Sandra Gomes

Structural Reforms and Macroeconomic Performance in the Euro Area Countries: A Model-Based Assessment

We quantitatively assess the macroeconomic effects of country-specific supply-side reforms in the euro area by simulating EAGLE, a multi-country dynamic general equilibrium model. We consider reforms in the labor and services markets of Germany (or, alternatively, Portugal) and the rest of the euro area. Our main results are as follows. First, a unilateral markup reduction by 15 percentage points in the German (Portuguese) labor and services market would induce an increase in the long-run German (Portuguese) output equal to 8.8 (7.8) percent. Second, cross-country coordination of reforms would add extra benefits to each region, by limiting the deterioration of relative prices and purchasing power that a country faces when implementing reforms unilaterally. In the long run German (Portuguese) output would increase by 9.2 (8.6) percent. Third, cross-country coordination would make the macroeconomic performance of the different regions more homogeneous, in terms of price competitiveness and real activity. Overall, our results suggest that while reforms implemented individually by each country in the euro area will produce positive effects, cross-country coordination produces larger and more evenly distributed (positive) effects.

The EAGLE. A model for policy analysis of macroeconomic interdependence in the euro area

Building on the New Area Wide Model, we develop a 4-region macroeconomic model of the euro area and the world economy. The model (EAGLE, Euro Area and Global Economy model) is microfounded and designed for conducting quantitative policy analysis of macroeconomic interdependence across regions belonging to the euro area and between euro area regions and the world economy. Simulation analysis shows the transmission mechanism of region-specific or common shocks, originating in the euro area and abroad.

The Transmission of Monetary Policy and Technology Shocks in the Euro Area

This article analyses the response of a set of euro area macroeconomic variables to monetary policy and technology shocks based on structural Vector Auto-regressions (VARs). The data set runs from 1970:1 until 2006:4 and includes a novel long-run series for hours worked per capita in the euro area. We find that real macroeconomic variables follow a hump-shaped response after monetary policy shocks and jump on impact after technology shocks. We also provide evidence that hours worked fall after a positive technology shock. These conclusions are robust to different sample periods and specifications of the variables.