Fulfillment of Maastricht Convergence Criteria and the Acceding Countries

This paper first touches upon the definition and purpose of the Maastricht convergence criteria, and next analyses the rules, procedures, methodology and interpretation of meeting the Maastricht convergence criteria. It is shown how acceding countries presently fulfill the Maastricht convergence criteria and how the present EMU countries complied with them at a comparable time distance before their own entry in EMU. Some of the related issues, such as monetary and fiscal policy, coordination among economic policies and relationship between nominal and real convergence are dealt with only as much as they have a bearing on the fulfillment of the Maastricht convergence criteria.

Institutional Aspects of Dynamics of Inclusion of Accession Countries into the EMU

The main topic of the paper is optimal dynamics, i.e., timing of entry of the accession countries in the ERM 2 and EMU. Some of the crucial questions addressed in the paper are as follows: a) Should accession countries aim at an early or a delayed entry into the EMU? b) What are economic and other arguments for an early or late inclusion? c) What are the institutional external constraints which may prevent an early inclusion of accession countries? Institutional rules of the phased process of monetary integration for the accession countries are not quite transparent and leave much room for discretion to the EU side. In such circumstances it is difficult for the accession countries to devise clear and consistent strategies with respect to the timing of entry in the ERM 2 as an interim institutional mechanism in the run-up to the EMU.

Monetary and Exchange Rate Policy in Slovenia

The paper is divided in three sections presenting some stylized facts concerning monetary and exchange rate policy framework in Slovenia. Three periods are covered: Money-based Stabilization Policy (1991-1995), Price and Real Exchange Rate Stability Dual Targeting Policy (1996-2001), and Exchange Rate Based Stabilization Policy and Accession to ERM2 (2001-).Regional Input, Monetary Policy, Exchange Rate Policy, Slovenia

Exchange Rate Regimes of CEE Countries on the way to the EMU: Nominal Convergence, Real Convergence and Optimum Currency Area Criteria

The paper addresses some issues which are still open in the process of inclusion of CEE countries in the EMU. First, what are the interests of both parties involved (CEE countries and the EU side) regarding the dynamics of the accession of CEE countries to the EMU, and related to this, what is its likely scenario (early or late inclusion in the EMU), taking into account the balance of powers between the two sides. Second, the paper discusses the criteria for measuring readiness of individual CEE countries for joining the EMU. The analysis is focused on the debate on nominal convergence (represented by the famous maastricht convergence criteria) versus real convergence (catching up in economic development). In short, the discussion concentrates on the question whether monetary integration is possible and desirable among countries at a different level of economic development. Finally, special attention is paid to optimum currency area criteria, not only as a theoretical background for monetary integration, but also as an additional insight into the measurement of relative suitability and readiness of individual candidate countries for joining the EMU. As an illustration, the paper attempts to measure some of the optimum currency area indicators for the case of Slovenia, and finds out that Slovenia is relatively quite suitable for joining monetary integration and relatively well prepared for joining the euro area. In particular, Slovenia is not expected to be exposed to serious asymmetric shocks, once Slovenia joins the EMU.Exchange Rate Regimes for CEEC, Optimum Currency Areas, Slovenia

Towards National Real Estate Accounts – The Case of Slovenia

Conceptual issues of establishing national or “satellite” real estate accounts are discussed, as well as their relevance for the concerns of modelling and comparing of property transactions and their costs. First steps towards such accounts and the difficulties involved are illustrated with the Slovenian case and some data

Final Report: Monetary and Fiscal Policy

This report reflects on recent trends in fiscal and monetary policies at the onset of EU-enlargement. Particularly, the authors focus on necessary adjustment processes for future EU-members. How to smooth best the transition period between "normal" EU-accession and eventual participation in the Eurozone? Having conducted empirical regional reports, the Ezoneplus research consortium combines the results in two main parts: Katarzyna ¯ukrowska and Dominik Sobczak reveal trends and risks in fiscal policy issues, such as divergent consolidation policies in Western Europe, possible lessons for CEE countries and the importance of the Stability and Growth Pact. Then, Massimiliano Marzo elaborates a comprehensive picture of the impact of monetary policy, especially inflation targeting in three CEE countries.EU-budget costs, ECB, EMU, EU-enlargement, fiscal and monetary policy, heterogeneity, Stability and Growth Pact, Monetary Policy Modelling

Expert-Guided Subgroup Discovery: Methodology and Application

This paper presents an approach to expert-guided subgroup discovery. The main step of the subgroup discovery process, the induction of subgroup descriptions, is performed by a heuristic beam search algorithm, using a novel parametrized definition of rule quality which is analyzed in detail. The other important steps of the proposed subgroup discovery process are the detection of statistically significant properties of selected subgroups and subgroup visualization: statistically significant properties are used to enrich the descriptions of induced subgroups, while the visualization shows subgroup properties in the form of distributions of the numbers of examples in the subgroups. The approach is illustrated by the results obtained for a medical problem of early detection of patient risk groups

The Eastward Enlargement of the Eurozone - State of the Art Report

European Monetary Union (EMU) and its enlargement to prospective members in central and eastern Europe is a politically highly desired process, given that everything works out smoothly. The future eurozone will show a much higher degree of heterogeneity than now. The CEEC are in the process of transition from a planned to a market economy. Despite considerable progress during the past decade, much remains to be done in economic, social, and political terms. However, it is important to note that monetary integration is not a stand alone project, but is preceded by the EU enlargement and its obligation to adopt the acquis communautaire. Both events will be mutually reinforcing: The acquis contains numerous rules and institutions to be followed or created by the prospective members, albeit enforcement will be a problem. The success of the eastward enlargement of the eurozone depends on these institutions and, thus, increases the costs of failure. On the other hand, a successfully introduced euro in the CEEC will facilitate the whole integration process.EMU, EU enlargement, monetary integration, state of the art report