This paper explores the relationship between economic growth and the welfare state. We argue that: (i) the institutional constraints set by the international monetary system may be at least as effective determinants of growth differentials between countries as the different dimensions of their...

Concern about unsustainable payments imbalances in the global economy has prompted renewed interest in international monetary reform. This paper describes and evaluates six reform proposals that focus on strengthening the institutional framework for the current system. Some of these proposals...

In December 1995, the European Council, metting in Madrid, confirmed "unequivocally" that the third and final stage of economic and monetary union (EMU) will begin on January 1, 1999. The Council chose "euro" as the name of the new single currency and adopted a timetable for decisions and...

This essay examines the connection between the establishment of a common market and additional moves to monetary and political union. It then reviews both the monetary and fiscal aspects of ninteenth-century German unification. Finally, it discusses what modern Europe can and should learn from...

The recent financial crisis teaches important lessons regarding the lender-of-last resort function. Large swap lines extended in 2007-08 from the Federal Reserve to other central banks show that the classic concept of a national last-resort lender fails to address key vulnerabilities in a...

This paper is inspired by the contributions made by Geoff Harcourt concerning the macroeconomics of open economies, international capital movements and speculation (e.g. Harcourt 1994, Dalziel/Harcourt 1997). This conceptual frame- work is developed in a simple model, useful for validating some...

We offer new evidence on the emergence of the dollar as the leading international currency focusing on its role as currency of denomination in global bond markets. We show that the dollar overtook sterling much earlier than commonly supposed, as early as in 1929. Financial development appears to...