Feb 28, 2006

Scholar explores European mood

Academies students learn of 'Eurosclerosis.'

By Jennifer Ochstein
Tribune Correspondent

CULVER -- Europeans are not having children.

And that is a sign of pessimism, widely known as "Eurosclerosis," according to Martin Spechler, Indiana University economics professor.

Spechler addressed a group of Culver Academies students last week about the history and future of the European Union, with 25 member countries, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, with 26 member countries, including the United States. The presentation was part of the school's Global Studies Institute.

European pessimism, he said, is one of the challenges the EU and NATO are facing.

He said it's worst in Germany, where German parents are having, on average, 1.3 children. He said many feel as if Europe is not going anywhere, or rather, that it's not adjusting to a new world. He said many Europeans have lost confidence that Europe will be able to deal with new challenges like immigration, which is causing problems. Growing populations of Muslims remain unassimilated and unemployed, which stand widely at about 10 percent, Spechler said.

While many Europeans are wealthy by world standards, they complain about life and salaries, said Spechler, who is often asked to participate in meetings with the EU.

One German man, Spechler said he recently spoke with, told him the cost of living last year jumped 100 percent. Spechler assured the man the cost of living rose only about 2 percent, but the German insisted on the 100 percent figure. And that, Spechler said, is an example of the widespread pessimism among Europeans, which is known as the "crisis of Europe."

Other challenges, in part, facing the EU and NATO, he said include terrorist threats.

Culver note: The 2005-2006 GSI program has been funded by Mr. Paul J. Much '68 and Ms. Judy Fay, GP, and by Houlihan Lokey Howard and Zukin.