The Economic Potential of a Larger Europe gives insights into past, present and future issues related to the ongoing EU enlargement process. Providing a unique forum for debate and a multiplicity of views and experiences from both high-profile academics and those who engage with enlargement on an implementation level, this book covers a wide range of topics that are key to a successful transition and integration process and thus to the provision of a prosperous growth environment within a larger Europe. Special attention is paid to monetary integration, notably entry into ERM II, on which representatives of the national central banks involved present their views. Given the non-technical language of most contributions, this publication targets a broad audience generally interested in the future of the EU, in the design of the enlargement process, and in the challenges of reform on the road to a stronger Europe. This is a book that can be recommended for economists as well as experts in the fields of European integration, Central and Eastern Europe, and EU enlargement from governments, international organizations, central, commercial and investment banks, and universities and research institutes.

This book combines currency matters with competitiveness considerations, with a view to raising the understanding of exchange rate dynamics and to analysing the role of exchange rates in reinforcing economic competitiveness. The overall focus is on highlighting the link between currency developments and the real side of the economy. From a regional perspective, the contributions centre on developments in Central, Eastern and South-eastern Europe and thus put a special emphasis on aspects of transition and convergence. More specifically, the book addresses key issues of financial globalization and global imbalances; the role of macroeconomic fundamentals in exchange rate economics; the role, objectives and challenges of regional monetary unions; exchange rate dynamics in transition economies and the competitiveness of catching-up countries. It also addresses the structural aspects of competitiveness and the significance of qualitative and quantitative aspects of competitiveness. Offering the views of eminent academics and professionals, this book will be of great interest to economists and central bankers as well as to international organizations, universities and research institutes.

Rising unemployment has become one of the most challenging problems for economic policy in many developed economies over the last fifteen years. In the second half of the 1970s and during the first half of the 1980s the labour market situation worsened dramatically. For the OECD area as a whole, unemployment as a percentage of the civilian labour force went up from 3.3 percent in 1974 to 8.1 percent in 1985. The increase in unemployment rates was even more pronounced for OECD-Europe, where it climbed from 3.3 percent to 10.5 percent in this period. Table 1.1: Unemployment Rates in some aECD Countries, 1974-1989 yearly average 1989 1974{79 1974 1979 1985 1980/85 1985/89 USA 5,6 5,8 7,2 5,2 6,8 8,1 6,2 UK 2,2 4,5 11,6 6,5 4,2 10,0 9,7 3,3 8,3 7,3 3,5 6,6 7,9 FRG 2,1 2,4 1,3 1,5 2,4 2,2 Sweden 1,6 1,7 Austria 1,1 1,7 3,6 3,4 1,5 3,0 3,5 Austria*) 1,5 2,0 4,8 5,0 1,9 3,6 5,3 OECDEurope 3,3 5,7 10,5 9,0 4,8 9,1 10,0 OECD 3,7 5,2 8,1 6,6 5,0 7,7 7,5 *) national definition - see footnote 1). Source: OECD, 1989; BMSA.

The financial integration of Europe is both welcomed as an economic driving force and watched with concern as a source of potential stability. After all, changing financial, regulatory and corporate ownership structures are fuelling competition, capital mobility and financial intermediation, but at the same time creating new systemic risks. With a special focus on Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, the contributors to this book explore a wide spectrum of underlying issues, including the finance-growth nexus, credit boom patterns, the implications of foreign bank entry modes, lessons learned from old EU member states and commercial bank strategies. Authoritative views from central bank officials and policymakers are complemented with a special focus on empirical and econometric evidence from academia as well as practical insights from key financial market players. This unique collection will be of great interest to economists and experts in the fields of financial markets and European integration from central, commercial and investment banks, governments, international organizations, universities and research institutes.

With both transition dynamics and the EU integration process having shifted to the south-east of Europe, a region fairly marginalized in the literature, this book fills a gap by taking stock of where South-East Europe's economies and institutions stood in 2004. The authors evaluate the potential for investment and growth within the South-East European region, including the role of trade and FDI, and discuss the challenges associated with unemployment, poverty and 'brain drain'. The book also provides insights into the particular monetary and exchange rate policies applied, including cases of 'euroization', and finally makes an assessment, against this background, of the European perspective of the countries of South-East Europe. European Economic Integration and South-East Europe offers a unique collection of contributions, combining authoritative views from central bank officials and policymakers, topical empirical evidence from academia and refreshing practical insights from companies doing business in the area. It will be of great interest to economists as well as those generally interested in the future of the EU, the design of the enlargement process and the challenges of reform on the road to a stronger Europe.

This book provides authoritative academic and professional insights into the effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) on home and host countries. It highlights global trends and patterns, and explores related policy challenges all with a special focus on the countries in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.The book cuts through the existing data fog by offering a wide range of up-to-date academic findings and institutional expertise. Those findings are rounded off with lessons to be learned from historical developments (Ireland's success story), an evaluation of current trends (the role of China) and an investment promotion agency policy for attracting sustainable investment (CzechInvest). Contributions made by central bank officials, institutional representatives, members of academia and professionals provide for a uniquely complementary view on FDI developments and their implications. At a time of big changes in the FDI landscape, this book offers both empirical and econometric evidence on foreign direct investment and will be of great interest to economists and other experts in the fields of economic policy and European integration from central, commercial and investment banks, governments, international organizations, universities and research institutes. The special focus on FDI will attract those interested in, or directly involved in tackling the challenges of attracting sustainable investment or investing successfully abroad.