The paper deals with the effects of migration resulting from EU Eastern enlargement on the welfare states of Western Europe. Although migration is good in principle, as it yields gains from trade and specialization for all countries involved, it does so only if it meets with flexible labour...

The eastern expansion of the EU resembles German unification in its momentousness. Whereas the latter led to a 26% increase in the population of the Federal Republic, the former will increase the population of the EU by 28% if all ten entry aspirants are accepted. A special problem will be posed...

After the recent global financial crisis several countries on the eurozone's south-western periphery, in particular Greece, Spain, Portugal and Ireland, have faced severe difficulties involving the risk of sovereign debt defaults and a new banking crisis. Other EU countries, above all France,...

Inhalt: 1. Regulatorische Gründe für die Krise 2. Refinanzierungskredite und Target-Salden 3. Staatspapierkäufe der EZB und offizielle Rettungsprogramme 4. Die Risiken und Kosten der EZB-Politik 5. Ökonomische Bewertung der EZB-Politik 6. Politikmaßnahmen gegen Zinsspreizungen 7....

As a result of the Balassa effect relative prices change rapidly between and within the euro countries. Thus it is impossible to find a common monetary policy that will result in price stability in all countries. Based on empirical estimates of the Balassa model, the paper calculates a minimum...