Converging economies, diverging societies? Upward convergence in the EU - Foundation Forum 2017

Economic and social convergence is essential for the European Union and for its political acceptability: divergence in social outcomes and in economic performance undermine the promises of shared prosperity - central to the very creation of the European Union. With a view to the construction of resilient societies, restoring economic and social convergence is now a top policy priority and with the assumption that economic and social convergence should be fully aligned, there is a window of opportunity for re-starting the engine of the ‘convergence machine’ of the European Union.

In December, the discussions on the reform of Economic and Monetary Union will commence while the European Pillar of Social Rights will be proclaimed at the #SocialSummit17 in Gothenburg. At this critical juncture for the EU #DublinForum17, the Eurofound Foundation Forum 2017, brought together high-level policymakers, social partners and academics to explore these issues.

This document lists some key messages that emerged from the discussions. These messages do not necessarily represent the views of Eurofound or its Governing Board.

This paper provides brief background information on a number of topics foreseen for discussion in Session 1 ‘Employment and working conditions’: employment and unemployment rates; physical risks in the workplace; working time quality; and skills and discretion. Data derive from Eurostat and Eurofound’s European Working Conditions Survey.

Foundation Forum 2017: Converging economies, diverging societies? Upward convergence in the EU

This paper provides brief background information on a number of topics foreseen for discussion in Session 2 ‘Living conditions’: satisfaction with standard of living; the relationship between age and life satisfaction; work–life balance and gender; perceived tensions between different societal groups; and optimism about the future. The findings derive from one or more waves of Eurofound’s European Quality of Life Survey, conducted in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2016. Comparing trends over time permits some conclusions to be drawn regarding progress towards greater convergence in Europe, in terms of European’s perception of their lives and the societies they inhabit.

Foundation Forum 2017: Converging economies, diverging societies? Upward convergence in the EU

This paper provides brief background information on a number of topics foreseen for discussion in Session 3 ‘Convergence and the regional dimension’ of the Foundation Forum 2017. These include: the differences in gross domestic product (GDP) per head of population, and differences in employment and unemployment at regional level, and the extent to which these variables have converged or not; some of the factors behind different regional outcomes – such as indicators of competitiveness, and the factors that contribute to it (spending on research and development, the availability of a skilled, well-educated workforce, and effective governance); and differences in social outcomes at regional level.

Foundation Forum 2017: Converging economies, diverging societies? Upward convergence in the EU

This paper provides background information on a number of topics foreseen for discussion at the Foundation Forum 2017 'Converging economies, diverging societies? Upward convergence in the EU'. The term ‘convergence’ first appeared in the Treaty on European Union (Maastricht Treaty) in 1992 in relation to the convergence – primarily in terms of monetary and fiscal indicators – required for membership of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Moreover, in the preamble to the Treaty, Member States ‘resolved to achieve the strengthening and the convergence of their economies’. Technically speaking, convergence is a process that tends towards parity and implies faster rates of growth for those at lower levels. Market integration tends to both bind Member States together and increase the standard of living in all countries. However, it by no means guarantees convergence, as some well-off Member States may benefit more than others. Integration can also give rise to inequalities within Member States, with some sectors gaining and others losing. This may also be reflected in regional disparities. Both these distributional risks increase with deeper integration.

Foundation Forum 2017: Converging economies, diverging societies? Upward convergence in the EU