Progress towards economic and monetary union in Western Europe has highlighted the importance of regional policies, while events in Eastern Europe have focused attention on the role of finance in development and may lead to a substantial diversion of capital flows. This volume from the Centre for Economic Policy Research addresses the relationships between growth, convergence, and capital market imperfections. Theoretical papers shed light on the debates over the role of financial structure in economic development and the scope for government intervention to promote regional development. Highly topical empirical papers examine the relationship between international lending and economic development in a historical perspective; the experience of regional policies in the European Community, and of financial liberalization in high-growth East Asian economies; and the development of financial markets in Eastern Europe.

Capital markets are affected at least as much as goods markets by the European Community's drive for greater economic integration. The removal of capital controls on 1 July 1990 has far-reaching consequences for the EMS and for cross-border investment, and plans for economic and monetary union foreshadow fundamental upheavals at the heart of the financial system, in central banking and monetary and fiscal policy. This volume reports the proceedings of a conference on European financial integration held in Rome in January 1990, which was organised by the Centre for Economic Policy Research and the Instituto Mobiliare Italiano. In this volume, leading international experts examine the implications of integration for the structure and regulation of capital markets, the changing relationships between the corporate and banking sectors throughout the Community, the distortionary effects of differing taxation policies among member states and possible means of overcoming them, and alternative routes to European monetary union.

This volume, based on a conference held by the Italian Macroeconomic Policy Group and the centre for Economic Policy Research, examines the issues raised by European monetary unification. An introduction describes recent monetary developments and identifies the motivations for creating a European central bank. Theoretical papers analyse the interactions of capital controls, financial intermediation and seigniorage in open economies; the optimal design of centralized banks of issue by sovereign countries; and some new aspects of the 'optimal currency area' question. The empirical papers provide new evidence and interpretation of inflation experience across Europe and the attitudes of European central bankers about inflation and unemployment. The historical papers describe the experience of currency unification in Germany and Italy in the 19th century and the creation of the US Federal Reserve System. The volume concludes with a panel discussion on the feasibility of European monetary unification, featuring leading academics and central bankers.

Progress towards economic and monetary union in Western Europe has highlighted the importance of regional policies, while events in Eastern Europe have focused attention on the role of finance in development and may lead to a substantial diversion of capital flows. This volume from the Centre for Economic Policy Research addresses the relationships between growth, convergence, and capital market imperfections. Theoretical papers shed light on the debates over the role of financial structure in economic development and the scope for government intervention to promote regional development. Highly topical empirical papers examine the relationship between international lending and economic development in a historical perspective; the experience of regional policies in the European Community, and of financial liberalization in high-growth East Asian economies; and the development of financial markets in Eastern Europe.