, 18:00 - 23/04/2026, 19:00

L’Unione europea può resistere senza gli USA?

Una conversazione con Marta Dassù, intervistata da Stefano Feltri

IEP@BU Policy Briefs

Policy Brief n.37 - How To Defend EUkraine: What are the Military Options

European countries should plan for a Peace Enforcement mission and prepare for either Non-Combat Security Assistance and Support or for Mobile Rapid Reaction Force in order to be prepared for a “what if conflict resumes”. A Policy Brief by Andrea Gilli, Mauro Gilli, and Niccolò Petrelli

Policy Brief n.36 - A European Security Fund for Ukraine

A coalition of most EU Member States plus the UK and Norway should create a European Security Fund to provide Ukraine with a reliable source of financing, large enough to substitute the US. A Policy Brief by Daniel Gros

Policy Brief n.35 - Certification of Business Practices and Algorithms of Digital Platforms

Voluntary certification is a novel approach that can restrict the harmful practices of some dominant platforms and motivate and reward emerging platforms that align their practices with the public interest. A Policy Brief by Dovev Lavie, Oreste Pollicino, and Tommaso Valletti

Policy Brief n.41 - Increasing European Productivity, Resiliency, and Defence Production (and How to Pay for It)

To restart growth, the EU needs to focus on productivity and innovation. This does not require hundreds of billions of euros in new expenditure, but rather a sharp focus on the efficiency of existing budgets coupled with innovation-friendly rulemaking. A Policy Brief by Daniel Gros, and Jacob Funk Kirkegaard

Policy Brief n.42 - The European Defense Spending Trilemma

We advocate a phased, reform-oriented, and strategically coherent approach that aligns defense effectiveness with fiscal responsibility and democratic legitimacy. A Policy Brief by Andrea Gilli,and Walter Rauti

Policy Brief n.43 - Green Disclosure: Red Tape or Strategic Tool?

Diluting reporting obligations risks creating uncertainty, weakening Europe’s competitive edge in green innovation, and sending conflicting signals to companies and financial institutions that have already invested heavily in compliance. A Policy Brief by Sylvie Goulard, and Keraron Aure

Policy Brief n.44 - Demography in the new European Commission (2024 - 2029)

At the European Commission level, the diffusion of responsibility in matters of demography creates both challenges and opportunities for policymaking: while it risks fragmentation, it also opens the door to a more integrated and coordinated approach. A Policy Brief by Arnstein Assve, and Elisa Latora.

IEP@BU Fellows

Thomas Le Barbanchon

Fellow

Thomas Le Barbanchon is associate professor of economics at Bocconi. He received a PhD in Economics from Ecole Polytechnique in 2012. Before 2012, he ...

Giorgio Sacerdoti

Fellow

Giorgio Sacerdoti has been Senior Professor since 1 November 2013. Emeritus since 2016. Formerly tenured professor of International Law and Europ...

Carlo Schwarz

Fellow

Carlo Schwarz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Warwick. His research inter...

Federica Genovese

Non-Resident Fellow

Federica Genovese is a Professor at the University of Oxford, Member of the Department of Politics and International Relations and Fellow at...

Giovanni Fattore

Fellow

Giovanni Fattore holds a Degree in Economics and Social Sciences from Università Bocconi, a Master of Science in Health Policy and Management from Har...

Leonardo Borlini

Fellow

M.sc in Economics and Business Administration from Bocconi University (magna cum laude) and M.sc in Law (J.D. equivalent) from the University of Pavia...

Chiara Trabacchi

Non-Resident Fellow

Chiara Trabacchi is a manager within the Climate team of British International Investments, where she leads on the implementation of the organisation’...

Guido Tabellini

Fellow

Guido Tabellini is the Intesa Sanpaolo Chair in Political Economics at Università Bocconi. He was Rector of Università Bocconi from 2008 to 2012 and h...

Cesare Cavallini

Fellow

Cesare Cavallini was born on September 16th, 1966. In 1989 I graduate from Catholic University of Milan with J.D. degree. Since September 2022 he is H...

Luigi Iovino

Fellow

Luigi Iovino is Associate Professor at the Department of Economics at Bocconi University and Research Affiliate at CEPR. He is a Macroeconomist intere...

Romain Svartzman

Fellow

Romain Svartzman is a Research Fellow at Bocconi University’s Institute for European Policymaking (IEP@BU), a Senior Executive Fellow at SDA Bocconi S...

Simon Hix

Non-Resident Fellow

Simon Hix is the Stein Rokkan Chair in Comparative Politics at the European University Institute, in Florence. He is a Fellow of the B...

Alexandros Kentikelenis

Fellow

Alexandros Kentikelenis is associate professor of political economy and sociology at Bocconi’s Department of Social and Political Sciences. His resear...

Catherine De Vries

IEP@BU President

Catherine De Vries is President of the Institute for European Policymaking at Bocconi University. She is passionate about academic service and le...

Eleanor Spaventa

Member of the Management Council

Eleanor Spaventa is Professor of European Union Law at Bocconi Law School, Milan (Italy). She previously worked at the law schools of Durham, Birmingh...

Stefano Micossi

Non-resident Fellow

Stefano Micossi is Advisor on strategies and policies, Assonime, a business association and think tank in Rome and Visiting Fellow at European Univers...

