The Euro ? How a Common Currency Threatens the Future of Europe

The Euro was supposed to bring Europe closer together and promote prosperity; in fact, it has done just the opposite. The 2008 crisis revealed the shortcomings of the Euro, and Europes stagnation and bleak outlook are a direct result of the fundamental flaws inherent in the EU project - economic integration outpacing political integration with a structure that promotes divergence rather than convergence. The question then is: Can the Euro be saved? Laying bare the European Central Banks misguided inflation-only mandate and explaining why austerity has condemned Europe to unending stagnation, Joseph E. Stiglitz outlines three possible ways forward: fundamental reforms in the structure of the Euro zone and the policies imposed on the member countries suffering the most, a well managed end to the European Union or a bold, new system dubbed the flexible Euro. With its lessons for globalisation in a world economy ever more deeply connected, The Euro is urgent and essential reading.