In this book, a historical analysis of the precedents of the euro is examined within the context of the current issues affecting the Eurozone and the long-term effects of the institutional changes implemented since 2010. The book begins by placing the Eurozone challenges in the historical context of previous monetary unions, drawing on the experience of the gold standard. It then specifically focuses on the problems arising from the running of permanent trade imbalances within the Eurozone. The authors explore the advantages and disadvantages of being a member of the Eurozone and attempt to measure the optimality of a currency area by the calculation of an index on internal macroeconomic asymmetries. They address the proposals recently made in favour of a fiscal union in the Euro zone; including the economic and political feasibility of fiscal transfers in the Eurozone. The final two papers discuss whether the monetary union is in fact more than just that, and whether it will lead inevitably to some form of political union if it is to survive. With chapters by leading experts from both Europe and the UK, this book will appeal to students in Economics, Finance, Politics, EU integration and European studies; as well as academics and professional economists doing research in EU integration, the Euro zone, monetary history and monetary and banking unions in Europe, the UK and elsewhere.

Europe’s financial crisis cannot be blamed on the Euro, Harold James contends in this probing exploration of the whys, whens, whos, and what-ifs of European monetary union. The current crisis goes deeper, to a series of problems that were debated but not resolved at the time of the Euro’s invention. Since the 1960s, Europeans had been looking for a way to address two conundrums simultaneously: the dollar’s privileged position in the international monetary system, and Germany’s persistent current account surpluses in Europe. The Euro was created under a politically independent central bank to meet the primary goal of price stability. But while the monetary side of union was clearly conceived, other prerequisites of stability were beyond the reach of technocratic central bankers. Issues such as fiscal rules and Europe-wide banking supervision and regulation were thoroughly discussed during planning in the late 1980s and 1990s, but remained in the hands of member states. That omission proved to be a cause of crisis decades later. Here is an account that helps readers understand the European monetary crisis in depth, by tracing behind-the-scenes negotiations using an array of sources unavailable until now, notably from the European Community’s Committee of Central Bank Governors and the Delors Committee of 1988–89, which set out the plan for how Europe could reach its goal of monetary union. As this foundational study makes clear, it was the constant friction between politicians and technocrats that shaped the Euro. And, Euro or no Euro, this clash will continue into the future.

Empirical and theoretical studies on such questions as the desirability and optimal functioning of monetary unions, the enlargement of the eurozone, and the institution of monetary unions in Latin America and East Asia. The process of monetary integration in Europe began amid widespread skepticism among economists about the project. But today the success of the euro has prompted a reconsideration of whether monetary unions should be implemented elsewhere. This CESifo volume assesses contemporary theoretical and empirical work on optimal currency areas, considering such questions as the expansion of the eurozone, the institution of monetary unions in Latin America and East Asia, and the effect of monetary unions on the working of the "real economy." The first chapters consider the issues surrounding the enlargement of the eurozone, discussing, among other topics, its effect on labor market reforms, the empirical validity of the "endogeneity of the optimum currency criteria" hypothesis, and the integration process of Central European countries into the eurozone. Other chapters consider such topics as the effect of monetary unions on trade flows, risk-sharing mechanisms to protect against asymmetric shocks, dollarization in Latin America, and the potential for a monetary union of China, Japan, and South Korea based on a common business cycle and high correlation of their output behavior. These studies add significantly to our knowledge of the economics of monetary integration.

The Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) has prompted much discussion. This book stands back and considers the relevant theory or what lessons might be drawn from other unions that have been formed as well as looking at EMU directly.

This book is a new approach to understanding monetary unions. This collaboration of scientists from different countries with leading professor and supervisor Slawomir I. Bukowski have prepared essays, which concern current and previous problems of functioning of monetary unions, especially the euro area. The contents of this book and the problems the authors have undertaken are very important and current in the situation concerning the world after the last recession and financial/fiscal crisis.This book embraces the problems of theoretical and historical fundamentals of monetary union with special concentration on the euro area, and discusses concerns of nominal and real convergence within the Economic and Monetary Union in the Europe, as well as problems of fiscal and monetary policy in the euro area. Problems of sociual policy and the issue of the financial markets role in the financing process of European companies.The conclusions that were made concern different problems of functioning of monetary unions, especially in the euro area, which will be very useful not only in debates between scientists, but also for politicians in the European Unions. The content of the book and the problems which are tackled in it are not a contribution to the discussion which is going on and which, in my opinion, will last for a long time because there are many things which are still not understood, and economic life in the globalized world poses many challenges which economists are trying to respond to.This book will be very useful and interesting for scientists economists, journalists, students and politicians.

In this comprehensive historical overview, the author writes about Monetary Unions with admirable completeness. Written in a readable and enjoyable prose, A History of Monetary Unions combines historical analysis with present day context.

This book surveys the prospects for regional monetary integration in various parts of the world. Beginning with a brief review of the theory of optimal currency areas, it goes on to examine the structure and functioning of the European Monetary Union, then turns to the prospects for monetary integration elsewhere in the world - North America, South America, and East Asia. Such cooperation may take the form of full-fledged monetary unions or looser forms of monetary cooperation. The book emphasizes the economic and institutional requirements for successful monetary integration, including the need for a single central bank in the case of a full-fledged monetary union, and the corresponding need for multinational institutions to safeguard its independence and assure its accountability. The book concludes with a chapter on the implications of monetary integration for the United States and the US dollar.