China’s economic reforms have resulted in spectacular growth and poverty reduction. However, China’s institutions look ill-suited to achieve such a result, and they indeed suffer from serious shortcomings. To solve "China puzzle" this paper analyses China’s institution - a regionally...

This paper presents a model of electoral accountability to compare the public finance outcomes under a presidential-congressional and a parliamentary system. In a presidential-congressional system, contrary to a parliamentary system, there are no endogenous incentives for legislative cohesion,...

How and why does distant political and economic history shape the functioning of current institutions? This paper argues that individual values and convictions about the scope of application of norms of good conduct provide the "missing link". Evidence from a variety of sources points to two...

This paper formulates a theory of how political unrest influences public policy. Political unrest is motivated by emotions. Individuals engage in protests if they are aggrieved and feel that they have been treated unfairly. This reaction is predictable because individuals have a consistent view...

In a federal state, political leaders of constituent units might protect their enterprises from the federal center (e.g., allowing them not to pay federal taxes). The effectiveness of such protection depends crucially on the ability of local authorities to extract rents from enterprises. They...

This report is a broad assessment of soil conditions in the pan-European region. It describes the degradation of soil, its relevance in the European and global contexts, and the links between soil and sustainable development. The report is mainly addressed to policy makers and the general public.

This report presents an inventory of existing scenarios studies relevant for Europe in the context of sustainable development, including European and global models. It also provides a useful review of a selected number of scenarios and pinpoints their strengths and weaknesses.

The use of environmental taxes in Europe is widening and more tax bases are being used. The EEA reports on developments in the use and impact of environmental taxes and on progress made with ecological tax reform.

The use of environmental taxes in Europe is widening and more tax bases are being used. The EEA reports on developments in the use and impact of environmental taxes and on progress made with ecological tax reform.