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Curriculum Europe's Economies

Europe's Economies

From German factories and Nordic welfare states to Southern Europe's struggles and Eastern Europe's catch-up - how Europe's economies work, and the challenges of energy, ageing and competitiveness.

  1. Europe's Economies: A Continent of Contrasts A tour of Europe's varied economies, what they share, and why Europe's growth has lagged behind the United States in recent decades. 📄 Read-aloud
  2. Germany: The Export Powerhouse How Germany became Europe's largest economy through manufacturing exports, the role of its mid-sized firms, and the pressures it faces today. 📄 Read-aloud
  3. France: The State and the Economy How France combines a large public sector, strong social protections and world-leading companies, and the debates over reform. 📄 Read-aloud
  4. The United Kingdom: Services and the Productivity Puzzle How Britain's economy became dominated by services and finance, why productivity growth stalled after 2008, and the debates over causes. 📄 Read-aloud
  5. The Nordic Model How Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden combine open markets, high taxes, generous welfare and flexible labour markets, and what others can learn. 📄 Read-aloud
  6. Southern Europe: Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece Why several southern European economies have struggled with slow growth, high unemployment and debt, and the signs of recovery. 📄 Read-aloud
  7. Europe's Economies: Checkpoint 1 Quick checkpoint - five questions on Europe's growth gap, Germany, France, the UK and the Nordic model. 5 questions
  8. Central and Eastern Europe's Catch-Up How countries like Poland, the Czech Republic and the Baltic states grew rapidly after communism and EU membership, and what fuelled their convergence. 📄 Read-aloud
  9. The European Central Bank at Work How one central bank sets monetary policy for twenty-one countries, its famous crisis promise, and the era of negative interest rates. 📄 Read-aloud
  10. Europe's Energy Crisis of 2022 How Europe's dependence on Russian gas led to record energy prices after the invasion of Ukraine, and how governments and industries responded. 📄 Read-aloud
  11. Europe's Ageing Challenge How longer lives and low birth rates are changing Europe's workforce and public finances, and the policies countries are trying. 📄 Read-aloud
  12. The European Green Deal The EU's plan to become climate neutral by 2050, the policies involved, and the economic debates about its costs and benefits. 📄 Read-aloud
  13. Europe's Competitiveness Problem: The Draghi Report What Mario Draghi's 2024 report said about why Europe is falling behind the United States and China, and the investment it called for. 📄 Read-aloud

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