Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/82067 
Year of Publication: 
2004
Series/Report no.: 
EPRU Working Paper Series No. 2004-13
Publisher: 
University of Copenhagen, Economic Policy Research Unit (EPRU), Copenhagen
Abstract: 
In this paper, we focus on how European economic integration has affected the synchronization and the magnitude of business cycles among participating countries. We measure, based on bandpass filtered data, the characteristics of European business cycles analyzing to what extent they have become more similar over time. We also consider the role of other factors such as differences in fiscal and monetary policy, border effects, and trade intensity. Our main finding is that European business cycles are highly synchronized, although we also find that synchronization was higher during periods with highly flexible exchange rates. In addition we find a positive tradeoff between timing and magnitude such that more synchronization coincides with larger relative magnitude. These results raise concern about the consequences of a common monetary policy within EMU.
Subjects: 
business cycles
symmetry and co{movement of cycles
magnitude of cycles
economic integration
monetary union
JEL: 
E32
F15
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
725.25 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.