ABSTRACT

This book places the whole issue of monetary union in its wider political economic context. The authors discuss:
* the effect of EMU on fiscal and monetary policies
* Central bank independence
* the impact of EMU on unemployment
* ERM II
* international perspectives.
Drawing on their experience in the European financial markets, the authors use a non-technical approach to discuss these issues - both in a general european sense and more specifically, Germany, the UK and Italy.

chapter 1|5 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|23 pages

Monetary Union: To be or Not to be?

History, motivations and prospects

chapter 3|8 pages

German Unification and EMU

A lesson for the future?

chapter 4|25 pages

Solving the Deficit Puzzle

Why reducing government deficits is a priority

chapter 5|15 pages

In Bundesbank Clothes

Issues on central bank independence

chapter 6|20 pages

Central Banks Get Eclectic

The fine art of setting interest rates

chapter 7|16 pages

European Unemployment

A thorn in the side

chapter 8|12 pages

German Unemployment

Bargaining, benefits and other inflexibilities

chapter 9|24 pages

Bubbles, Crises and Interventions

Some flaws of free floating

chapter 10|10 pages

Life Outside EMU

What currency regime for EMU outs (and is Argentina's currency board an option?)

chapter 11|19 pages

The UK and EMU

chapter 12|8 pages

Italian Institutional Reforms

Reaching for stability

chapter 13|7 pages

Conclusion