Analysing and Forecasting the Debt Burden of the EU Countries: Is There a New European Debt Crisis on the Horizon?

Abstract

The debt crisis which afflicted Europe highlights the weaknesses and instability of the EU member states' financial systems, as well as the inability of their national economies to maintain normal levels of indebtedness. The deteriorating economic environment requires changes in the fiscal policies across Europe. These changes are effected using new financial instruments to raise the necessary funds for implementation of economic reforms in the EU member states. The aim of this study is to analyse the current levels of sovereign debt across the European Union and to forecast their development in the future using specialized econometric software. The results may be used to identify possible future economic shocks in Europe.