Growth and income distribution in an integrated Europe : does EMU make a difference? : 4th Annual Research Conference, 11-12 October 2007

The 4th DG ECFIN Annual Research Conference was held on 11-12 October 2007 in Brussels, with over 100 participants. The theme was 'Growth and income distribution in an integrated Europe: does EMU make a difference?'. The choice of topic for the conference was inspired by growing concern about inequality in Europe. There appears to be a growing perception, not only in Europe but also in the US, that prosperity has been fairly unevenly distributed, resulting in a widening gap between rich and poor and a squeezing of the middle classes. This concern was addressed in four sessions followed by a panel discussion: 'The economics of distribution and growth: recent issues and experience'; 'Distribution and growth in Europe: the empirical evidence'; 'Does the euro make a difference?'; 'Is Europe different?: economic integration, globalisation and distribution'. While a great deal of evidence was presented suggesting that differences do exist in measured inequality across countries and over time, there was no clear support for the popular view that inequality has been sharply increasing in continental Europe.