Summary

The aim of this course is to equip students with a critical understanding of the economic issues in the financial and monetary integration debate, with a special emphasis in the euro area. The course provides a blend of descriptive information, theory and empirical analysis. The emphasis is on economic issues but these issues are studied in their political and social context. Theoretical analysis forms an essential part of the course and requires knowledge of intermediate micro- and macroeconomics. Particular attention is devoted to policy areas in which EU co-ordination has progressed furthest: monetary and fiscal integration and the internal market. The aim of the course is to provide the theoretical underpinnings to analyze the economic effects of monetary integration processes, using as a case study the European experience. It is a course comprising theory and practice.