In the past quarter-century, the Euro’s trajectory has unveiled a stark absurdity, encapsulated vividly in one chart. Before adopting the Euro, the Italian Lira depreciated by a staggering 83% against the Deutsche Mark over 25 years. However, in the subsequent 25 years since the adoption of the Euro, these two currencies have been pegged together. The question looms large: What were politicians thinking when they merged the currencies of economically disparate nations like Italy and Germany?
The track record of the Euro tells a tale of unmet expectations. The Euro experiment, designed to foster economic unity, has fallen short. The pegging of vastly different economies has not yielded the anticipated benefits. Currency unions throughout history, when hinging solely on monetary policy, have invariably failed, and the Euro appears to be no exception.
The underlying motivations for the union raise eyebrows. Germans sought a more affordable currency, while Italians seemingly looked for a financial safety net. However, the reality is far from the intended harmony. Instead, the Euro has turned into a platform where, rather than thriving, nations find themselves grappling with economic misalignments.
The decision to adopt the Euro, painted as a step toward unity, now stands as a questionable choice. The implications are clear: our leaders may have been among the most ill-informed. The Euro hasn’t proved its efficacy, and the future doesn’t promise a different outcome. As the Eurozone grapples with economic challenges, the flaws in the currency union become increasingly apparent. In this Euro experiment, it appears that not only do we stand to lose within the confines of the shared currency, but we’re also poised to shoulder the burdens of others.
Sources:
The Euro has not worked so far, and it will not work as we go forward
— Michael A. Arouet (@MichaelAArouet) November 26, 2023
Germans wanted a cheaper currency and Italians someone to bail them out. Our leaders were the most stupid ones, because we just lose in euro and will pay for others also.🤦♂️t.co/XWShTVu30v
— Tuomas Malinen (@mtmalinen) November 26, 2023