Is the ‘EURO' a Defunct Currency?

In this paper we provide a brief discourse on the theory of optimum currency areas to serve as a basis for constructive criticism of the conceptual framework of the eurozone. With particular reference to the Greek economic crisis, we argue that the very architecture of the EU experiment involving t...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Constantinos ALEXIOU, Joseph Nellis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: EconJournals 2012-06-01
Series:International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues
Online Access:https://www.econjournals.com/index.php/ijefi/article/view/200
Description
Summary:In this paper we provide a brief discourse on the theory of optimum currency areas to serve as a basis for constructive criticism of the conceptual framework of the eurozone. With particular reference to the Greek economic crisis, we argue that the very architecture of the EU experiment involving the single currency was inherently flawed from the outset in so far as political pressures to speed up the process towards a politically unified Europe has resulted in what is perceived as the worst economic impasse in the history of modern capitalism. Keywords: Optimum Currency Area; Economic and Monetary Integration; Euro; Greece. JEL Classifications: E42; F13; F33; F42
ISSN:2146-4138