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Difficult Convergence among the Five Main European Union Countries and the Crisis of the Euro Area

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  • Michele Caputo
  • Francesco Forte

Abstract

This paper focuses on the European Union (EU) and European Monetary Union (EMU) as club-governments after an analysis of the characteristics of the union of governments as clubs. Convergence among member countries regarding the parameters relevant for club homogeneity and stability is paramount. We develop empirical research on the convergence path in a model with the five main EU countries, with 15 parameters drawn from neoclassical growth theory and from EU-EMU rules. We examine convergence and stability in the EU club for France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom by measuring their parametric spreads from 2003 (first year of normal circulation of the euro) to 2011. Convergence with growth developed before the great financial fluctuation, then divergence set in. Convergence then reappeared with partial stagnation. Gross domestic product (GDP) was the dominant parameter, while GDP per capita was the least important. The main focus of the paper is on measurement. The results signal the need for changes in institutions and policy tools consistent with the market economy models of the two clubs. Further integration will face the same issues. Copyright International Atlantic Economic Society 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Michele Caputo & Francesco Forte, 2015. "Difficult Convergence among the Five Main European Union Countries and the Crisis of the Euro Area," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 43(4), pages 415-430, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:atlecj:v:43:y:2015:i:4:p:415-430
    DOI: 10.1007/s11293-015-9480-4
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    Cited by:

    1. Philip Haynes & Jonathan Haynes, 2016. "Convergence and Heterogeneity in Euro Based Economies: Stability and Dynamics," Economies, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-16, August.
    2. Nicholas Apergis & Christina Christou & Rangan Gupta & Stephen M. Miller, 2018. "Convergence in Income Inequality: Further Evidence from the Club Clustering Methodology across States in the U.S," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 24(2), pages 147-161, May.
    3. Philip Haynes & David Alemna, 2023. "Convergence Trends in Euro Economies: Financial Crisis Recovery and the COVID-19 Pandemic," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-18, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Convergence; Stability; Club theory; European monetary union; Growth models; E52; E62; H41; O47;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • E62 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Fiscal Policy; Modern Monetary Theory
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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