The course deals with the issue of European integration, the framework of EU economic governance and the multidimensional influence it exerts on the national systems of regulation and accumulation of its member states.
Within the course, these themes are approached from an evolutionary perspective focusing on transformations in the power structures of social classes, interest groups, political institutions and economic ideas during the second half of the 20th century. In this light, the main milestones of the unification process are recorded, and the economic, social and ideological parameters that contributed to the institutional deepening of the EU and the creation of monetary union are analysed. It also develops the main features and policy priorities of EMU and describes how these are currently affecting the governance, performance and income distribution of European economies. Finally, reference is made to the economic crisis in the euro area, the institutional crisis in the EU and the prospects for the European integration project.
The topics to be covered include, inter alia, the following:
- Economic integration in Europe: historical background and institutional development.
- The economic policy regime of EMU.
- Macroeconomic imbalances, social inequalities and growth disparities in the EU.
- Eurozone, financialisation and economic crisis.
- The EU institutional crisis: problems and challenges.