National governments face challenges in implementing structural reforms in the eurozone due to political considerations. There is a conflict between economic theory, which advocates for reforms like flexible prices and wages, and political realities. It is difficult to answer fundamental questions about what reforms to make, how to implement them, and when. While most reforms have positive economic impacts, they often backfire politically. Successful reforms require comprehensive plans to avoid targeting single sectors, income compensation mechanisms, and avoiding strategic political games. Communication and education are also important to build support.

1. STRUCTURAL REFORMS IN EMU
National Government perspective
Álvaro Nadal MP Spain

2. Juncker’s curse
“We all know what to do,
but we don´t know how to
get re-elected once we
have done it”
TWO WELL-KNOWN STARTING POINTS
Rodrik’s trilemma EMU style
2
Fully
integrated
EMU
National
Affirmation
Democratic
Politics
We need to work
this out much more

3. POSITIVE APPROACH
There is a conflict between economic theory
and practice and political theory and practice
We need to undestand better the political side
of structural reforms
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4. THREE FUNDAMENTAL POLICY QUESTIONS
What to do?
Easier to answer:
Flexibility of prices
and wages (and other
rents) is the key
Mundellian condition
for OCA
(Many times forgotten)
How to do it?
Very difficult to
answer:
In most cases reforms
have worked out
economically and
backfired politically
When to do it?
Very difficult as well:
Example of the
Spanish labour
reforms in 1994 and in
2012
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5. WHAT TO DO?
Huge inflation differentials
and current account
imbalances have been the
major source of instability in
the EMU.
Why aren’t we using the main
nominal convergence
criteria?
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6. Straitjacket: Macroeconomic
Imbalances Procedure
▰ Too many indicators (politically introduced)
▰ No thresholds, somehow arbitrary
▰ No real implementation
Reform:
▰ Reputational sanctions work
▰ Only inflation and current account
indicators
▰ Thresholds and procedure similar to GSP
HOW TO DO IT? CURRENT SITUATION (ONLY STICKS)
Growing competences to National
Independent Regulators
▰ Not enough democratic legitimacy and accountability
▰ Cases of power vacuum
▰ Also subject to social or lobby pressure
▰ Do not take into account the complexities of political
decision-making
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7. ▰ Deeper knowledge of the full process of reform: more positive (vs normative) analysis
including economics, public choice, political science and sociology
▰ More intensive communication and education effort
▰ Most problems come from income transfers. Instruments for (at least temporary) Kaldor-
Hicks compensations are needed: budget (national and EU), taxation, redefinition of state
aids…
▰ Avoid strategic games in National and European Parliament bearing in mind that now
Parliaments are much more fractured
▰ Comprehensive reform plans to avoid the feeling of being the only targeted sector (the only
advantage of devaluations)
AND…
HOW TO DO IT? SOME IDEAS AND CARROTS
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8. An enormous ammount of
wisdom, courage, luck, common
sense, communication skills and
experience.
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9. 9
THANKS!