Parties Agree to Reduce Deficit, Raise Minimum Wage in Spain
Spain’s two major parties compromise on a spending plan for 2017.
Fiscal Issues
Portugal, Spain Once Again Escape Fines for Deficits
The two countries keep failing to meet their budget targets.
Greeks Push Through Pension Cuts, Eye Debt Relief
Greek leaders hope that the latest round of cutbacks will unlock talks in Brussels about debt relief.
Osborne Sticks to Center Ground with Budget
The spending plan gives a little something to everyone, keeping Britain’s Conservatives in the middle.
Portugal Makes Last-Minute Cuts to Avoid Budget Fight
Portugal avoids becoming the first country that has its budget rejected by Brussels.
Greece Rejects Creditors’ Call for Pension Cuts
Alexis Tsipras proposes to raise pension contributions rather than cut benefits.
Projections Underscore Need for Entitlement Reform
The long-term budget outlook is grim unless changes are made to America’s biggest spending programs.
Falling Oil Price Forces Russia to Squeeze Spending
Russia’s rainy-day funds are running out of money, necessitating 10-percent budget cuts.
America to Lift Oil Export Ban Under Budget Deal
Lifting the ban is unlikely to affect prices, but would be of strategic significance.
Dutch Parties Agree on Tax Relief After All
Opposition parties in the Netherlands back government plans to cut taxes.
Osborne Keeps Tax Credits, Sees Surplus by 2020
Britain’s chancellor backs away from controversial tax reforms, but makes deep cuts elsewhere.
Unfunded State Benefits: America’s Next Fiscal Crisis
Many cities and states won’t be able to make good on the promises they’ve made to their workers.
Republicans Should Stop Obsessing About Tax Cuts
Republicans aren’t going to win the 2016 election with an economic program out of the 1980s.
Brussels Gives Spain Pass on Growth, Fails It on Deficit
Spain’s economy is growing, but the government is slow to rein in deficit spending and unemployment.
Time to Call Southern Eurozone States to Order
France, Italy and Spain neither deserve nor need more time to bring their deficits down.