The European M::metary System (EMS) is perhaps the only success story of the Common Market since the First Enlargement. Its success, particul arly where the comnercial use of the ECU is concerned, has taken rrost experts by surprise. So much so, that when the author tried to recommend to his students a suitable and substantial work of study and/or reference about the experience of the EMS and its possible future evolution --- no book could be found. Thus, the author set out to write the present work. The author's aim is not to give a historical account of the EHS. Rather, the intention is to place the experience in a major historical context wherein the System is seen an important transitional phase on the road to the implementation of a full economic and rronetary union (EMU) • When examining the earlier plans for an EMU which saw the light of day between 1969 and 1970 (already so long ago!) clear reasons emerge why the original six founder Member States of the EEC should have found it logical to embark upon the road to an El'1U - "p=vided the political will to do so existed". Thus, they had become highly integrated and were conducting half their trade with each other. Then, there was the desire to integrate still further ---- eventually leading (perhaps) to a political union.

Autorentext

Peter Coffey, a British national was until recently, Head of the Economics section at the Europa Instituut, University of Amsterdam. Presently he is Holder of the recently created U.S. West Chair at the Graduate School at the College of St. Thomas, Minnesota, USA. He has published many works on European and international economic and monetary problems. Professor Coffey, who speaks seven languages, has lectured in most countries of the EC, as well as in many other parts of the world.

Inhalt
List of Contents.- One: The Background to the European Monetary System.- 1: An Economic and Monetary Union: The earlier plans.- 2: The Experience of the Snake System.- Two: The European Monetary System.- 3: The Reasons for the System.- 4: The Mechanisms of the System.- 5: The System in Operation.- Three: The Future of the EMS: Technical Considerations.- 6: The Future Role of the ECU.- 7: The Convergence of National Economies.- 8: The Money Supply Question.- Four: The Future of the EMS: The Integration of Capital Markets and Banking Systems.- 9: A European Capital Market.- 10: A European Banking System.- Five: The Future of the EMS: Institutional Considerations.- 11: The Future European Monetary Fund.- Six: Other Countries.- 12: The United Kingdom.- 13: The New Member States.- Seven: Non-Community Countries.- 14: The United States of America, Japan, and Third World Countries.- Eight: The Future of the EMS Towards an EMU?.- 15: Basic Considerations.- Conclusions.- Appendices.- Supplement to the Second Edition.