But, while some reforms – for example, those improving access to credit or eliminating rents that harm consumers – can indeed help to boost growth during a demand shortfall like the one that Europe is now experiencing, others can have the opposite effect. For example, labor-market reforms that make it easier for companies to reduce staff may weaken demand further, underscoring the importance of considering reforms’ short-term effects.
另外，改革结果可能取决于周期性因素。结构性改革的支持者通常认为他们的目标是中期增加产出和福利，短期是无关紧要的。但是，虽说一些改革——比如改善信用可获得性和消灭伤害消费者的租的改革——确实可以在需求不足（比如当下的欧洲）时提振增长，但也有一些改革会适得其反。比如，让公司裁员更方便的劳动力市场改革可能会进一步削弱需求，从而加强考虑改革短期效果的紧迫性。