Like so many aspects of the European project, the sheer uniqueness of European Monetary Union can often make proper comparative analysis seem difficult and even strained. It seems in so many different ways to mark out uncharted territory. After all, this is a monetary union of democratic states,...

This paper argues that when EU member states joined EMU, this resulted in domestic institutional changes in the areas of fiscal policy-making and wage-setting. The paper argues that these changes were triggered by two facts: (i) in EMU, the monetary policy can no longer be used as an instrument...

[From the Introduction] This study provides new evidence on the emergence of a single eurozone retail banking market with particular reference to consumer credit. Given the heterogeneous nature of consumer credit products in the eurozone, the authors reject the earlier proposition of the...

The argument in this chapter is that formation of EMU is about restructuring the financial architecture of Europe in order to enhance-rather than simply diminish-national autonomy. By implication, EMU functions-at least in part-to shore up and insulate Europe's member states during a period of...

The EU has set in place a series of mechanisms to try to co-ordinate fiscal, "structural" and monetary policies in order to achieve the objectives of EMU for the 12 members. All of these mechanisms are unique and untried. There is single monetary policy run by the combination of the national...

When preparing its accession strategy, candidate countries with currency board arrangements have to deal with two basic issues: on the exchange rate system and on entering the EMU. The national legal framework regarding monetary issues and the negotiation positions of individual countries are...

Even before the EMU process is complete in 2002, there are already initiatives being suggested to further integrate the European Union, both from an economic and political perspective. Many of these initiatives focus on harmonization of, for example, indirect taxes or corporate taxes in the...

Even before the EMU process is complete in 2002, there are already initiatives being suggested to further integrate the European Union, both from an economic and political perspective. Many of these initiatives focus on harmonization of, for example, indirect taxes or corporate taxes in the...

The argument in this chapter is that formation of EMU is about restructuring the financial architecture of Europe in order to enhance-rather than simply diminish-national autonomy. By implication, EMU functions-at least in part-to shore up and insulate Europe's member states during a period of...

The EU has set in place a series of mechanisms to try to co-ordinate fiscal, "structural" and monetary policies in order to achieve the objectives of EMU for the 12 members. All of these mechanisms are unique and untried. There is single monetary policy run by the combination of the national...