Vollbeschäftigung und europäische Wirtschaftspolitik

Summary

If international economic cooperation between countries is intensified to such an extent that the countries concerned lose their independence with respect to economic policy we may speak of economic integration. Such integration may assume different forms according to the degree to which the principles of laissez-faire or of planning are dominating. The author's discussion is based in the main on the assumption of a free-market economy. His opinion is that, from economic, political and sociological points of view, a close cooperation and finally integration between the continental countries of Western Europe would be desirable and that it would be easier to reach this aim under predominantly competitive conditions than through international planning.

Apart from the fact that a grand continental market would bring about for the majority of manufacturing industries the economies of production on a larger scale, an urgent interest in the enlargement of output in all participating countries exists with regards to the terms of trade, the solution of the „social problem“ and the tendency of population to increase.

Te desired results could be attained most effectively under the conditions of economic freedom. Yet investments surpassing a certain level would have to be jointly planned for the purpose of a most advantageous international division of labour. The economic cooperation would center around monetary, financial and investment policy. A continental planning organisation regulating all economic activities would call into being the power-complexes of the nations and hinder for various reasons small and even larger countries from cooperating.