Clustered Europeanization and national reform programmes: a qualitative comparative analysis

Abstract:

This article aims to broaden the debate about clustered Europeanization by using insights from a fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) and considering the European policies for growth and competitiveness (the so-called ‘Europe2020' strategy). We assess whether and to what extent different aspects of the EU2020 strategy have influenced the National Reform Programmes (NRPs), i.e., the policy tools by which each member state put its own pro-competitive strategy into practice. We look at the NRPs adopted by the member states during three years in order to assess to which extent they are ‘Europeanized'. By using fsQCA, we analyse the following conditions which can account for different levels of Europeanization of the national economic reforms: governmental and electoral stability; starting points referring to the targets for 2020; years passed after accession to the European Union; different levels of financial crisis in the moment when member states have adopted their own NRP.