Summary for non-specialists(81 kB)  

Europe is going through an unprecedented period of fiscal consolidation and structural economic policy reforms. However, reforms undertaken in times of financial market stress may not be politically viable in the long run if they lack the necessary social balance. This paper studies the distributional consequences of European fiscal consolidation and structural reforms and the scope for further reforms. Suggestions for the efficient bundling of reforms are made. The paper also makes suggestions regarding the strategy of international advice to countries which need structural reforms and it discusses the design of international incentives and a possible role for international mediation.