The euro area crisis shows some similarities with the crisis that affected the European Monetary System in 1992-93. I argue that the theoretical framework to be used in order to analyze it can also be similar. As a matter of fact, together with the point of view of the government, that should...

The predictions made by economists of the value of the euro prior to its introduction were essentially based on the expected portfolio adjustment resulting from the role that it might play as an international currency. As a result, most analysts agreed that the euro would be a strong currency,...

In this paper we extend Nordhaus’ (1994) results to an environment which may represent the current European situation, characterised by a single monetary authority and several fiscal bodies. We show that: a) co-operation among national fiscal authorities is welfare improving only if they also...

The paper surveys old and new theories of optimum currency areas by following a unifying "logical" rather than "chronological" approach. The fall of credibility theory as the "new" theory of optimum currency areas obliged to go back to the "old" criteria while focusing, however, also on supply...

<i> Dalla credibilità alla speculazione: la crisi del 1992-93 del Sistema monetario europeo </i> (di Pompeo Della Posta) - ABSTRACT: We consider the events that from the creation of the European Monetary System (EMS) lead to the 1992-93 crisis. The adoption of the Single European Act imposed the...

Focusing on the 1992-93 crisis of the European Monetary System (Ems), I stress, in opposition with the conclusions reached by “escape clause” models, the role played by the availability of foreign reserves. In particular, I show the lack of credibility of the Bundesbank’s commitment to...

In this paper we analyze the issue of cooperation among national fiscal authorities in a monetary union within the framework of their strategic interactions with the common monetary authority. We find that: a) in the lack of cooperation with the central bank, cooperation among fiscal authorities...