Paul A. Brenton - Böcker

Globalizing Europe examines the involvement of the European Union in the deepening integration that results as trade and transnational production link markets and economic systems across the world. This process is posing a unique challenge to European decision-makers to implement measures that will maximize the benefits and reduce the costs of globalization. As Europe expands and becomes more integrated it is being obliged to assume greater control over the development of its external economic relations. To effect this, the authors propose that member states play a more active and constructive role in the global political economy. They advocate the planning and implementation of major initiatives that could ensure greater stability in the world economy. Because of the magnitude of the economic bonds developing between the EU and the USA, special attention is paid to the trends and issues associated with the evolution of Atlantic relations. One of the greatest challenges the authors highlight, and a theme implicit throughout the book, is that the EU's external problems may receive inadequate attention due to the complexities of its decision processes. EU-level decision-making may become more introspective, rather than global, in outlook.Combining firm, industry, regional and country levels of analysis with the diverse and provocative views of the authors, this book will be essential reading for scholars of international economics, international political economy, and international business and finance.

The contributors to this volume consider the consequences of Eastern enlargement of the EU for trade and investment in Europe, paying particular attention to the impact of removing technical barriers to trade, the key remaining constraint upon trade flows.The principal impact of enlargement on trade and investment flows will be through access to the Single Market and the removal of non-tariff barriers. Such barriers arise from differences in the way that products are regulated across countries. This volume contains contributions which assess the significance of technical barriers to trade and the potential impact of their removal, based upon detailed analysis of actual trade flows and the results of firm surveys in four Central and Eastern European countries.Enlargement, Trade and Investment is recommended to researchers in the field of international trade and those interested in the issue of the economic impact of enlargement. Scholars teaching about the European Union will also find this volume of great value.