The Moment of Truth for Trump’s Protectionist Policies Is Yet to Come April’s US inflation data will offer the first glimpse of the real impact of the global trade war that the US administration launched on the “Liberation Day”. A commentary by Ignazio Angeloni 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 Policy Brief: Policy and Geopolitics in Disguise? The EU's Anti-Subsidy Investigation Against Chinese Battery Electric Vehicle Imports Industrial Policy: A Policy Brief by Daniel Gros, and Weinian Hu A IEP@BU Working Paper - De-Globalization and Fragmentation Is the world de-globalizing? Is the global economy fragmenting along geopolitical lines? This article provides an overview of the available empirical evidence on de-globalization and fragmentation. A working paper by Italo Colantone 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 The ECB’s Choices in the Face of Trump’s Tariffs The ECB might counterbalance the impact of tariffs by steering the exchange rate, but that would be a mistake. Maintaining a focus on price stability is paramount. 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 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 How to Respond to Trump’s Tariffs: The Role of the Dollar The intrinsic contradictions of Trump’s strategy will strike the United States where it is most vulnerable: inflation and employment. In the ensuing moves of this chess game, it is vital to project both strength and flexibility. 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 Policy Brief n.38 - Skill Overkill: The EU Needs More Than Just More Training While economic theory and empirical evidence on human capital affirm the positive effects of education and training on productivity and economic growth, there is a tendency to treat skills enhancement as a universal remedy for labor market inefficiencies. A Policy Brief by Pietro Galeone 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 IEP@BU Events Brussels 05/05/2025, 11:00 - 05/05/2025, 14:30 A New EU/UK Partnership for a New European Security Era The roundtable will discuss the progress and challenges in building an EU-UK security and defense partnership, focusing on obstacles due to the UK's third-country status, defense industry cooperation, and broader implications for security and economic cooperation. Read more... Zoom Webinar 14/05/2025, 14:30 - 14/05/2025, 15:30 Can We Make Digital Platforms’ Algorithms Less Harmful? How can the EU effectively manage the influence of Big Tech platforms while fostering European digital platforms that better serve societal interests? A policy proposal for a voluntary certification for algorithms and business practices Sala Lettura EGEA, v.le Bligny 22 15/05/2025, 18:00 - 15/05/2025, 19:00 Come garantire la sicurezza in Europa? L’instabilità delle relazioni transatlantiche e il mutamento degli equilibri geo-strategici pongono sfide cruciali all’Unione europea. Quali strategie mettere in atto per la propria difesa? Velodromo Building, room N04 19/05/2025, 14:00 - 19/05/2025, 19:00 Workshop on feasibility and desirability of a European Defense Union The goal is to explore the feasibility and desirability of a European defense union, examining the forms it could take and how it compares to the politically simpler—yet likely ineffective—reinforcement of individual national armies. 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.34 - The IMF and Europe under Trump II The Trump II Administration is likely to throw a wrench in coordination across European states in nearly every forum except one: the IMF and multilateral financial institutions. A Policy Brief by Catherine De Vries, and Sienna Nordquist Policy Brief n.33 - The Technological Paradigm, Stupid European policymakers keep pushing the narrative that boosting AI development is key to European competitiveness. But stakes are much higher, because super-intelligent AI will confer enormous geopolitical leverage to those who control it. A Policy Brief by Giorgio Presidente prev next IEP@BU Fellows Image Carlo Altomonte Member of the Management Council BA in Economics (with major in International Economics) from Università Bocconi. PhD in International Law and Economics from Università Bocconi. MA in... Image Andrea Rurale Fellow Andrea Rurale is a Lecturer at the Department of Marketing at Università Bocconi. At SDA Bocconi, he is the Director of the Master in Arts Management... Image Claudio Tebaldi Fellow Claudio Tebaldi has been an Associate Professor at Bocconi University since 2011. He has held the National Qualification to Full Professorship in Quan... Image 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... Image Massimo Amato Fellow Massimo Amato earned his degree in Economic and Social Sciences and his PhD in Social and Economic History from Università Bocconi. He is researcher i... Image Simone Padoan Fellow Simone Padoan is associate professor at Bocconi University in Milan since 2020. He is reseach fellow at the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate ... Image Daniel Gros IEP@BU Director Daniel Gros is Director of the Institute for European Policymaking @ Bocconi University.Between 2020 and 2022 he was Distinguished Fellow and Member o... Image Giovanni Strampelli Fellow Giovanni Strampelli is Full Professor of Business Law at Bocconi University. Since 2019, he is the Director of the PhD in Legal Studies. He has held v... Image Alessandro Minichilli Fellow Alessandro Minichilli is a Full Professor at the Management & Technology Department of Bocconi University. At SDA Bocconi he is Associat... Image Massimo Morelli Fellow Massimo Morelli is Professor of Political Science and Economics at Bocconi University. He has has been elected Fellow of the Econometric Society – an... Image Lorenzo Lupo Fellow Lorenzo Lupo works on the development and application of natural language processing (text AI) techniques to social and economic issues. Specifically,... Image Laura Bottazzi Fellow Laura Bottazzi is Full Professor of Economics at the University of Bologna. She is a Fellow at the Innocenzo Gasparini Institute for Economic Research... Image Grace Ballor Fellow Grace Ballor studies the historical political economy of contemporary Europe, the role of business in European integration, and the evolution of globa... Image 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... Image Francesco Decarolis Fellow Francesco Decarolis is Full Professor at the Department of Economics, Bocconi University - Milan. His area of research is Industrial Or... Image Franco Bruni Fellow Emeritus Professor, Department of Economics, Bocconi University; President, Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI); Member of the Board ... Image 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... Image Zachary Porreca Fellow Zachary Porreca is a postdoctoral fellow at Bocconi University. He completed his PhD in Economics at West Virginia University in 2023. He is an applie... Image Marcello Messori Non-Resident Fellow Marcello Messori is a part-time professor at the Schuman Centre, European University Institute (EUI), and a member of the EMU-Lab at the same Centre. ... Image Francesco Perrini Fellow Francesco Perrini is currently Associate Dean for Sustainability at SDA Bocconi School of Management, he is also responsible for Diversity, Equity and... prev next IEP@BU Commentaries 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 prev next IEP@BU Report - Rules That Empower A new IEP@BU report analyzes the wave of new tech regulations in Europe and their effects to suggest a series of refinements needed to make them effective in promoting an EU-based tech sector. The report is coordinated by Francesco Decarolis WATCH OUR LATEST EVENT Remote video URL The Acceleration of History: How Europe Can Survive in the New World 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 IEP@BU Newsletter Subscribe to receive IEP@BU updates, and participate in policy discussions Subscribe now We are hiring! We have open opportunities for researchers to collaborate with IEP@BU fellows. OPEN POSITIONS IEP@BU is on Substack Subscribe to the IEP@BU Substack
