Euro had a positive effect upon its members? The euro has been the currency of the European Monetary Union (EMU) since January 1, 1999 (Auswartiges Amt, 2004). The euro was introduced slowly for member states. It has been a deposit currency since January 1999 and notes and coins have been in circulation since January 2002. Since March 2002 most European countries have exclusively used euro and cent as their currency. The

Negative Effect of the Euro The major issue facing the euro as a single currency is the potential problems that EU nations may face in absorbing future economic shocks. This is largely due to the fact that unlike most monetary unions, the euro will not be governed by a central fiscal policy since most member states are reluctant to give up control of taxation and expenditure policies. To compensate, euro

References Antweiler, W., the EURO - Europe's New Currency, the University of British Columbia, Sauder School of Business, 2001 http://fx.sauder.ubc.ca/euro/last accessed on July 21, 2008 Vatahov, I., Bulgaria's Prospects of Joining the Eurozone, the Sofia Echo, March 20, 2006 Waterfield, B., Bulgaria Threatens EU Treaty with Veto Over Euro, Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1566069/Bulgaria-threatens-EU-treaty-veto-over-Euro.htmllast accessed on July 21, 2008 Bulgaria and the Euro, Official Website of the European Commission, 2008, http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/the_euro/your_country_euro8956_en.html. Ast accessed on July 21, 2008 Economic and Financial

The eurozone package is politically more complicated. it's designed to show that 16 nations sharing the euro currency will stand united behind the debts of member nations to stave off a potential crisis of confidence that could damage them all." (Trumbull, 1) This complexity is underscored by the inherently questionable imperatives of the European Monetary Union. Indeed, one of the core challenges of free trade, globalization and the establishment of

Currency Markets The currency exchange market is an inter-bank or inter-dealer market that was established in 1971 when floating exchange rates began to materialize. Trading is not centralized, as is the case with many stock markets (i.e. NYSE, ASE, CME) or as the case for currency futures and currency options, which trade on special exchanges. Dealers often "advertise" exchange rates using a distribution network, then use the information "agree" to a

West African States to Employ a Single Currency as Demonstated in the Euro Zone Potential for the West African States to Employ a Single Currency as Demonstrated in the Euro Zone In ancient era, West Africa was known to conduct business activities and trade amongst them. The trade was among the empires within the region. The system of trade was mainly barter trade. This type of trade was based on exchange