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European Economic Integration Theories and Criteria
Abstract
The development of the concepts in the international economic integration are analyzed. The liberal, regulatory and institutional theories of economic integration and the optimum currency area theory are presented. The Copenhagen Criteria for EU membership, the Maastricht Convergence Criteria and the optimum currency area criteria are investigated.
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This paper assesses the role of exchange rates in moderating the impact of economic disturbances in the new member states of the European Union, and finds some evidence in favour of this proposition. Exchange rates are mostly driven by real (demand) shocks, whilst output by real supply shocks. Nominal shocks, which have no long-run impact on output, are nevertheless important in explaining exchange rate fluctuations implying that less exchange rate flexibility may indeed be warranted in the run- up to the adoption of the euro. We find that while interest rate shocks generally do not explain exchange rate fluctuations, credit shocks matter in certain cases and seem to have considerable impact on exchange rate developments (e.g., for Poland). The analysis also shows that based on the average responses of exchange rates to different shocks, the adoption of narrow bands inside ERM II may be risky.
There are two opposite points of view on the link between economic integration and business cycle synchronization. De Grauwe (1997) classifies these competing views as 'The European Commission View' and 'The Krugman View'. According to the European Commission (1990), closer integration leads to less frequent asymmetric shocks and to more synchronized business cycles between countries. On the other hand, for Krugman (1993) closer integration implies higher specialization and, thus, higher risks of idiosyncratic shocks. Drawing on the evidence from a group of transition countries which have experienced a notable increase in trade openness and economic integration with the European Union during the past decade, this paper tries to determine whose argument is supported by the data. This is done by confronting estimated time-varying coefficients of supply and demand shock asymmetry with indicators of trade intensity and exchange rates. We find that (i) an increase in trade intensity leads to higher symmetry of demand shocks; the effect of integration on supply shock asymmetry varies from country to country; (ii) a decrease in exchange rate volatility has a positive effect on demand shock convergence. The results for demand shocks can be interpreted in favor of 'The European Commission View', also known as the endogeneity argument by Frankel and Rose (1998) in the OCA criteria discussion, according to which trade links reduce asymmetries between countries. Overall, our results support Kenen's (2001) argument that the impact of trade integration on shock asymmetry depends on the type of shock.
A key requirement for the new members to join the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) is real and financial convergence to European Union (EU) levels. This paper expands the analysis in [Kočenda, E., Macroeconomic convergence in transition economies, Journal of Comparative Economics 29 (2001) 1–23] and [Kutan, A., Yigit, T., Nominal and real stochastic convergence of transition economies, Journal of Comparative Economics 32 (2004) 23–36] by investigating the convergence of the new EU members to these standards. Using panel unit root techniques, we find strong evidence of real stochastic convergence for all new members, which indicates that they adjust to Euro-area output shocks. However, the degree of nominal convergence is idiosyncratic. The Baltic states exhibit the strongest monetary policy and price-level convergence, suggesting that they are ready to adopt the Euro. However, Central and East European countries should address the reasons for their lack of convergence before adopting the Euro. Journal of Comparative Economics33 (2) (2005) 387–400.
We review the literature on business cycle correlation between the euro area and the Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs), a topic that has gained attention as the newest EU members approach monetary union. Our meta-analysis of 35 identified publications suggests that some CEECs already have comparably high correlation with the euro area business cycle. We find that estimation methodologies can have a significant effect on correlation coefficients. While CEEC central bankers tend to be more conservative in their estimates than academics or eurosystem researchers, we find no evidence of a geographical bias in the studies. Journal of Comparative Economics34 (3) (2006) 518–537.
In this paper, we put the trade effect of the euro in historical perspective. Using a data set that includes 22 industrial countries from 1948 to 2003, we find strong evidence of a gradual increase in trade intensity between European countries over time. Once we control for this trend in trade integration, the euro's impact on trade disappears. Moreover, a significant part of the trend in European trade integration is associated with measurable policy changes in areas such as exchange rate policy and institutional integration.
The Maastricht Treaty, signed in December 1991, set a timetable for the European Community's economic and monetary union (EMU) and clearly defined the institutional policy changes necessary for its achievement. Subsequent developments have demonstrated, however, the importance of many key issues in the transition to EMU that were largely neglected at the time. This volume reports the proceedings of a joint CEPR conference with the Banco de Portugal, held in January 1992. In these papers, leading international experts address the instability of the transition to EMU, the long-run implications of monetary union and the single market for growth and convergence in Europe. They also consider the prospects for inflation and fiscal convergence, regional policy and the integration of financial markets and fiscal systems. Attention focuses on adjustment mechanisms with differentiated shocks, region-specific business cycles and excessive industrial concentration and the cases for a two-speed EMU and fiscal federalism.
The development of an overall vision for making an adequate macroeconomic policy in perspective involves the localisation of possible sources of economic tension, as well as the relevant fields of tension in the context of the specific macroeconomic objectives. An attempt has been made to outline basic types of potential tensions in the Bulgarian economy in the mid-term perspective and to formulate recommended versions of macroeconomic policy. The analytical study is targeted at defending strategic principles of behaviour of the macroeconomic policy in contract to the construction of tactical practices for achieving given short-term objectives. The whole analysis and recommendations are in the spirit of the liberal economic doctrine and especially the understanding that the main macroeconomic policy instruments are (unpretending any hierarchic order) in the field of budgetary and monetary impacts and the development of a well-functioning institutional environment.
This study analyzes the effects of right-wing extremism on the well-being of immigrants based on data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) for the years 1984 to 2006 merged with state-level information on election outcomes. The results show that the life satisfaction of immigrants is significantly reduced if right-wing extremism in the native population increases. Moreover ; the life satisfaction of highly educated immigrants is affected more strongly than that of low-skilled immigrants. This supports the view that policies aimed at making immigration more attractive to the high-skilled have to include measures that reduce xenophobic attitudes in the native population. --
In the run-up to EMU, academic economists generally concluded the EU as a whole was not an optimum currency area (OCA). An important reason was the lack of structural convergence between the potential members of the monetary union. Nevertheless, the euro area currently consists of twelve countries. In the near to medium future, twelve additional countries will become EU Members; most of these countries have announced they want swift euro area entry. This paper reviews the literature on optimum currency areas to clarify the concept of structural convergence in the context of monetary integration. In addition, we operationalise OCA theory to assess structural convergence within Europe. The available evidence indicates considerable divergence within the current euro area and a generally slow process of convergence. In contrast, a number of new EU entrants have converged significantly in recent years towards levels of at least some existing members.