Looking for a success in the euro crisis adjustment programs: the case of Portugal

Reis, Ricardo (2015) Looking for a success in the euro crisis adjustment programs: the case of Portugal. CFM discussion paper series (CFM-DP2015-35). Centre For Macroeconomics, London, UK.

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Abstract

Portugal’s adjustment program in 2010-14 under the troika was extensive and aimed at addressing its large debt and anemic growth, so it may serve as a blueprint for reforms in the Eurozone. This paper argues that, conditional on a diagnosis of the underlying problems of the Portuguese economy, the adjustment program failed to deliver in definitely addressing the problems in public finances, but succeeded in leaving promising signs of reform in the structure of the economy. In particular, on the negative side, public debt is still high, primary surpluses improved modestly, and public spending barely fell as the problem of ever-rising pension payments remained unsolved. On the positive side, unemployment fell sharply, exports and the current account balance rose, capital and labor reallocated to more productive and tradable sectors, and the country is growing faster than the EU for the first time in 15 years.

Item Type:	Monograph (Discussion Paper)
Official URL:	http://www.centreformacroeconomics.ac.uk/Home.aspx
Additional Information:	© 2015 The Authors
Divisions:	Centre for Macroeconomics
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory
Date Deposited:	13 Dec 2017 15:12
Last Modified:	16 May 2024 12:08
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/86274

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