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This volume, based on a conference held by the Italian Macroeconomic Policy Group and the centre for Economic Policy Research, examines the issues raised by European monetary unification. An introduction describes recent monetary developments and identifies the motivations for creating a European central bank. Theoretical papers analyse the interactions of capital controls, financial intermediation and seigniorage in open economies; the optimal design of centralized banks of issue by sovereign countries; and some new aspects of the 'optimal currency area' question. The empirical papers provide new evidence and interpretation of inflation experience across Europe and the attitudes of European central bankers about inflation and unemployment. The historical papers describe the experience of currency unification in Germany and Italy in the 19th century and the creation of the US Federal Reserve System. The volume concludes with a panel discussion on the feasibility of European monetary unification, featuring leading academics and central bankers.