Julian Hinz

Visiting Fellow

Julian Hinz is a Professor of International Economics at Bielefeld University and Head of the Research Group Trade Policy at the Kiel Institute for th...

Ignazio Angeloni

Non-Resident Fellow

Ignazio Angeloni is Senior Policy Fellow at the Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE in Frankfurt e Non Resident Fellow at IEP.In 2019-2022 h...

Simone Lonati

Fellow

Simone Lonati (b. August 21st, 1973 in Brescia, Italy) is Associate Professor of Criminal Procedure at Bocconi University, Milan, where he teaches Ita...

Elena Carletti

Member of the Management Council

Elena Carletti is a Professor of Finance and Dean for Research at Bocconi University, where she also serves in the Executive Committee of the new...

IEP@BU Commentaries

When Will the US Enter Recession?

In his first term, Trump cut taxes before imposing tariffs—this sequencing helped cushion the negative impact of protectionism on US growth. A commentary by Lorenzo Bini Smaghi

Only a Revitalized Social Contract Can Curb Populism’s Rise

Mainstream politicians must ensure that the state can once again be a force for good. This means investing in public service delivery, allowing houses to be built, and reducing administrative burdens. A commentary by Catherine De Vries

How the Euro Could Capitalise on the Dollar’s Waning Dominance

To truly compete on the global stage, the eurozone must mutualise part of its public debt—and build a deeper, more efficient capital market. A commentary by Lorenzo Bini Smaghi.

A Crisis of Confidence in the Dollar Threatens Global Financial Stability

A rise in US Treasury yields would immediately feed through into other countries’ borrowing costs, tightening global financial conditions. A commentary by Lorenzo Bini Smaghi

How Central Banks Can Minimize the Damage of Tariffs

There are immediate liquidity problems, and then the choice between lowering inflation risk or supporting the economy. A commentary by Ignazio Angeloni

In the Name of the French People: The European Consequences of Marine Le Pen’s Conviction

By supporting Marine Le Pen, members of the international nationalist coalition have put partisan solidarity before defending the interests of national taxpayers. A commentary by Sylvie Goulard

Why Trump Cannot Win Against the Federal Reserve

Replacing the Chair is not enough to change monetary policy, as Trump would like — namely, to lower interest rates to boost economic growth. A commentary by Lorenzo Bini Smaghi

European Reaction to Reciprocal Tariffs: How to Benefit from Economic Illiteracy

The advantages of the Trump administration's ‘reciprocal’ tariff structure for the EU industry on the US market are likely to outweigh the direct impact of the 20% tariff that EU exports will now face. A commentary by Daniel Gros

Are Climate Reporting Requirements Hurting European Competitiveness?

Weakening the EU climate corporate reporting in the name of competitiveness, or complementing it with specific measures to mitigate its negative economic impacts? A commentary by Sylvie Goulard, Mélanie Marten, Thomas Rowley, Romain Svartzman

What is the Point of Europe if it Fails to Decide?

Amid Trump’s activism, many accuse Europe of lacking timely and effective decision-making. But distinctions are necessary. A commentary by Lorenzo Bini Smaghi

How Europe Can Prepare for a Post-Truce Ukraine

A peace-enforcement mission, complemented by security assistance, stockpile regeneration, and a dedicated financial framework, would provide the necessary deterrence and resilience against future Russian aggression. A commentary by Andrea Gilli, Mauro Gilli, and Niccolò Petrelli

Why Germany has Shifted its Approach to Europe

A Conversation with Ambassador Luigi Mattiolo, newly appointed as the Italian President of Villa Vigoni by Stefano Feltri

Europe’s Defence Awakening: A High-Stakes Balancing Act

The normalisation of war in political discourse is forcing a renegotiation of the European welfare state, a delicate balancing act that will determine whether defence budgets remain sustainable in the long run. A commentary by Stephanie Hofmann & Catherine E. De Vries

Can EU Digital Competitiveness Survive Global Pressure?

Should China and the US – where major market players are based – manage to sideline Europe in its regulatory isolation, the EU’s influence may wane. A commentary by Marco Bassini

Pan-Regions and Trump’s Imperial Geography

Trump’s ambitions to extend U.S. influence over neighboring countries align with Karl Haushofer’s notorious geopolitical doctrine. A new global order is emerging, and Europe may not be part of it. A commentary by Andrea Colli

Stablecoins and Money: Complementary, Perhaps—But Not the Same

Regulators now face a delicate balancing act: fostering innovation while preserving stability and public confidence—particularly in money as a store of value and a reliable medium of exchange. A commentary by Ignazio Angeloni

Why Subsidising Exporters Means Bankrolling Trump’s Tax Cuts

Propping up EU firms hit by US tariffs with public funds risks taxing Europeans to subsidise American consumption and federal revenues. A commentary by Marcello Messori

Where Europe Stands Tall: The Lesson of Aerospace in a World of US Tariffs

Europe’s exemption from US tariffs in aerospace highlights what the continent lacks elsewhere: unity, scale, and strategy. A commentary by Lorenzo Bini Smaghi.

A new website shows the roll-call votes in European Parliament by MEP, MEP, group, and country, going back to 2004. You can also download the data for free. By Simon Hix and Abdul Noury