The Euro Essay Research Paper On January

The Euro Essay, Research Paper On January 1, 1999, eleven European countries replaced their national currencies and introduced a single European currency, the Euro. As of then, the Euro is considered to be the official currency in the eleven participating countries. Bills and coins of the national currencies will remain in circulation as sub-denominations of the Euro until January 1, 2002, when they will be exchanged against new Euro coins and bills. However, all inter-bank commerce and stock exchange trade is now denominated in the official currency. Conversion Rates The irrevocable conversion rates of the participating currencies have been fixed through a unanimous vote of the European Council. The external value of the Euro corresponds to the external value of the ECU,

which means that the conversion rate between them is one to one. In order to avoid speculation, the bilateral market rates were taken as the basis for the conversion. Thus the conversion rates protect the external value of the participating currencies. Furthermore, to avoid misuse of rounding in carrying out conversions, conversion rates have six significant digits. The rates shown in the table below are the official conversion rates announced on December 31, 1998. In carrying out the conversion, only the official conversion rate will be used, but not its reciprocal value. That is, to change local currency into Euro, divide by the conversion rate. Euro Conversion Rates Country Currency 1 Euro = Austria ATS 13.7603 Belgium BEF 40.3399 Finland FIM 5.94573 France FRF 6.55957 Germany

DEM 1.95583 Ireland IEP 0.787564 Italy ITL 1936.27 Luxembourg LUF 40.3399 Netherlands NLG 2.20371 Spain ESP 166.386 Portugal PTE 200.482 The Euro Symbol The dollar, the pound, and the yen all have symbols to denote their currency. A new symbol has been created for the Euro: a stylized e, with two dashes instead of one in the middle. It is usually displayed in yellow color on a blue background: Pros and Cons Arguments for a single European currency -Transaction Costs Having to deal with only one currency will reduce the cost of converting one currency into another. This will benefit businesses as well as tourists. -No Exchange Rate Uncertainty Eliminating exchange rates between European countries eliminates the risks of unforeseen exchange rate reevaluations or devaluation’s.

-Transparency & Competition The direct comparability of prices and wages will increase competition across Europe, leading to lower prices for consumers and improved investment opportunities for businesses. -Strength The new Euro will be among the strongest currencies in the world, along with the US Dollar and the Japanese Yen. It will soon become the 2nd-most important reserve currency after the US Dollar. -Capital Market The large Euro zone will integrate the national financial markets, leading to higher efficiency in the allocation of capital in Europe. -No Competitive Devaluation’s One country can no longer devalue its currency against another member country in a bid to increase the competitiveness of its exporters. -Fiscal Discipline With a single currency, other

governments have an interest in bringing countries with a lack of fiscal discipline into line. -European Identity A European currency will strengthen European identity. Arguments against a single European currency -Cost of Introduction Consumers and businesses will have to convert their bills and coins into new ones, and convert all prices and wages into the new currency. This will involve some costs as banks and businesses need to update computer software for accounting purposes, update price lists, and so on. -Non-Synchronicity of Business Cycles Europe may not constitute an “optimum currency area” because the business cycles across the various countries do not move in synchronicity. -Fiscal Policy Spillovers Since there will only be a Europe-wide interest rate, individual