The Political Economy of the European Union: Institutions, Policy and Economic Growth

This text offers a generic explanation of the political economy of the EU, demonstrating how the present institutional set-up makes it vulnerable to lobbyism, corruption and the destruction of social capital. Svendsen contends that this "EU disease" may be avoided by strengthening the power of the EU Parliament at the expense of the EU Commission. The book also discusses issues surrounding policy design, international negotiations on climate change and renewable energy sources. Using an interdisciplinary framework, the author examines how the contemporary institutional set-up of the EU will determine future economic performance and will adversely affect policy outcomes. He looks at whether fundamental EU policies, such as CAP, are consistent with economic growth or whether these policies will instead distort markets, leading to economic decline. Focusing in detail on international climate negotiations and wind energy, the author explores the way in which the design of a policy proposal can be affected by the interactions between interested groups and the institutions and bureaucrats of the EU.