The Euro at Ten – The Next Global Currency? - Softcover

Over the first ten years of its existence, the euro has proved to be more than a powerful symbol of collective identity. It has provided price stability to previously inflation-prone countries; it has offered a shelter against currency crises; and it has by and large been conducive to budgetary discipline. The eurozone has attracted five new members in addition to the initial eleven, and many countries in Europe wish to adopt it.

The euro has also been successful internationally. Even though research presented in this volume confirms that it has not rivaled the dollar's world currency status, it has certainly become a strong regional currency in Europe and the Mediterranean region. Some countries in the region have de facto adopted it, several peg to it, and many have become at least partially euroized. However, the euro's impressive first decade is likely to be followed by a much more difficult period. The present financial crisis is posing at least two important challenges: real economic adjustment within the euro area and maintenance of fiscal and financial stability without a central government authority capable of taking appropriate financial and fiscal decisions in difficult times.

The papers and remarks in this volume demonstrate that the euro has proved to be attractive as a fair weather currency for countries and investors well beyond its borders. But it remains to be seen whether it is equipped to also succeed as a stormy weather currency.

Dr. Posen, the President of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, has specialized in macroeconomic and monetary policy, resolution of financial crises, central banking issues, and the economies of Western Europe, Japan, and the United States. Dr. Posen brings a distinctively global perspective to macroeconomic policy analysis and forecasting. He has written about the financial and economic challenges faced by the European Union following the adoption of the euro and the lasting impact of Japan's economic crisis of the 1990s, while providing counsel directly to the Japanese government in Tokyo. Leading up to the successful London G-20 summit of 2009 during the global financial crisis, he consulted for the UK Cabinet Office.

Jean Pisani-Ferry is the former director of Bruegel, the Brussels-based think tank, and professor at Université Paris-Dauphine. He is also a member of the European Commission's Group of Economic Policy Analysis and of the French prime minister's Council of Economic Analysis. He was executive president of the French prime minister's Council of Economic Analysis; senior adviser to the French minister of finance; director of CEPII, the French institute for international economics; and economic adviser with the European Commission.