Welfare and Employment in a United Europe

Over the last twenty years, fifteen Western European nations have removed most barriers to trade and migration, as well as most forms of national discrimination in economic and social exchange. Some have also given up their national currency and their ability to conduct independent monetary and fiscal policy. Opinion on the future of structural reform in the European Union tends to fall into two camps. One side argues that the single market and monetary union will make it more difficult to carry out badly needed structural reforms. The other side contends that, as monetary policy is decided elsewhere, countries will have more resources to concentrate on structural concerns.

This volume consists of two long studies – each written by a group of economists working in four different countries of the European Union – followed by commentary. The two study were originally prepared for the I European Conference of the Fondazione Ing. Rodolfo Debenedetti, which was held in Genova in July 1999.

To buy the book, plese visit the website MIT Press. The Italian version of the book, “Protezione sociale, occupazione e integrazione europea”, edited by Il Mulino, is also available.