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Delve into the creation, impact, and current struggles of the euro as the official currency of the eurozone. Explore the economic theory, political goals, and the collapse during the 2008-09 financial crisis, along with the challenges and decisions faced by member states, especially Germany. Gain insights into the potential scenarios for the future of the eurozone.
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The euro assolution and problem The politics of European monetaryintegration Zoltán Ádám, Kopint-Tárki Institute forEconomic Research Email: zoltan.adam@kopint-tarki.hu
1. The euro asthe top achievement of European integration • Decidedaboutin 1995 in Madrid, basedonthe 1992 Maastricht Treaty • Officiallyintroducedin 1999 • Coins and notesintroducedin 2002
What is itgoodfor? • The euro is theofficialcurrency of theeurozone, theworld’ssecondlargesteconomy, consistingof 17 indiviudalcountries and 334 millionpeople • The world’ssecond most importantreservecurrency • Issuedbythe European Central Bank in Frankfurt that is responsibleformonetarypoliciesintheeurozone
Whywasitcreated? • Economictheorybehind: The theory of optimum currencyarea (Robert Mundell, 1961) • Labor mobility • Capital mobility; price and wageflexibilityacrossthearea • Fiscaltransfermechanism (risksharing) • Similar business cycles
Politicalgoalsbehind • Strengtheningpoliticalintegration • Fosteringsolidarityamongmemberstates • Promotion of economicdevelopmentacrossthearea • Alignment of business cycles
Whycouldit be realized? • Creditor and debtorcountrieswerebothinterested • (Potential) current account imbalancesdidnotseemto be a problem • Differencesincompetitivenessdidnotseemto be a problemeither (capital and labor mobilitywouldeliminatethosedifferencesonthelongrun) • AccordingtotheStability and GrowthPact, no fiscalbail out waspossible (no moralhazardwasassumedwithrespecttodivergentfiscalpolicies)
2. Allthiscollapsesin 2008-09 • The shock proves asymmetric between the core and the periphery • Capital markets differentiate between the two • The no bail out close could not be maintained • Differences in competitiveness, demonstrated by current account imbalances prove problematic
3. What’snow? • Shallthecorefinancetheperiphery? • Shalltheperipherystayintheeurozone? • Economicandpoliticalcosts of maintainingtheeurozoneorits (partial) disintegration
4. The Germancase • The quintessentialcreditor country: Germany • Interestedinmaintainingtheeurozone(exportstotheperiphery, enjoystherelativeweakness of the euro) • Controlsvastfinancialresourcesthatcan be usedtofinancetheperiphery • Butthepublic is opposedtothe idea of bailing out peripheralcountries
Thankyou Zoltán Ádám, Kopint-Tárki Institute forEconomic Research zoltan.adam@kopint-tarki.hu