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Revisiting the Economic Case for Fiscal Union in the Euro Area

Author

Listed:
  • Mr. Helge Berger
  • Mr. Giovanni Dell'Ariccia
  • Mr. Maurice Obstfeld

Abstract

The paper makes an analytical contribution to the revived discussion about the euro area’s institutional setup. After significant progress during the euro crisis, the drive to complete Europe’s Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) had stalled, and the way forward will benefit from an in-depth look at the conceptual issues raised by the evolution and architecture of Europe, and the tradeoffs involved. A thorough look at the underlying economic issues suggests that in the long run, EMU will benefit from progressing along three mutually supporting tracks: introduce more fiscal risk sharing, helping to make the sovereign “no bailout” rule credible; complementary financial sector reforms to delink sovereigns and banks; and more effective rules to discourage moral hazard. This evolution would ensure that financial markets provide incentives for fiscal discipline. Introducing more fiscal union comes with myriad legal, technical, operational, and political problems, raising questions well beyond the remit of economics. But without decisive progress to foster fiscal risk sharing, EMU will continue to face existential risks.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Helge Berger & Mr. Giovanni Dell'Ariccia & Mr. Maurice Obstfeld, 2018. "Revisiting the Economic Case for Fiscal Union in the Euro Area," IMF Departmental Papers / Policy Papers 2018/003, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfdps:2018/003
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    Cited by:

    1. Szczurek, Mateusz, . "Reakcja Unii Europejskiej na COVID-19 jako wypełnienie braków w konstrukcji Europejskiej Unii Gospodarczej i Walutowej," Gospodarka Narodowa-The Polish Journal of Economics, Szkoła Główna Handlowa w Warszawie / SGH Warsaw School of Economics, vol. 2021(4).
    2. Philipp Mohl & Gilles Mourre & Klara Stovicek, 2019. "Automatic Fiscal Stabilisers in the EU: Size and Effectiveness," European Economy - Economic Briefs 045, Directorate General Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN), European Commission.
    3. Olanubi, Sijuola Orioye & Osode, Oluwanbepelumi Esther & Adegboye, Abiodun Adewale, 2020. "Public sector efficiency in the design of a euro-area social benefit scheme," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 615-627.
    4. Beetsma, Roel & Burgoon, Brian & Nicoli, Francesco, 2023. "Is european attachment sufficiently strong to support an EU fiscal capacity: Evidence from a conjoint experiment," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    5. Dolls, Mathias, 2024. "An unemployment re-insurance scheme for the eurozone? Stabilizing and redistributive effects," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    6. Philip R. Lane, 2019. "Globalisation: A Macro-Financial Perspective," The Economic and Social Review, Economic and Social Studies, vol. 50(2), pages 249-263.
    7. Giovanni Dosi & Marcello Minenna & Andrea Roventini & Roberto Violi, 2021. "Making the Eurozone work: a risk-sharing reform of the European Stability Mechanism," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 299(1), pages 617-657, April.
    8. Sánchez García, Javier & Galdeano Gómez, Emilio & Cruz Rambaud, Salvador, 2024. "Drivers of inflationary shocks and spillovers between Europe and the United States," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    9. Mateusz Szczurek, 2021. "Reakcja Unii Europejskiej na COVID-19 jako wypełnienie braków w konstrukcji Europejskiej Unii Gospodarczej i Walutowej," Gospodarka Narodowa. The Polish Journal of Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, issue 4, pages 83-102.
    10. Nicoletta Batini & Francesco Lamperti & Andrea Roventini, 2020. "Reducing Risk While Sharing It: A Fiscal Recipe for The EU at the Time of COVID-19," IMF Working Papers 2020/181, International Monetary Fund.
    11. Philip R. Lane, 2021. "The Resilience of the Euro," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 35(2), pages 3-22, Spring.
    12. Michele Andreolli & Hélène Rey, 2024. "Fiscal Consequences of Missing an Inflation Target," IMF Economic Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Monetary Fund, vol. 72(2), pages 701-772, June.
    13. Koetter, Michael & Nguyen, Huyen, 2023. "European banking in transformational times: Regulation, crises, and challenges," IWH Studies 7/2023, Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH).
    14. Julia del Amo Valor & Marcos Martín Mateos & Diego Martínez López & Javier J. Pérez, 2023. "Is the European economic governance framework too “complex”? A critical discussion," Working Papers 2023-06, FEDEA.
    15. Affinito, Massimiliano & Albareto, Giorgio & Santioni, Raffaele, 2022. "Purchases of sovereign debt securities by banks during the crisis: The role of balance sheet conditions," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    16. Beetsma, Roel & Cimadomo, Jacopo & van Spronsen, Josha, 2024. "One scheme fits all: A central fiscal capacity for the EMU targeting eurozone, national and regional shocks," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    17. Alessandro Caiani & Ermanno Catullo, 2023. "Fiscal Transfers and Common Debt in a Monetary Union: A Multi-Country Agent Based-Stock Flow Consistent Model," LEM Papers Series 2023/19, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    18. Dolls, Mathias & Wehrhöfer, Nils, 2021. "Attitudes towards euro area reforms: Evidence from a randomized survey experiment," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    19. Bethlendi, András & Lentner, Csaba & Póra, András, 2020. "Független költségvetési intézmények fejlődése a 2008-as válság után [Development of independent fiscal institutions since the crisis of 2008]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(7), pages 787-808.
    20. Massimo Amato & Everardo Belloni & Paolo Falbo & Lucio Gobbi, 2021. "Europe, public debts, and safe assets: the scope for a European Debt Agency," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 38(3), pages 823-861, October.
    21. Olanubi, Oluwanbepelumi Esther & Olanubi, Sijuola Orioye, 2022. "Public sector efficiency in the design of a COVID fund for the euro area," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(3), pages 163-169.
    22. Sascha Buetzer, 2022. "Advancing the Monetary Policy Toolkit through Outright Transfers," IMF Working Papers 2022/087, International Monetary Fund.
    23. Jan Priewe, 2021. "Reforming the Fiscal Rulebook for the Euro Area – and the Challenge of Old and New Public Debt," IMK Studies 72-2021, IMK at the Hans Boeckler Foundation, Macroeconomic Policy Institute.

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    JEL classification:

    • F45 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Macroeconomic Issues of Monetary Unions
    • E61 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Policy Objectives; Policy Designs and Consistency; Policy Coordination
    • F02 - International Economics - - General - - - International Economic Order and Integration
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • H77 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Intergovernmental Relations; Federalism

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