Maastricht Criteria of…Divergence?

Issue: 2012/2

Tomáš Paleta

Faculty of Economics and Administration, Masaryk university, Lipová 41a, Brno, paleta@econ.muni.cz

This article focuses on problematic issues of the Maastricht criteria. The possible effect of attempt to meets the criteria is confronted with its intended purpose. Each criterion is analysed generally by pointing out problematic issues, subsequently, fulfilment by Eurozone members and risks for the Czech Republic, too, are shortly analysed. It is shown that in many cases fulfilling criteria can lead to a different development than was initially intended. The analysis reveals that attempts to meet the criteria can lead to divergence from Eurozone, can cause several economic problems and can bring pain with no gain.

Pages: 
92–119
DOI: 10.2478/v10135-012-0005-7
JEL: F3, F15, E61
Keywords: monetary policy, Maastricht criteria, Eurozone, euro
References: 

 

AFXENTIOU, P. C. (2000). Convergence, the Maastricht Criteria, and Their Benefits. Retrieved 14.2.2010 from http://watsoninstitute.org/bjwa/archive/7.1/Essays/Afxentiou.pdf.

ARTIS, M. J. (2002). Reflection on the Optimal Currency Area (OCA) Criteria in the Light of EMU. Retrieved 11.10.2009 from http://www.bcentral.cl/Estudios/DTBC/doctrab.htm.

ARTIS, M. J. (2003). The stability and growth pact: fiscal policy in the EMU. In Institutional, Legal nad Economic Aspect of the EMU, Springer-Verlag Wien, ISBN: 3-211-83856-2, s. 101-116

BUITER, W. H. – GRAFE, C. (2002). Anchor, Float or Abandon Ship: Exchange Rate Regimes for Accession Countries. Retrieved 15.6.2009 from http://www.cepr.org/pubs/dps/DP3184.asp.

BUITER, W.H. et. al (1993). Excessive Deficits: Sense and Nonsense in the Treaty of Maastricht. Retrieved 24.7.2009 from http://www.jstor.org/stable/1344568.

COAKLEY, J (1995). The ERM crisis and Maastricht. Retrieved 03.07.2009 from http://www.jstor.org/stable/4177159.

CORICELLI, F. (2002). Exchange rate policy during transition to the European Monetary Union: the option of euroization. Retrieved 23.9.2009 from  http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1468-0351.00118/pdf.

ČECHOVIČOVÁ, S. (2008). Slovensko revalvovalo paritu na EUR/SKK 30,1260. Retrieved 2.3.2010 from  http://www.patria.cz/Databank/F_080529_SK_CPREV.pdf?guid=4d623797-4eba-4....

ČNB (2003). Strategie přistoupení České republiky k eurozóně. Retrieved 5.9.2009 from  http://www.zavedenieura.cz/cps/rde/xbcr/euro/Strategie_pristoupeni_Ceske....

DABROWSKI, M (2005). A strategy for EMU Enlargement. Retrieved 5.8.2010 from http://www.case.com.pl/upload/publikacja_plik/4199675_Studies_and_Analys....

DARVAS, Z. – SZAPARY, G. (2008). Euro Area Enlargement and Euro Adoption Strategies. Retrieved 1.8.2009 from  http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/publication_summary1210....

DE GRAUWE, P. (2003). Economics of monetary union. Oxford University press, 5th. ed. ISBN: 0-19-925651-9.

DE GRAUWE, P. (2009). The politics of Maastricht convergence criteria. Retrieved 3.3.2010 from http://www.voxeu.org/index.php?q=node/3454.

DELORS, J. et. al. (1989). Report on Economic and Monetary Union. Retrieved 2.4.2009 from  http://aei.pitt.edu/1008/01/monetary_delors_collected_papers.pdf.

EC (2010).  Konsolidované znění Smlouvy o Evropské unii a Smlouvy o fungování Evropské unie. Retrieved 2.5.2010 from  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2010:083:FULL....

ECB (2004). Convergence Report 2004. Retrieved 7.8.2008 from  http://www.ecb.int/pub/pdf/conrep/cr2004en.pdf.

EIJFFINGER, S. C. W. – DE HAAN, J. (2000). European Monetary and Fiscal Policy. Oxford University Press, ISBN: 0-19-844616-0.

FRAIT, J. (2003). Stability of the Czech Koruna and Convergence towards the Euro. . Retrieved 2.6.2010 from  http://www.cnb.cz/miranda2/export/sites/www.cnb.cz/en/public/media_servi....

HOCHREITER, E. – TAVLAS, G.S (2004). On the Road Again: An Essay on the Optimal Path to EMU for New Member State. Retrieved 17.7.2009 from http://www.bcentral.cl/conferencias-seminarios/seminarios/pdf/hochreiter....

JONÁŠ, J. (2006). Euro adoption and Maastricht criteria: Rules or discretion?. Retrieved 24.4.2009 from ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ecosys/v30y2006i4p328-345.html.

KENEN, P. B. – MEADE, E.E (2003). EU Accession and the Euro: Close Together or Far Apart? In  International Economics Policy Briefs. . Retrieved 15.8.2008 from  http://www.iie.com/publications/pb/pb03-9.pdf,

LEVASSEUR, S. (2004). Why not euroisation?. Retrieved 12.4.2010 from  http://www.cairn.info/load_pdf.php?ID_ARTICLE=REOF_075_0121.

MANKIW, N.G. (1992). Macroeconomics. Worth Publishers, ISBN: 0-87901-502-0.

PAPAPEMOS, L. (2004). Monetary policy and ERM II participation on the path to the euro. Retrieved 18.4.2009 from  http://www.ecb.int/press/key/date/2004/html/sp040625.en.html,

STAEHR, K. (2008). The Maastricht Inflation Criterion and the New EU Members from Central and Eastern Europe. Retrieved 20.4.2009 from http://www.eestipank.info/pub/en/dokumendid/publikatsioonid/seeriad/uuri...,

STOCKMAN, A.C. (1999). Choosing an exchange-rate system. Retrieved 9.7.2010 from  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MImg&_imagekey=B6VCY-3XC1VG5-3-...,

TAYLOR, CH. (1995). EMU 2000? Prospect for European Monetary union, Royal Institute for International Affairs, ISBN: 1-85567-313-4.

TEMPERTON, P. (1998). The Euro. 2.vyd. ISBN:0-471-98722-0

WINKLER, B. (1996): Is Maastricht a good contract? Retrieved 15.6.2009 from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1468-5965.00149/pdf.

WYPLOSZ, CH (2006). European Monetary Union: The Dark Sides of a Major Success. . Retrieved 3.8.2009 from  http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-0327.2006.00158.x/pdf,

WYPLOSZ, CH. (2000). EMU: Why and How It Might Happen. In International Political Economy, Bedford/St. Martin’s. ISBN 0-415-22279-6, s.270-279