EU Economics: - Europe the weak link in the world economy.

A link to an excellent and thought-provoking article by Paul Mason from BBC Newsnight on the implications of the Greek/Euro Zone crisis. He argues that the ripping up of the Euro Zone fiscal rule book and the eventual bail out of the Greek economy shifts the risks to taxpayers in Northern Europe.

“In the 27 member states of the EU, it is France, Germany, Italy and the UK which bear the risk of southern European default. That is to say, the taxpayers of northern Europe. And, as members of the IMF, the industrialised countries of Europe are additionally exposed to the Fund’s €250bn loan.” Stage Three of the financial crisis - hallmarked by an age of austerity poses severe social and political risks across the continent.

In a related feature Professor Joe Stiglitz is interviewed here by BBC World and argues that imposing fiscal austerity by european governments risks plunging Europe into a second recession.