Publications

This policy brief argues that credit ratings are a quasipublic good, and that investors and financial markets regulators need an independent assessment of the creditworthiness of an issuing entity due...chevron_right

This paper analyzes the cooperation established between Slovenian public servants and diplomats and their European counterparts during the 2008 Slovenian presidency. It is based on a survey conducted...chevron_right

This paper reassesses Russia’s military, political, economic and diplomatic power after the 2008 war in South Ossetia. The author argues that the conflict has exposed some of Russia's weaknesses with ...chevron_right

This commentary focuses on the water and energy distribution conflict in Central Asia. The author explains why regional cooperation cannot be effectively promoted through international water law and t...chevron_right

Standard & Poor's has downgraded Greece, Portugal and Spain and has warned Ireland that it might suffer a similar fate. Do I hear this right?chevron_right

This paper discusses pension reforms in Italy and uses a microsimulation model to examine their ability to recover the long-term sustainability of the pension system. It focuses on the introduction of...chevron_right

This paper discusses ways of measuring intra-generational redistribution induced by pension schemes. The authors demonstrate that the Kakwani progressivity index, extended to account for both positive...chevron_right

This paper focuses on retirement behavior in Poland, especially early withdrawal from the labor market. The author explains that the age of retirement is closely related to the legal framework of the ...chevron_right

This paper integrates the projections of the EU's Ageing Working Group with assumptions on the adequacy of pensions in Europe. It describes MIDAS, a dynamic microsimulation model developed for Belgium...chevron_right

This report describes the semi-aggregate model (SAM) developed to deliver aggregate projections of social protection expenditures and semi-aggregate projections of income sources by age class and gend...chevron_right

For the second time in six months a vicious conflict has erupted on the periphery of Europe. And for the second time in six months the EU is struggling to elaborate an effective, joint response.chevron_right

The Czech Republic assumed the rotating Presidency of the European Union on 1 January 2009, following France and as only the second new EU member state after Slovenia to hold the position. It comes at...chevron_right

In the light of the 2009 gas dispute between the Ukraine and Russia this policy brief argues that the problem needs a comprehensive solution. According to the authors, this would be a gas transit cons...chevron_right

This paper addresses fairness opinions in mergers and acquisitions in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The authors examine the determinants of fairness opinions for target firms in various regulatory...chevron_right

This paper identifies and evaluates existing and potential EU energy supply risks on the basis of a sector-specific approach. The authors move away from common generalizations on security of energy su...chevron_right