内容简介:The prospect of joining the European Monetary Union prodded the then member
states in the mid- and late 1990s into considerable fiscal discipline. In the early
years following the launch of the single currency the fiscal policy situation also
improved, although this was mainly due to the economic situation. In structural
terms, however, public budgetary positions have worsened in recent years; but
the positions in the individual countries differ substantially. Given demographic
developments and the foreseeable strains on the public purse in particular, huge
efforts are still needed to place fiscal policy on a permanent and sustainable
basis
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