Explaining the balance between responsiveness and responsibility in the eurozone

Abstract

Abstract The five cases analysed in this book were selected as representative of the social, economic, political, and institutional diversity among core eurozone member states. Despite their differences, during the observed period the five cases share the same trend in overall balance between responsive and responsible policy justifications. This chapter reflects on the mechanisms underlying this trend. It develops the argument that supranational institutions are not immune from citizens’ discontent and, similarly to democratically elected governments, they need to alternate policymaking criteria that are more oriented at rebalancing public accounts with criteria that are more oriented at the delivery of public goods. Under conditions of international economic integration and supranational governance, the criteria that are more dominantly present in supranational institutions have far-reaching implications for the balance between responsiveness and responsibility at the national level.