Introduzione: la ritirata del neoliberismo?

The article introduces the new issue of the journal. It discusses what reasons may explain the fact that austerity measures are increasingly criticised by vast numbers of economists while they are still endorsed by all EU institutions. It is here suggested that the neoliberal stance seem to have gradually shifted away from the economic debate to move to a moralistic and a juridical level, focussed on the formal legitimacy (within the given institutional setup) of the proposed policy alternatives to tackle the euro crisis while neglecting and abstaining from criticising their underlying rationale. This ‘retreat’ allows for defunct economic theories to still dominate the political debate.