Consequences of Wage Gaps in the EU

This article dwells on a local specificity with apparently little interest for the European construction, but which we deem to be on at least an equal footing in importance with the issues of monetary, budget, and fiscal coordination: the effects of wage gaps between the EU member states. The data and information considered for the writing of this article indicate that, although the gap seems to be diminishing, the still wide differences between member countries have led (and continue to do so) to major consequences in terms of competition and competitive edge in their domestic markets, to imbalances in their budgets, fiscal, and labour policies, but also in the quality of their citizens’ lives.