The European crisis remains on top of the research agenda at Bruegel. The central priorities concern the best way to address remaining market tensions, the broader macroeconomic policy response in the EU, central banking, policies to foster macroeconomic adjustment, and the question of how to reform European governance to ensure effectiveness and legitimacy. More on the topic
ABOUT BRUEGEL
BRUEGEL AT A GLANCE
Bruegel is the European think tank that specialises in economics. Established in 2005, it is independent and non-doctrinal. Bruegel’s mission is to improve the quality of economic policy with open and fact-based research, analysis and debate. We are committed to impartiality, openness and excellence. Bruegel’s membership includes EU Member State governments, international corporations and institutions.
Through publications, events, social media, and a lively blog, Bruegel has carved a unique discussion space for everyone interested in improving the quality of economic policy. Through a dual focus on analysis and impact, and dynamic relationships with policymakers at every governance level, it has also established itself as a vibrant laboratory for economic policies.
RESEARCH AREAS
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In this research area, Bruegel is analysing developments in the world economy, with special attention to the interactions between, on the one side, European (or European-based) actors and, on the other side, global actors and actors located in the EU’s neighbourhood. The three main lines of research are Asia, global governance and the relations between the EU and major regional players. More on the topic
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Research focus is on auditing and financial disclosure and the regulation, supervision and resolution of global financial firms. Another key research topic in this area is the changing financial landscape in Europe in a context of growing pressure to re-nationalize financial policy and on the link between the sovereign and the banking crisis in Europe. More on the topic
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A growing share of Bruegel’s research has been devoted to the study of the structural underpinnings of economic performance, competitiveness and growth. Topics covered include: the role of information technology for growth, competition policy and state aid, entrepreneurship, globalisation and future of manufacturing, firm internationalisation and competitiveness, energy and climate policies and their implications for economic performance. More on the topic
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Bruegel has been increasing its expertise on energy and climate issues, as shown by our wide range of publications and events in this field. Bruegel scholars contribute to the energy union framework, as well as to its five dimensions: energy security, an integrated energy market, energy efficiency, decarbonisation of the economy, research and innovation. More on the topic
GOVERNANCE
Bruegel is a non-profit international association under Belgian law (AISBL), governed by its Statutes and its Bylaws. Bruegel’s highest decision making forum is the General Assembly consisting of Bruegel’s members. It confirms the Board and elects six of its members directly.
The Board is chaired by Jean-Claude Trichet. The Board decides on strategy, adopts the research programme and budget and appoints the Director and the Deputy Director each for a period of three years renewable twice.
The Director – currently Guntram Wolff – is responsible for the executive management of Bruegel, with the assistance of the Deputy Director, currently Maria Demertzis and other managers. They prepare the Board meetings, the research programme, annual work plan, budget, and annual report and present them to the Board. The Director and Deputy are responsible for the editorial direction, exercise editorial oversight of publications and control the quality of output. Bruegel takes no institutional standpoint and publications reflect the views of the authors only. Bruegel’s Scientific Council advises on research and provides regular academic appraisals of published papers.
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The Scientific Council is appointed by the Board and advises Bruegel’s management and staff, as well as the Board, on research. It also evaluates the quality of Bruegel’s research. The chairperson of the Scientific Council attends Board meetings.
Every three years the scientific council delivers an evaluation report. This report informs the research strategy and serves as a basis for the work of the review task force, a diverse and independent group appointed by members every three years to evaluate all aspects of Bruegel’s work, from research to management.
Bruegel is comprised of a core fellowship of top researchers from around the world, Resident, Non-resident and Affiliate, plus a team of operational staff. It also operates a Visiting Fellow programme, which allows researchers from around the world to contribute to Bruegel’s work for a limited time, normally visiting from another institution. For any questions on membership and Bruegel more generally, please do not hesitate to contact our Secretary General, Matt Dann.
Bruegel’s former chair Leszek Balcerowicz is honorary chairman of Bruegel.
COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROGRAMME
Bruegel’s research is built around a focused medium-term research programme. This programme is divided into three-year cycles, and serves as the basis of our approach to governance, research, outreach and fundraising. Within this time horizon we have an annual research programme.
Every Bruegel member plays a role in identifying research priorities on an equal footing, through collective and public discussions that takes place during statutory meetings. Both the three-year cycles as well as each annual research programme are adopted by the board each September, after discussions between Bruegel scholars, members and other stakeholders.
AWARDS AND RANKINGS
Transparify has awarded Bruegel five stars out of five for transparency for the fourth year running (2014-2018), recognising its openness about financing and governance.
Prospects Magazine Awarded Bruegel European Economic Think Tank of the Year in 2015, 2016, 2017 and in 2019.
The 2018 Global Go To Think Tank Report, published by the University of Pennsylvania, ranked Bruegel as such:
- #2 top international economics think tank (worldwide)
- #2 think tank in the world (non-US)
- #3 best managed think tank (worldwide)
- #4 think tank in the world (including US)
- #4 best quality assurance and integrity policies and procedures (Europe)
- #4 think tanks with the best external relations/public engagement program
- #5 think tanks with the most significant impact on public policy
HISTORY
The concept of Bruegel was initially developed jointly by two French economists, Jean Pisani-Ferry and Nicolas Véron, in the autumn of 2002. On 22 January 2003, the project was endorsed and officially floated by French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder in their joint declaration in Paris, marking the 40th anniversary of the De Gaulle-Adenauer Elysée Treaty.
NAME
The name Bruegel, initially proposed by Mario Monti, can be understood as standing for Brussels European and Global Economic Laboratory. It was also chosen because of the extraordinary evocative potential and resonance of the artistic work of Pieter Bruegel the Elder (the only one in the Bruegel/Breughel painters’ family who adopted this spelling of his name) with the think tank’s aims and identity.
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Pieter Bruegel drew his inspiration from the keen observation of the life of ordinary people and daily economic activity, thus echoing Bruegel‘s concrete orientation and focus on facts-based research and analysis. He also embodied European diversity, having been born in the Netherlands, trained in Flanders and Italy, inspired by painters from Germany (such as Dürer) and elsewhere, before his 1569 death in Spanish-occupied and partly French-speaking Brussels. He lived in a Europe that was marked by disorder but also by intense exchanges across countries, an unprecedented opening to the world and questioning of long-accepted ideas: an era which, for Bruegel the think tank, acts as a stimulating source of inspiration.
