The Political Economy of a Diverse Monetary Union

Enrico Perotti and Oscar Soons

No 13987, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: We analyze the political economy of monetary unification among countries with different quality of institutions. Countries with stronger institutions have lower public spending and better investment incentives, even under a stronger currency. Governments under weaker institutions spend more so must occasionally devalue. In a MU market prices and flows adjust quickly but institutional differences persist, so a diverse monetary union (DMU) has many redistributive effects. The government in the weaker country expand spending and investment may be reduced by the fiscal and common exchange rate effect. Strong country production benefits from the weaker currency but needs to offer fiscal support in a fiscal crisis, a transfer legitimized by its ex ante devaluation gain. Some governments may join a DMU even if it depresses productive capacity to expand public spending. Even in a DMU beneficial for all countries, workers and firms in weaker countries and savers in stronger countries may lose.

Keywords: Monetary unions; Institutions; Political economy; Institutional quality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cba, nep-mon and nep-opm
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Related works:
Working Paper: The Political Economy of a Diverse Monetary Union (2020)
Working Paper: The Political Economy of a Diverse Monetary Union (2020)
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