European Monetary Union reform preferences of French and German parliamentarians

Abstract

This study analyzes results from an original survey of members of the French and German parliaments (Assemblée Nationale, Sénat and Bundestag) on economic policies and institutions of the Eurozone. We find that French politicians are significantly more supportive of Eurobonds, a European unemployment insurance scheme, and an active monetary policy by the ECB than German politicians. At the same time, there are significant differences along party lines, which are often quantitatively more important than differences in nationality. Leftleaning members of parliaments are in favor of new policy instruments at the European or Eurozone level, but are skeptical about the fiscal constraints of the Fiscal Compact. There is widespread consensus across parties and countries that more investment at national levels is warranted.

Scrutiny or Complacency? Banking Union in the Bundestag and the Assemblée Nationale

“…In line with H1, for the SSM and SRM/SRF, where German public opinion and economic interests were sceptical towards the EU's plans, but public salience was lower, the government parties took on board the interests of stakeholders and argued that these measures clearly should not apply to savings and cooperative banks. This is broadly in line with a survey of the preferences of French and German MPs on reforms to the EMU by Blesse, Boyer, Heinemann, Janeba, and Raj (2019) where French MPs were found to be more strongly in favour of new Eurozone competencies.…”

The Future of the European Fiscal Union: Survey Results from Members of National Parliaments in France, Italy and Germany

“…While net fiscal benefits are an imperfect measure of the benefits from integration, many political debates surround such concepts and these concerns are thus likely to play out in the political arena. Previous research investigating these questions has already found strong support for the role of nationality in determining MP preferences, confirming that German politicians are less integrationist than their French counterparts (Blesse et al, 2019a).…”

“…This amounts to a response rate of 12.7%, which is common among parliamentary surveys (e.g., Blesse et al, 2019aBlesse et al, , 2019bDeschouwer et al, 2014). Table 1 summarizes (RN).…”

Collective Memories on the 2010 European Debt Crisis

“…Blesse et al (2020a) examine preferences of French and German politicians regarding European Monetary Union reforms. On governments' position taking in the 2010 European public debt crisis seeArmingeon and Cranmer (2018).…”