Central Fiscal Authority Needed for Effective Economic Integration in Europe
The European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) doesn't have a central fiscal authority. While monetary and exchange rate policies are centralized, fiscal policy remains a national responsibility. The paper suggests that as economic integration increases, there may be a need for a central fiscal authority to improve efficiency, redistribution, and stabilization. Although enhanced policy coordination can help in the short term, a central fiscal authority might become more necessary as economic integration progresses.