IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/gda/wpaper/1201.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

On optimality or non-optimality of the eurozone

Author

Listed:
  • Tomasz Brodzicki

    (Faculty of Economics, University of Gdansk)

Abstract

Economic and Monetary Union is an unprecedented event in the monetary history of Europe. The eurozone since its creation 13 years ago expanded to 17 Member States and functioned relatively smoothly up to the outset of the global financial crisis. Only the severity of the subsequent eurozone crisis showed the actual scale of structural, institutional and governance problems it had. The differences between its core and peripheral regions became more than evident. In the present paper we discuss the optimality of the existing and the enlarged eurozone. Despite of the progress made, eurozone is far away from meeting the OCA criteria. Further enlargements, by increasing the overall internal diversity of the union, are likely to increase the gap. It seems however that even non-optimal monetary unions may function but at a significantly higher costs. In some cases the long term costs could even outweigh the benefits. The nominal convergence criteria are only partially consistent with the OCA theory, they are largely arbitrary and should be modified in the interest of the present eurozone as well as of acceding states.

Suggested Citation

  • Tomasz Brodzicki, 2012. "On optimality or non-optimality of the eurozone," Working Papers of Economics of European Integration Division 1201, The Univeristy of Gdansk, Faculty of Economics, Economics of European Integration Division.
    • Handle: RePEc:gda:wpaper:1201
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://gnu.univ.gda.pl/~keie/aio25.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2012
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ignazio Angeloni & André Sapir, 2011. "The international monetary system is changing- what opportunities and risks for the euro?," Working Papers 632, Bruegel.
    2. Ricci, Luca Antonio, 2008. "A Model of an Optimum Currency Area," Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment E-Journal (2007-2020), Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), vol. 2, pages 1-31.
    3. Hugh Rockoff, 1999. "How Long Did It Take the United States to Become an Optimal Currency Area?," Departmental Working Papers 199910, Rutgers University, Department of Economics.
    4. Bayoumi, Tamim & Eichengreen, Barry, 1992. "Shocking Aspects of Monetary Unification," Department of Economics, Working Paper Series qt791143kp, Department of Economics, Institute for Business and Economic Research, UC Berkeley.
    5. Tamim Bayoumi & Barry Eichengreen, 1992. "Shocking Aspects of European Monetary Unification," NBER Working Papers 3949, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Paul De Grauwe, 2006. "On monetary and political union," CESifo Forum, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 7(04), pages 3-10, December.
    7. Tamim Bayoumi and Barry Eichengreen., 1993. "One Money or Many? On Analyzing the Prospects for Monetary Unification in Various Parts of the World," Center for International and Development Economics Research (CIDER) Working Papers C93-030, University of California at Berkeley.
    8. Alberto Alesina & Robert J. Barro & Silvana Tenreyro, 2003. "Optimal Currency Areas," NBER Chapters, in: NBER Macroeconomics Annual 2002, Volume 17, pages 301-356, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    9. Bayoumi, Tamim & Eichengreen, Barry, 1994. "Monetary and exchange rate arrangements for NAFTA," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 125-165, February.
    10. Michael D. Bordo, 2003. "Exchange Rate Regime Choice in Historical Perspective," NBER Working Papers 9654, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    11. David Howarth & Peter Loedel, 2005. "The European Central Bank," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, edition 0, number 978-0-230-50311-3.
    12. George Tavlas, 1994. "The theory of monetary integration," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 5(2), pages 211-230, March.
    13. David Howarth & Peter Loedel, 2005. "The European Central Bank," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, edition 0, number 978-0-230-50310-6.
    14. Bordo, Michael D. & Jonung, Lars, 2000. "A Return to the Convertibility Principle? Monetary And Fiscal Regimes in Historical Perspective," SSE/EFI Working Paper Series in Economics and Finance 415, Stockholm School of Economics.
    15. Michael D. Bordo & Lars Jonung, 1999. "The Future of EMU: What Does the History of Monetary Unions Tell Us?," NBER Working Papers 7365, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    16. Francesco Paolo Mongelli, 2005. "What is European Economic and Monetary Union Telling us About the Properties of Optimum Currency Areas?," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(3), pages 607-635, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kunovac, Davor & Palenzuela, Diego Rodriguez & Sun, Yiqiao, 2022. "A new optimum currency area index for the euro area," Working Paper Series 2730, European Central Bank.
    2. Horvath, Julius, 2003. "Optimum currency area theory: A selective review," BOFIT Discussion Papers 15/2003, Bank of Finland Institute for Emerging Economies (BOFIT).
