The urgency of such a program has been underscored in much recent analysis of the poor performance of the major continental European economies – France, Germany, and Italy – compared with smaller and much more dynamic economies in northern and central Europe. But, at the same time, small states are also more likely to be successful in defending crucial aspects of the welfare state.
主要欧洲大陆经济体法国、德国以及意大利与北欧和中欧较小但是更为具有活力的经济体相比表现欠佳。最近对此所做的分析中，这样的规划的迫切性突出出来。但是，与此同时，小国家也更有可能成功地维护福利国家的关键方面。