This paper takes stock of the lessons from past crises and the history of other unions to prioritize possible reforms of the euro. The distortions facing the euro include structural challenges in the labor and product markets, and financial distortions. While both structural and financial...

The evolution of institutions in the US and other unions provides clear lessons. There are large gains from buffering currency unions with a union-wide deposit insurance, and partial debt mutualisation. The credibility of a union deposit insurance scheme requires transparent funding and...