The Political Economy of European Integration

INTRODUCTION

This course will introduce students to the main issues of economics and politics of European integration by using an economic approach. The course addresses key economic questions that arise from the process of integration. This course draws on a core textbook, articles from journals and other documents. Student will be oriented in the most up to date policy discussion about European integration. By the end, students will be able to apply and relate conceptual and theoretical knowledge underpinning the course of the economic and political process of European integration.

REQUIREMENTS

There are no particular technical requirements for this course. However, student should manage a few basic concepts of microeconomics and macroeconomics. Basic skill in Excel and Word packages is strongly recommended.

CONTENTS
     1. Geography & History of European Union (EU).
     2. Institutions and budget: EU laws and legitimacy in EU decision making.
     3. Basic macroeconomics tools: open economics, tariffs and import protections. Case study: The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
     4. State aid: competition, mergers and antitrust policies. Case study: Microsoft.
     5. Growth effects and factor market integration
     6. The effects of integration: labor integration
     7. Labor productivity: Europe vs. US
     8. European migration flows 1950-2000
     9. European imbalances: core-periphery structure. The EU regional policies
     10. The spatial distribution of activities across the European Union
     11. Regional imbalances and convergence process
     12. The effects of integration: capital integration.
     13. Monetary integration: history, choice of an exchange regime
     14. The European Monetary System.