Convergence of European Business Cycles

Convergence of European Business Cycles
Author: Theophilos Papadimitriou
Publisher:
Total Pages: 20
Release: 2014
Genre:
ISBN:

This paper examines the co-movement patterns of European business cycles during the period 1986-2011, having as a focal point the year of the euro coin introduction, in 1999. We work within a Graph Theory context and apply a rolling window to study the evolution of the network that corresponds to the GDP growth cross-correlations of 22 European economies. The network is analyzed using the metrics of node degree and network density as well as the Minimum Dominating Set, providing us not only with a quantitative but also with a qualitative insight of the studied data set. Our main empirical results indicate that despite some distinct signs of divergence, the business cycles of the European countries display overall increased synchronization throughout the selected time sample.

Convergence or Divergence in Europe?

Convergence or Divergence in Europe?
Author: Olivier de Bandt
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 379
Release: 2006-09-28
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 3540326111

Against the background of the introduction of the Euro in 1999, France, Germany and Italy have recently experienced higher divergence in terms of GDP growth. Based on a set of original papers produced by a team of economists from the three main National Central Banks of the Euro area this book analyses the latest developments in three important European economies in a broad perspective, using modern econometric techniques.

Economic Convergence in the Euro Area: Coming Together or Drifting Apart?

Economic Convergence in the Euro Area: Coming Together or Drifting Apart?
Author: Mr.Jeffrey R. Franks
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 47
Release: 2018-01-23
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1484338499

We examine economic convergence among euro area countries on multiple dimensions. While there was nominal convergence of inflation and interest rates, real convergence of per capita income levels has not occurred among the original euro area members since the advent of the common currency. Income convergence stagnated in the early years of the common currency and has reversed in the wake of the global economic crisis. New euro area members, in contrast, have seen real income convergence. Business cycles became more synchronized, but the amplitude of those cycles diverged. Financial cycles showed a similar pattern: sychronizing more over time, but with divergent amplitudes. Income convergence requires reforms boosting productivity growth in lagging countries, while cyclical and financial convergence can be enhanced by measures to improve national and euro area fiscal policies, together with steps to deepen the single market.

Business Cycle Synchronisation and Economic Integration

Business Cycle Synchronisation and Economic Integration
Author: Marcus Kappler
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 197
Release: 2012-07-30
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 3790828556

This book offers the reader a state-of-the-art overview on theory and empirics of business cycle synchronisation, structural reform and economic integration. Focusing on the ongoing integration process in the euro area and the EU, it analyses the integration process that has taken place since the 1980s and which is marked by the advent of the euro and the substantial enlargement that resulted from the accession of 12 new Member States in East and Southern Europe.

Global Business Cycles

Global Business Cycles
Author: Mr.Ayhan Kose
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 51
Release: 2008-06-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1451870019

This paper analyzes the evolution of the degree of global cyclical interdependence over the period 1960-2005. We categorize the 106 countries in our sample into three groups-industrial countries, emerging markets, and other developing economies. Using a dynamic factor model, we then decompose macroeconomic fluctuations in key macroeconomic aggregates-output, consumption, and investment-into different factors. These are: (i) a global factor, which picks up fluctuations that are common across all variables and countries; (ii) three group-specific factors, which capture fluctuations that are common to all variables and all countries within each group of countries; (iii) country factors, which are common across all aggregates in a given country; and (iv) idiosyncratic factors specific to each time series. Our main result is that, during the period of globalization (1985-2005), there has been some convergence of business cycle fluctuations among the group of industrial economies and among the group of emerging market economies. Surprisingly, there has been a concomitant decline in the relative importance of the global factor. In other words, there is evidence of business cycle convergence within each of these two groups of countries but divergence (or decoupling) between them.

Will Business Cycles in the Euro Area Converge? A Critical Survey of Empirical Research

Will Business Cycles in the Euro Area Converge? A Critical Survey of Empirical Research
Author: Jakob de Haan
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2008
Genre:
ISBN:

This survey of business cycle synchronization in the European monetary union focuses on two issues: have business cycles become more similar, and which factors drive business cycle synchronization. We conclude that business cycles in the euro area have gone through periods of both convergence and divergence. Still, there is quite some evidence that during the 1990s business cycle synchronization in the euro area has increased. Higher trade intensity is found to lead to more synchronization, but the point estimates vary widely. The evidence for other factors affecting business cycle synchronization is very mixed.