Lexington Books European Union Political Economy: Theory and Policy

The European political economy: policy and theory, provides students, researchers and policy makers with a profound understanding of the theory and policy of the EU. The book covers in a comprehensive way the key issue areas of the European Union activity and it includes an analysis of all the important current developments in Europe such as the Brexit, the European Union sovereign debt crisis, the European economic governance problems and the macroeconomic adjustment challenges within Eurozone. The book also includes critical resources for readers and students such as review questions, appendixes, references and further reading lists. More specifically, the textbook explains thoroughly the institutional, economic and policy characteristics of the fundamental issue areas of European economy. It outlines the institutions and mechanisms of European union/Eurozone, the common agricultural, regional and trade policies, the impact of the single market and the single currency on European economy, the enlargement process and the key questions on the European macroeconomic adjustment process. In each chapter the book explains not only what is taking place in European economy but also which the feasible options of the European policy agenda are. The textbook enables readers to apply conceptual and theoretical knowledge to economic and political processes of European integration. Review European Political Economy: Theory and Policy is a very well documented, academically sound and comprehensively analytical accomplishment. The book is a significant contribution to the literature, deepening and expanding further the related discourse. The Political Economy approach enriches the analytical and methodological background and framework, enabling the structural understanding and comprehension of a constellation of relationships among various intervening actors, as well as various and very often competing and conflicting layers of European integration, which otherwise would not be feasible to realize. The recommendations for further reading and the questions at the end of each chapter further enhance the analytical and research orientation of the book. A really excellent achievement.--Pantelis Sklias, University of the Peloponnese"The book combines theoretical and policy analysis and provides fresh insights into European integration problems. Cutting across several issue areas of EU political economy, including trade, single market, economic adjustment, enlargement, and Brexit, the book encapsulates the fundamental challenges of European Union and euro area in a clear and understandable style. The book is essential for undergraduate political economy/economics/EU studies majors, for graduate level courses and for policymakers who study the dynamics/constraints of the highly institutionalized and complex EU process."--Demitris Kyrkilis, University of MacedoniaThe book provides a powerful and illustrative analysis on European political economy issues in theory and in practice. Readable and accessible, it thoroughly studies the merits and problems of European integration underlining the challenges for European Union and euro area future. It should be read by students and policymakers alike.--Bitzenis P. Aristidis, University of MacedoniaThis new book by Hazakis offers insightful and penetrating analysis of the European unification project. It reviews critically the current situation from a political economy point of view, demonstrating well the timely questions that have to be answered primarily by the European leaders.--Theodoros Pelagidis, University of Piraeus About the Author Konstantinos J. Hazakis is associate professor at Democritus University of Thrace.