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Macroeconomic Policy During a Transition to Monetary Union

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  • W.H. Buiter

Abstract

The main conclusions of the paper are the following: - In order to minimize switching costs, the name of the new EU currency should be the D-mark - Differential national requirements for seigniorage revenue provide a weak case for retaining national monetary independence. - From the point of view of adjustment to asymmetric shocks, nominal exchange rate flexibility is at best a limited blessing and at worst a limited curse. - Inter-state labour mobility in the USA does not compensate for the absence of state-level exchange rate flexibility. - The absence of significant inter-member fiscal redistribution mechanisms in the EU is not an obstacle to monetary union. - Convergence or divergence in real economic performance is irrelevant for monetary union. - A common currency is the logical implication of unrestricted international mobility of financial capital. - The Maastricht criteria are unlikely to hinder monetary union. - There are no convincing economic objections left to monetary union in the EU.

Suggested Citation

  • W.H. Buiter, 1995. "Macroeconomic Policy During a Transition to Monetary Union," CEP Discussion Papers dp0261, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    • Handle: RePEc:cep:cepdps:dp0261
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E42 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Monetary Sytsems; Standards; Regimes; Government and the Monetary System
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • E63 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Comparative or Joint Analysis of Fiscal and Monetary Policy; Stabilization; Treasury Policy
    • F31 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Exchange
    • F33 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Monetary Arrangements and Institutions
    • F36 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Financial Aspects of Economic Integration
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets

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