European Unification Based on Flexibility and Diversity

Bruno Frey

FinanzArchiv: Public Finance Analysis, 2019, vol. 75, issue 1, 93-109

Abstract: European unification has a noble aim but is endangered by encompassing egalitarianism and bureaucratization, and is moreover subject to a major democracy deficit. This paper argues that flexible and dynamic entities whose territoriality is determined by issues are appropriate for a Europe of the 21st century. The first step must be to constitutionally allow the emergence and existence of corresponding political entities with taxing and spending power. Over time these flexible, democratic, and diverse political units will take over those activities national states and the EU do not fulfill well.

Keywords: European unification; flexibility; diversity; systems competition; national states (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D02 H1 H77 K20 P4 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Working Paper: European Unification Based on Flexibility and Diversity (2015)
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DOI: 10.1628/fa-2018-0022

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