Center for International and Development Economics Research

The connection between monetary integration and political integration is probably the most contentious aspect of the Maastricht process. In this paper I suggest that relationship between monetary and political integration is contingent; under only slightly different initial conditions, these two dimensions of the integration process can evolve in very different ways. Specifically, whether monetary and political integration develop hand in hand or the first progresses without significant movement toward the second will depend on the accompanying fiscal constitution.