    3. Milan Deskar-Škrbić & Davor Kunovac, 2020. "Twentieth Anniversary of the Euro: Why are Some Countries Still Not Willing to Join? Economists’ View," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 62(2), pages 242-262, June.
    4. Francesco Paolo Mongelli, 2008. "European Economic and Monetary Integration, and the Optimum Currency Area Theory," European Economy - Economic Papers 2008 - 2015 302, Directorate General Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN), European Commission.
    5. Frankel, Jeffrey A. & Rose, Andrew K., 1996. "Economic Structure and the Decision to Adopt a Common Currency," Center for International and Development Economics Research (CIDER) Working Papers 233436, University of California-Berkeley, Department of Economics.
    6. Mohd Hussain Kunroo, 2015. "Theory of Optimum Currency Areas," Review of Market Integration, India Development Foundation, vol. 7(2), pages 87-116, August.
    7. E D Balogun, 2010. "Alternative reconsideration of output growth differential for West African Monetary Zone," IFC Bulletins chapters, in: Bank for International Settlements (ed.), Proceedings of the SARB/IFC seminar on "Economic and financial convergence en route to regional economic integration: experience, prospects and statis, volume 32, pages 106-120, Bank for International Settlements.
    8. Uctum Merih & Uctum Remzi & Vijverberg Chu-Ping C., 2021. "The European growth synchronization through crises and structural changes," Studies in Nonlinear Dynamics & Econometrics, De Gruyter, vol. 25(1), pages 1-17, February.
    9. Nephil Matangi Maskay, 2001. "South Asian Monetary Integration in Light of the Optimum Currency Area Criterion of Patterns of Shocksâ€," South Asia Economic Journal, Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka, vol. 2(2), pages 203-219, September.
    10. Fabrizio Balassone & Sandro Momigliano & Marzia Romanelli & Pietro Tommasino, 2018. "Just Round the Corner? Pros, Cons, and Implementation Issues of a Fiscal Union for the Euro Area," ECONOMIA PUBBLICA, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2018(1), pages 5-34.
    11. Paul Grauwe, 1996. "The economics of convergence: Towards monetary union in Europe," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 132(1), pages 1-27, March.
    12. Gilson, Nathalie alias Natacha & Labondance, Fabien, 2013. "Synchronisation des chocs d’offre et de demande en Europe – Un après-euro ou une après-crise des subprimes ?," L'Actualité Economique, Société Canadienne de Science Economique, vol. 89(3), pages 155-189, Septembre.
    13. Houssa, Romain, 2008. "Monetary union in West Africa and asymmetric shocks: A dynamic structural factor model approach," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(1-2), pages 319-347, February.
    14. Schor, Armand-Denis, 2000. "La théorie des zones monétaires optimales : l’optimum, le praticable, le crédible et le réel," L'Actualité Economique, Société Canadienne de Science Economique, vol. 76(4), pages 545-576, décembre.
    15. Harrison Oluchukwu Okafor, 2013. "Estimating the Costs and Benefits of a Common Currency for the Second West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ)," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 5(2), pages 57-68.
    16. Buigut, Steven & Valev, Neven T., 2009. "Benefits from Mutual Restraint in a Multilateral Monetary Union," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 585-594, March.
    17. Balogun, Emmanuel Dele, 2008. "An alternative reconsideration of macroeconomic convergence criteria for West African Monetary Zone," MPRA Paper 11367, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    18. Franz Pauer, 1996. "Will Asymmetric Shocks Pose a Serious Problem in EMU?," Working Papers 23, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank).
    19. Jan Iša & Ivan Okáli, 2008. "Európska menová únia, optimálna menová oblasť a možné dôsledky vstupu slovenska do eurozóny [European monetary union, optimum currency area and possible effects of slovakia's joining the euro area]," Politická ekonomie, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2008(3), pages 318-344.
    20. William Miles & Chu‐Ping C. Vijverberg, 2018. "Did the Euro Common Currency Increase or Decrease Business Cycle Synchronization for its Member Countries?," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 85(339), pages 558-580, July.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    eurozone; optimum currency area; economic and monetary integration; EMU; Maastricht criteria;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F35 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Aid
    • F41 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Open Economy Macroeconomics
    • F42 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - International Policy Coordination and Transmission
    • E42 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Monetary Sytsems; Standards; Regimes; Government and the Monetary System

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gda:wpaper:1201. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Tomasz Brodzicki (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/fegdapl.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.