Which is an advantage for a small, developing country in joining an economic union?

What are the benefits of the euro?

The euro offers many benefits for individuals, businesses and the economies of the countries that use it. These include:

  • the ease with which prices can be compared between countries, which boosts competition between businesses, thereby benefiting consumers
  • price stability
  • the euro makes it easier, cheaper and safer for businesses to buy and sell within the euro area and to trade with the rest of the world
  • improved economic stability and growth
  • better integrated and therefore more efficient financial markets
  • greater influence in the global economy
  • a tangible sign of a European identity.

Many of these benefits are interconnected. For example, economic stability is good for a member country’s economy, as it enables the government to plan for the future. But economic stability also benefits businesses by reducing uncertainty and encouraging investment. This, in turn, benefits the public through increased employment and better quality jobs.

How does the euro produce these benefits?

The euro has eliminated the costs of exchange rate fluctuations within the euro area. This protects consumers and businesses within the euro area from costly swings in currency markets, which, in some countries, used to undermine confidence, discourage investment and cause economic instability. Before the euro, the need to exchange currencies meant extra costs, risks and a lack of transparency in transactions between countries. Using a single currency makes doing business and investing in the euro area easier, cheaper and less risky.

By making it easy to compare prices, the euro encourages trade and investment of all kinds between countries. It also helps individual consumers and businesses to secure the best prices.

Benefits worldwide

The scale of the single currency and the size of the euro zone also bring new opportunities in the global economy. A single currency makes the euro zone a more attractive region for non-EU countries to do business with, thus promoting trade and investment.

Prudent economic management makes the euro an attractive reserve currency for non-EU countries and gives the euro zone a more powerful voice in the global economy. The euro is the world’s second most popular reserve currency.

The stability of the euro also makes it attractive for businesses around the world that trade with Europe to accept prices quoted in euros. This saves European businesses from the costs associated with shifts in exchange rates and the cost of converting euros into other currencies. The euro is the currency of choice for almost 40% of global cross-border payments and for almost half the EU’s exports worldwide.

Scale and careful management also bring economic stability to the euro zone, making it more resilient to external economic 'shocks', i.e. sudden economic changes that may arise outside the euro zone and disrupt national economies, such as worldwide oil price rises or turbulence on global currency markets. The size and strength of the euro zone make it better able to absorb such external shocks without job losses and lower growth.

Reaping the benefits

First, the euro zone economy benefits from prudent management. The EU’s economic and fiscal rules, including the Stability and Growth Pact, a central component of Economic and Monetary Union, promote economic stability and growth.  Second, the euro is the key mechanism for maximising the benefits of the single market, trade policy and political cooperation. As such, it is an integral part of the economic, social and political structures of today’s European Union.

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Free trade is an economic practice whereby countries can import and export goods without fear of government intervention. Government intervention includes tariffs and import/export bans or limitations. Free trade offers several benefits to countries, especially those in the developing stage. "Developing countries" is a broad term. According to a widely used definition, a developing country is a nation with low levels of economic resources and/or low standard of living. Developing countries can often advance their economy through strategic free trade agreements.

Increased Economic Resources

Developing countries can benefit from free trade by increasing their amount of or access to economic resources. Nations usually have limited economic resources. Economic resources include land, labor and capital. Land represents the natural resources found within a nations' borders.

Small developing nations often have the lowest amounts of natural resources in the economic marketplace. Free trade agreements ensure small nations can obtain the economic resources needed to produce consumer goods or services.

Improved Quality of Life

Theoretically, free trade can improve the quality of life for a nation's citizens. Nations can import goods that are not readily available within their borders. Importing goods may be cheaper for a developing country than attempting to produce consumer goods or services within their borders. Many developing nations do not have the production processes available for converting raw materials into valuable consumer goods.

Developing countries with friendly neighbors may also be able to import goods more often. Importing from neighboring countries ensures a constant flow of goods that are readily available for consumption. Making the process work to benefit residents however requires a well regulated and functional government which is not common in developing nations.

Better Foreign Relations

Better foreign relations is usually an unintended result of free trade. Developing nations are often subject to international threats. Developing strategic free trade relations with more powerful countries can help ensure a developing nation has additional protection from international threats.

Developing countries can also use free trade agreements to improve their military strength and their internal infrastructure, as well as to improve politically. This unintended benefit allows developing countries to learn how they should govern their economy and what types of government policies can best benefit their people.

Improved Production Efficiency

Developing countries can use free trade to improve their production efficiency. Most nations are capable of producing some type of goods or service. However, a lack of knowledge or proper resources can make production inefficient or ineffective.

Free trade allows developing countries to fill in the gaps regarding their production processes. Individual citizens may also visit foreign countries to increase education or experience in specific production or business methods. These individuals can then bring back crucial information about improving the nation's production processes.

What are the advantages of economic unions?

It facilitates a greater flow of goods and services among members. Workers are more flexible in choosing jobs in member countries. The integration of market economies, finance, and common economic policies allows economic unions to become the world's new economic powers.

What is the purpose of an economic union?

An economic union is an agreement between two or more nations to allow goods, services, money and workers to move over borders freely. The countries may also coordinate social and financial policies to support this common market. The European Union (EU) is an example of an economic union.

What are the advantages of regional economic integration on member countries?

Regional integration helps countries overcome divisions that impede the flow of goods, services, capital, people and ideas. These divisions are a constraint to economic growth, especially in developing countries.

What are advantages and disadvantages of customs unions?

The purpose of a customs union is to make it easier for member countries to trade freely with each other. The union reduces the administrative and financial burden of barrier trading and fosters economic cooperation among nations. However, member countries are not given the freedom to form their own trade deals.