EMU and Political Science

EMU and Political Science

Author: Henrik Enderlein

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2013-10-31

Total Pages: 171

ISBN-13: 1317965817

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Europe’s Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2009. Before its birth many observers were concerned about its viability. This volume examines a number of noteworthy concerns that were heard a decade ago and it assesses what has become of them. The contributors to this volume examine various topics. Has EMU been a failure or success? Does EMU require more political integration? What type of deeper integration in the financial market has occurred because of EMU? Does the public like EMU? Does EMU cause a decline of the welfare state, reduce the role of labour unions and are adjustments now made mainly through the labour market? Do countries in EMU become more similar over time? Is EMU sustainable in the long-run? Will EMU survive the global financial crisis? The contributors to this book are leading Political Scientists in the field, and draw on a wealth of research and experience. This book was published as a special issue of the Journal of European Public Policy.


Unions, Central Banks, and EMU

Unions, Central Banks, and EMU

Author: Bob Hancké

Publisher: OUP Oxford

Published: 2013-04-25

Total Pages: 147

ISBN-13: 019163820X

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This book examines the crisis of EMU through the lenses of comparative political economy. It retraces the development of wage-setting systems in the core and peripheral EMU member states, and how these contributed to the increasing divergence between creditor and debtor states in the late 2000s. Starting with the construction of the Deutschmark bloc, through the Maastricht process of the 1990s, and into the first decade of EMU, this book analyzes how labour unions and wage determination systems adjusted in response to monetary integration and, in turn, influenced the shape that monetary union would eventually take. Before the introduction of the Euro, labour unions were disciplined by central banks and governments, after social conflict in the north of the continent and with the use of social pacts in the others. Since controlling inflation had become the main goal of macro-economic policy, national central banks acted as a backstop to keep militant unions and profligate governments under control. Public sector wages thus were subordinated to manufacturing wages, a set-up policed by export sector unions, aided by the central bank. With the introduction of the single currency, the European Central Bank replaced the national central banks and, as a result, their capacity to control labour unions disappeared. The strong links between wages in the public sector unions and wages in the manufacturing export sector weakened dramatically in many countries, wage inflation re-emerged, and the stage was set for the current account divergences at the basis of the crisis of EMU.


The Lisbon Treaty

The Lisbon Treaty

Author: Jean-Claude Piris

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2010-06-17

Total Pages: 449

ISBN-13: 0521197929

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An in-depth, impartial and informed description of the Lisbon Treaty's legal features, in their historical and political context.


Economic and Monetary Union at Twenty

Economic and Monetary Union at Twenty

Author: David Howarth

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2021-05-19

Total Pages: 202

ISBN-13: 1000386864

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The contributions to this book examine the two main asymmetries of the Euro Area as they have intensified during the second decade of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU): the first between monetary union (more supranational governance) versus ‘economic’ union (less centralised governance); the second between those Euro Area member states of the so-called ‘core’ and those of the ‘periphery’. EMU stands as one of the European Union’s (EU) flagship integration achievements. Set up in 1999, with the large majority of EU member states at the time, EMU was described as ‘asymmetrical’ even prior to its start. From the outset, it involved asymmetrical integration in monetary and ‘economic’ union. Although a major element of the blueprint that paved the way for the final stage of EMU, the concept of ‘economic’ union was insufficiently developed. The second decade of the single currency gave rise to a second asymmetry, namely one between those Euro Area member states of the ‘core’ and those of the ‘periphery’. The ten contributions to this volume speak to one or both of these asymmetries, covering the major political, political economy and policy dimensions of EMU and the ongoing debates about necessary policy and institutional reforms to overcome these asymmetries and bolster Euro Area stability. The outbreak of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Crisis in 2020 created unprecedented socio-economic challenges for Euro Area member states, heightening the perceived urgency of reform. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of the Journal of European Integration.


Contemporary France

Contemporary France

Author: David Howarth

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2014-03-18

Total Pages: 257

ISBN-13: 1444118870

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At least since the French Revolution, France has the peculair distinction of simultaneously fascinating, charming and exasperating its neighbours and foreign observers. Contemporary France provides an essential introduction for students of French politics and society, exploring contemporary developments while placing them in a deeper historical, intellectual, cultural and social context that makes for insightful analysis. Thus, chapters on France's economic policy and welfare state, its foreign and European policies and its political movements and recent institutional developments are informed by an analysis of the country's unique political and institutional traditions, distinct forms of nationalism and citizenship, dynamic intellectual life and recent social trends. Summaries of key political, economic and social movements and events are displayed as exhibits.


Economics of Monetary Union

Economics of Monetary Union

Author: Paul de Grauwe

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2018

Total Pages: 301

ISBN-13: 0198805225

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The twelfth edition of Economics of Monetary Union provides a concise analysis of the theories and policies relating to monetary union. The author addresses current issues surrounding the Eurozone, including; a critical discussion of the costs and benefits of possible exits by its member countries, an analysis of the role of the ECB as new single supervisor and detail on the sovereign debt crisis. In Part One the author examines the implications of adopting a common currency, assessing the benefit to each country from being a member of the Eurozone, whilst also questioning whether other parts of the world would gain from monetary unification. Part Two of the book looks at the problems of running a monetary union by analysing Europe's experience and the issues faced by the European Central Bank. The book is accompanied by online resources that feature: For students: - Links to data sources - Essay questions - Web links - Paul De Grauwe on Twitter For Lecturers: - PowerPoint slides - Instructor's manual


Election Watchdogs

Election Watchdogs

Author: Alessandro Nai

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 305

ISBN-13: 0190677805

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Recent decades have seen growing concern regarding problems of electoral integrity. The most overt malpractices used by rulers include imprisoning dissidents, harassing adversaries, coercing voters, vote-rigging counts, and even blatant disregard for the popular vote. Elsewhere minor irregularities are common, exemplified by inaccurate voter registers, maladministration of polling facilities, lack of security in absentee ballots, pro-government media bias, ballot miscounts, and gerrymandering. Serious violations of human rights that undermine electoral credibility are widely condemned by domestic observers and the international community. Recent protests about integrity have mobilized in countries as diverse as Russia, Mexico, and Egypt. However, long-standing democracies are far from immune to these ills; past problems include the notorious hanging chads in Florida in 2000 and more recent accusations of voter fraud and voter suppression during the Obama-Romney contest. When problems come to light, however, is anyone held to account and are effective remedies implemented? In response to these developments, there have been growing attempts to analyze flaws in electoral integrity and transparency using systematic data from cross-national time-series, forensic analysis, field experiments, case studies, and new instruments monitoring mass and elite perceptions of malpractices. This volume collects essays from international experts who evaluate the robustness, conceptual validity, and reliability of the growing body of evidence. The essays compare alternative approaches and apply these methods to evaluate the quality of elections in several areas, including the United States, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America. Election Watchdogs: Transparency, Accountability and Integrity presents new insights into the importance of diverse actors who promote electoral transparency, accountability, and ultimately the integrity of electoral governance.


International Relations and the European Union

International Relations and the European Union

Author: Christopher Hill

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 597

ISBN-13: 0198737327

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The most comprehensive introduction to the EU's role in the international system, written by a team of international experts, and incorporating the study of the EU's world role into the wider field of international relations, this book is the key text for anyone wishing to understand the EU's external relations.