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The Trouble with Europe: Why the EU isn't working - How it can be reformed - What could take its place

The Trouble with Europe: Why the EU isn't working - How it can be reformed - What could take its place

by RogerBootle (Author)

  • Used

    Hardcover 2014

    $3.25
Synopsis

*A BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEAR AS SELECTED BY THE WEEK* Six decades ago Europe's leaders had a noble dream: to prevent another terrible war, and to act as a beacon of co-operation rather than conflict. The European Economic Community eventually became the European Union, and so began a seemingly inevitable march towards a federal super-state, culminating in the creation of the totemic single currency: the Euro. The European Union is now at a crossroads. Its original objectives, the logic of existing relationships and monetary union, are pushing it towards full political union - some sort of United States of Europe, at least of the Eurozone. In other words, more Europe; deeper integration. But the EU is no longer working well in today's world - let alone tomorrow's. The EU needs fundamental reform, Roger Bootle argues. It was conceived in a world of large blocs, before globalisation and the rise of emerging markets. Its agenda of hamonisation and integration inevitably leads to excessive regulation and the smothering of competition. It hasn't delivered the prosperity and growth it promised. The clearest example of the EU's tortured politics producing poor economic performance is the formation of the Euro, which was undertaken for political reasons intrinsic to the European project. It has turned out to be the problem rather than the solution. What is more, if nothing changes, the EU's share of world GDP is set to fall sharply and, with it, Europe's influence in the world. Leaving the EU would not be pain and risk free, but nor is the only option to stick with the current institutions. It's time to raise the level of debate, examine the options, and tackle the trouble with Europe.

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
 Pages: 240
 Publisher: Nicholas Brealey Publishing
Published: 01 May 2014
ISBN 10: 1857886151
ISBN 13: 9781857886153

Media Reviews
'Trouble with Europe by the respected economist Roger Bootle is ever so timely and written in a faultlessly reasonable manner, this makes his criticisms about the EU even more powerful' --The Times 'Clever Roger Bootle. The City economist has done it again - picked one of the most vexed subjects of our age, put the boot in, shaken up the pieces and put them back together again with brilliant, albeit radical solutions. He takes you through the arguments in one of the most thoughtful accounts that I have yet read about the European question. If David Cameron wants a grown-up and nuanced spat ahead of next year's election, then all of Bootle's print-run should be bought up and given away free to the nation before we go to the polls.' --Margareta Pagano, Independent on Sunday 'An outstanding, grown-up account of the failures of the European Union. Bootle is certainly no little Englander, but his argument is calm, conversational, rigorous and quite remarkably for an economist entirely free of bafflegab. Engaging and absorbing, here is an eye-opening book that will inspire you to think through the issues clearly without starting a saloon-bar brawl.' --Telegraph 'Bootle is right on every count.' --Larry Elliott, Guardian 'This is a credible plan for life outside Europe and deserves to be widely read.' --The Week, Business Books of the Year 'This will be the essential vade mecum if and when a referendum campaign takes place. The part of Bootle's book in which he analyses the pros and cons of British exit from the EU will be the most influential. On the big calls Roger Bootle has a spectacularly good record. He warned about the bubble in US real estate, which led to the credit crunch. Earlier, he forecast the collapse of the dotcom boom. Most creditably of all, back in 1992 he identified that the pound would be forced out of the Exchange Rate Mechanism, ERM, and that this would be a good thing for the British economy. His latest book is all of a piece with that prescient judgment of more than 20 years ago.' --The Sunday Times 'Here it is - a book for every faint-heart who thinks this country could never prosper outside the European Union. A timely and balanced analysis.' --Boris Johnson, Mayor of London 'Bootle writes with energetic prose and makes some good points. His discussion of European monetary union is cogent. The enterprise was unnecessary and it was embarked on too early and with insufficient preparation. It was an integration too far and too soon. Bootle, managing director of Capital Economics is an accomplished economist whose THE TROUBLE WITH MARKETS provided a penetrating analysis of the origins of the financial crisis. In The Trouble with Europe, he asks what has gone wrong with the EU, suggests why reforms are unlikely to happen and maps out a fresh start for UK-EU relations.' --Financial Times 'Few voters feel warmly about ever closer union; many would agree with Mr Bootle that this aspiration of the original Treaty of Rome should be formally ditched. The EU and the euro will get into trouble again and the outcome next time could be even worse.' --Economist 'Roger Bootle perceptively analyzes what is wrong with the European Union as presently constituted, both politically and economically; what reforms are needed to make it wise for the UK to remain a member; and how we can most sensibly conduct ourselves outside the EU, should those reforms not be undertaken. It is essential background reading for any future in/out referendum.' --Rt Hon Nigel Lawson, former Chancellor of the Exchequer. 'Timely and balanced' --Gisela Stuart MP, Birmingham Edgbaston (Labour) 'Roger Bootle's well-informed and rigorously-argued book brutally exposes the problems besetting Europe and Britain's position within - and conceivably outside - the European Union. It should be required reading for all those preparing to vote or campaign in the May European elections' --David Marsh, author of Europe's Deadlock 'A compulsively readable analysis which should be of engrossing interest to europhiles and eurosceptics alike.' --William Keegan, The Observer's Senior Economics Commentator, author of The Prudence of Mr. Gordon Brown 'This is an important book. Anyone who wishes to debate this issue seriously will have to read it. Bootle has done the world a service.' --Dr John Llewellyn, former Chef de Cabinet to the Secretary General of the OECD, founding partner Llewellyn Consulting 'Crystal-clear analysis and punchy comment. It's the best book yet on the European Union's dysfunctionality.' --Jeff Randall, Sky News business presenter
Author Bio
One of the City of London s best-known economists, Roger Bootle runs Capital Economics, Europe's largest macro-economics consultancy, which he founded. Roger appears frequently on television and radio and is also a regular columnist for The Daily Telegraph. In the Comment Awards 2012 he was named Economics Commentator of the years. He is the author of three widely acclaimed books - THE TROUBLE WITH MARKETS, MONEY FOR NOTHING and THE DEATH OF INFLATION. Roger is also a Specialist Adviser to the House of Commons Treasury ommittee. He was one of the previous Conservative government's 'Wise Men'. In July 2012, Roger and a team from Capital Economics won the prestigious Wolfson Economics Prize.