Europe faces ‘crying need’ to loosen purse strings, warns OECD

Europe is not well enough prepared for an economic shock and faces a “crying need” to loosen the public purse strings to stimulate growth, the OECD’s chief economist has warned.

Laurence Boone, who joined the Paris-based organisation a year ago, told the FT there was “a big question mark” over Europe’s ability to give fiscal support to the economy, which has been weakened by trade tensions.