Southampton Series in International Economics – serie

The conclusion reached in this book is that the debt crisis which has plagued the world economy for the past ten years is due to the inherent fragility of financial markets. Governments, financial institutions and borrowers, including developing countries, have simply expected too much from these markets. In a world of volatile interest rates, exchange rates and uncertain government policy, it is virtually impossible for financial institutions to effectively distinguish fundamental shifts in economic activity from random shocks. Therefore mistakes, when identified, are corrected only with a long lag. In addition to a detailed analysis of this thesis, the book contains an evaluation of recent proposals to harmonize international bank regulations and an extensive discussion of how financial markets are absorbing the huge losses which have emanated from the inability of borrowers to meet their debt service payments.

The objective of the Single European Act is to establish a European market without barriers, thereby enabling the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital. To achieve this end the European Commission has put forward some 300 directives to be implemented by 1 January 1993. The contributors to this volume offer a critical evaluation of the likely effects of these measures for Europe as a whole and for the UK economy, in particular.

How competitive is the UK economy? Is it capable of responding successfully to shocks emanating from abroad? The five case studies prepared for this volume identify the main problem areas which currently affect the ability of the UK to sustain a competitive international position.

The objective of the Single European Act is to establish a European market without barriers, thereby enabling the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital. To achieve this end the European Commission has put forward some 300 directives to be implemented by 1 January 1993. The contributors to this volume offer a critical evaluation of the likely effects of these measures for Europe as a whole and for the UK economy, in particular.