Brian John Spencer

Brian is a writer, artist and former unemployed law graduate who writes about the university myth, the economy and Northern Ireland. Also found at www.brianjohnspencer.com

With Greece preparing for a second go at electing a representative government this Sunday, all eyes have been fixed firmly on Spain and the funding woes of its banking system in recent weeks; but with economic indices and market confidence resuming their dip soon after last weekend's Spanish €100bn (£81bn) 'bailout lite', attention is now turning its eyes to Italy.

Matt Carr

Author, freelance journalist and blogger

After months of denials and prevarications, the Spanish government has finally done what many economists have been predicted it would have to do for months, and asked for a 100 billion-euro bailout for its sieve-like and utterly corrupt banking system.

Adnan Al-Daini

Blogger who abhors injustice, hypocrisy and double standards

Free market economics - shrinking the state, low government spending and unleashing the market beast into every facet of society - is not only morally wrong, but also economically unjustifiable.

James Hunt

Sports Journalism student, blogger, Sunderland fan

It may not be the answer to the Eurozone crisis, but could austerity be the order of the day for England at Euro 2012? Roy Hodgson's side came away with a 1-0 win after the weekend's warm-up clash with Belgium, despite the latter side enjoying 59% of possession.

Gerard Papasimakopoulos

Journalist, on-line editor for the Athens News, professional groan, fan of the apocalypse

Greece is bombing out the euro. Greece is going no place, the country's place is in the eurozone, anyone who says otherwise should be put away in the lunatic asylum right next to the Napoleons.

Andy Langenkamp

Global political analyst at ECR Research and Interest & Currency Consultants

If the West fails to mend its ways it will be like a mammoth tanker that is no longer able to change course. Under such conditions only a much bigger and deeper crisis can force countries to act differently. Yet by then they will no longer have a safety net to cushion the blow and spread the pain.

Gordon Alexander

Director of UNICEF’s Office of Research

The long-term future of Europe's youngest citizens risks being ignored as governments battle to keep their heads above water in the current economic storm.

Jill Shaw Ruddock

Author and charity founder, The Second Half of Your Life Foundation/Centre

Proper budgeting has always kept households solvent. Whatever money or income you have to live on, you must be realistic about how much you need and budget accordingly. We all know when we don't have enough money; it becomes more and more important.

Dr Philipp Rosler and Nick Clegg

Vice Chancellor of Germany

When the first Euros were printed in 1999, Europe chose a bold new future. But beneath the surface, the new European economy was built on shaky foundations. The decision is one of the biggest we have faced. The answer is clear: Europe must go for growth.

Sir Christopher Meyer

Former British Ambassador to the United States and Germany, former Chairman of the Press Complaints Commission

The endless eurozone crisis provokes a despairing weariness. The G8 has come and gone in Camp David, bringing, so it seems, a solution no nearer. Yet another EU summit will gather later this week. No-one is holding their breath that something fresh and decisive will emerge to halt the ever-mestasising threat of sovereign default. Yet, something has recently changed. To weariness, now add raw alarm. Over the years, European politicians have repeatedly cried wolf, invoking deadlines for a final solution to the euro-crisis that they have then declined to honour. Now, the new deadline is the Greek general election on 17 June. David Cameron has even labelled it a referendum on membership of the eurozone.

Mark Seddon

Big Think blogger and British journalist

Clearly fast moving events elsewhere in Europe, particularly in Greece and Spain, are giving added impetus to the whole issue of Britain's relationship with the European Union. They are also driving the issue closer and closer to the decision makers in the main parties. In recent weeks, we have seen a growing number of establishment Labour figures accepting that a referendum may have to be held.

Peter Kellner

President of YouGov, political commentator and journalist

According to the Observer, senior members of Labour's shadow cabinet want Ed Miliband to commit Labour at the next election to an in-out referendum on the European Union. Is that wise?

Iain Anderson

Director, Cicero

Something really extraordinary has happened this week. In his speech to the IOD in Manchester, the prime minister has fashioned a new narrative for his government's economic agenda. Before jetting off to the G8 in the US, he has talked of austerity WITH stimulus for the first time - and seems to have consigned to the political dustbin that 'binary choice' rhetoric of his first two years in government. With low to no growth in the UK, Camp David may prove to be an appropriately named location for one D Cameron. Is he now pitching his tent on new political ground? I'm fascinated.

Peter Aykens

Managing Director, CEB

Thinking about the challenging times facing financial services providers in Europe, it might help to laugh a bit. However, no one's dismissing how challenging these times really are for financial service providers.

Robert O'Daly

Economist, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Following the failure on 15 May of the Greek president's last-ditch attempt to put together a parliamentary majority willing to back a government of unity, Greece is heading for another general election, probably on 17 June, the outcome of which is unlikely to reassure financial markets.

Jeremy Cook

Chief Economist at foreign exchange company, World First

Unfortunately we have now got to a point where everybody needs to stop acting as they have for years and start acting like each other. German sensibleness must give way to extravagance; Spanish manana must switch to ahora and Italian unpredictability must morph into political security.