Press quotes

  • Little clarity in Italian vote aside from anger
    The New York Times, 25 February 2013

    "No doubt Italy has an imperfect political culture, but this election I think is the logical consequence of pursuing policies that have dramatically worsened the economic and social picture in Italy," said Simon Tilford of the CER.

  • EU-US trade talks promise both prizes and pitfalls
    Reuters, 18 February 2013

    So even if the goodwill exists to park such issues in the sidings [the EU's reluctance to lower its guard against US biotech food such as genetically modified plants or hormone-fed beef], agriculture still has the potential to poison the talks, said Philip Whyte of the CER, a think-tank in London.

  • German shoppers hold the key to EU growth
    Financial Times, 15 February 2013

    "Supply side reforms are no panacea," said Simon Tilford, chief economist for the Centre for European Reform, a think-tank. Germany, where unemployment is low, should be adopting expansionary macroeconomic policies to boost demand, he said.

  • Lune de fiel entre Londres et Bruxelles
    Le Temps, 13 February 2013

    "C’est bien là la cause de toutes les difficultés qu’auront ensuite la Grande-Bretagne et l’Europe à accorder leurs violons", estime Simon Tilford, chef économiste du CER, basé à Londres.

  • Minimum wage in Europe offers ammunition in US debate
    The New York Times, 13 February 2013

    "The impact on growth from changes in the minimum wage comes down to the level at which it is set," said Simon Tilford, chief economist at the CER in London

  • US-EU trade deal faces cultural hurdles
    Marketplace, 13 February 2013

    Simon Tilford of the CER claims the two sides will struggle to open their markets fully to each other’s farm produce. "When they get down to the nitty-gritty, it’s possible that the negotiations will founder on some of the cultural differences between the EU and the US over things such as genetically modified food," says Tilford.

  • Growing chorus at home urges UK to break with Brussels
    Global Finance, 12 February 2013

    "A referendum looks almost inevitable now but the timeframe is uncertain," says Katinka Barysch, deputy director of the CER in London. She says the debate is already having a negative economic impact: Investors are getting nervous.

  • EU claims that crisis is over, premature analysts claim
    Voice of America, 11 February 2013

    “Politics is one of the black swans of the eurozone this year. In Italy we could have political uncertainty, perhaps the return of Silvio Berlusconi. In Spain, we don’t know where the current scandal surrounding the prime minister will go", said Philip Whyte, of the CER

  • Peugeot's state guarantee gets temporary EU approval
    Bloomberg, 11 February 2013

    "As a French consumer looking for a car, you’re confronted with paying dramatically higher rates of interest to buy a Peugeot on credit than you are a Volkswagen," said Simon Tilford, of the CER.

  • Shale gas distracts EU 'action heroes' from saving the climate
    New Europe, 10 February 2013

    In a 2011 piece published by the CER, Dieter Helm exulted over how shale gas “turns out to be super-abundant” and predicted that switching from coal to gas could halve Europe’s carbon dioxide emissions.