Both Sides of the Coin: The Arguments for the Euro and European Monetary Union

Eleven countries adopted the Euro on 1 January 1999, and a twelfth - Greece - joined the Euro group on 1 January 2001. So the Euro has begun. All twelve countries will replace their national notes and coins with the new Euro in the first part of 2002, and British holidaymakers will start to use Euros for the first time that summer.

Here in one book are the arguements FOR joining the Euro. And AGAINST. The authors, two distinguished economists, examine the evidence and marshal persuasive arguments that let the reader decide for themselves.

Christopher Huhne lucidly explains the arguements for the Euro - cheaper capital, lower prices and more investment.

James Forder in opposition argues against the Euro - deflationary pressure, high risk of failure, small upside and its anti-democratic management.

This book is the best chance anyone has of understanding a frighteningly important subject on which politicians of all parties are hopelessly split and confusion reigns.

Author Biography: Christopher Huhne is Liberal Democrat MEP fo South East England, and also the economic spokesman for the European Liberal Democrat and Reformist group. He writes a weekly column on european affairs for the London Evening Standard.

James Forder is a Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford, where he teaches economics. He was senior tutor of the Oxford University Business Economics Programme and has also taught aspects of politics and economics of European integration at La Sorbonne, at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, and in Japan.