[bobjam]

Very good point. The euro is not the cause of Europe's problems. As I recall, many on the pre-euro national currencies (especially the lira) were essentially worthless next to the mark and dollar.

The French are upset because they realized that the European economic integration they have been pushing for decades means that the French welfare economy will be fully exposed to competition from places such as Poland and Denmark. That is why French voters rejected the EU constitution, and that is why the French are thinking about going back to the franc.

From my point of view in America, it is better for us to deal economically with one big jurisdiction in Europe (one currency, one set of regulations, one set of tariffs, etc) than with 30 smaller separate ones.

[stefan10]

Very good point. The euro is not the cause of Europe's problems. As I recall, many on the pre-euro national currencies (especially the lira) were essentially worthless next to the mark and dollar.

Yes because several central banks were not independent and the politicians preferred the easy and not so painful way of devaluation than economic reforms but that has only if at all short term positive effects while the negative longterm impacts as higher rates and the lack of reforms become bigger and bigger.

"The French are upset because they realized that the European economic integration they have been pushing for decades means that the French welfare economy will be fully exposed to competition from places such as Poland and Denmark. That is why French voters rejected the EU constitution, and that is why the French are thinking about going back to the franc. "

denmark as a Scandinavian country has still a huge welfare system while they started reforms earlier than other countries in europe. I believe in economic periods and that´s also true for countries because painful reforms are much easier or even possible in a democratic system when the conditions allow these reforms. The UK are a good example for that the reforms of the 70s would not have happened in a successful environment.

"From my point of view in America, it is better for us to deal economically with one big jurisdiction in Europe (one currency, one set of regulations, one set of tariffs, etc) than with 30 smaller separate ones."

That´s more than true

In general it is easier, cheaper and less risky for US companies when they have to deal with a single currency than with 25 different currencies. The same is true for the other examples you gave. everybody with a little knowledge of the export business knows how painful and costly laws and regulations can be.