A collection of essays in honour of Robert Triffin, the principal architect of the European Payments Union in the 1940s. These works cover topics such as obstacles to international policy co-ordination, the reform of the international monetary system and European monetary integration. The "Open Market" and its ramifications are discussed and the future of the European Monetary System is examined. The text does not concentrate solely on Europe, however, and also examines such subjects as monetary management in Latin America and proposals for co-operative relief of debt in Africa. An overview of the International Monetary System is provided and the future of macroeconomic policy coordination is examined.

The papers in this book cover the wide range of Robert Triffin's expertise. For example, Jacques Larosire interprets the evolution of the international monetary system. Michel Aglietta critically appraises the international monetary system and suggests the present system is one that does not constrain domestic policy choices. The desirability, scope and means of policy co-ordination are analyzed in the contributions by James Tobin, Robert Solomon, John Williamson, Alexandre Lamfalussy and Wolfgang Rieke. Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa discusses the possible paths to European Monetary Union whilst Alfred Steinherr and Jacques Girard evaluate the past and future evolution of the ECU. Paul De Grauwe provides empirical answers to the highly debated question whether the EMS is a DM-zone.