Chapter 2: Coping (or not) with Change

Economic developments differ across member countries and dissatisfaction with the European Union is growing while populist and nationalistic policies are gaining ground. However, it is obviously simplistic to blame the EU’s economic integration process for the dismal economic performance of certain countries and the lack of overall convergence. A given country’s performance in a particular period of time can reflect shocks, which often originate from outside the EU, and particularly from the EU’s integration with the rest of the world, in combination with country-specific policies and institutions that make it easier or more difficult to adjust to shocks.