Austerity and its Alternatives

Austerity, defined as fiscal consolidation, public sector structural reforms, and flexibilization of labour markets, has triggered social protest, electoral defeats, major international tensions, significant academic controversy, and is blamed for various social ills. Yet it remains the default policy response to the economic crisis for most states and international organizations. We ask: Why is some evidence privileged and other evidence ignored? Or, how can research evidence on austerity and its alternatives be better mobilized so as to achieve more serious policy consideration?