Author Description

Faced with the complexity of the current crisis experienced in a new manner by western countries within the globalisation process, this book provides a significant contribution both to an understanding of the mechanisms at the basis of these events and in proposing prospects for its positive evolution. <BR> The study investigates the new stage in the European integration process involving a transition from monetary union to economic union. The history of monetary unification is analysed from an economic and constitutional point of view and in the perspective of a new European social order, on the basis of the social market economy. An analogous approach is applied to the new stage in the integration process, the economic union. <BR> Three basic principles are analysed: zero inflation, zero deficit and zero debt as preconditions of development. A social market economy is the starting point for addressing these issues. The study ends with an analysis of the Atlantic dimension of a social market economy.