Economic Aspects of German Unification National and International Perspectives

German unification is changing central Europe, the EC andinternational economic and political relations. ProsperousWest Germany with its "social market economy" has absorbedthe socialist GDR which is facing a complex systemictranformation process. This volume analyzes the causes, developments, and processes that are associated with Germanunification. The merger of the two Germanies provides aunique laboratory like example of institutional andeconomic changes against which established economic theoreisand economic policy concepts can be tested. Germanunification raises, of course, many new questions for Grmanyitself, Europe, and the whole international community. Willthe enlarged Germany become a new economic giant in Europeand can the FRG maintain stability and prosperity? Whatmacroeconomic and structural problems are faced by the newGermany and what are the effects for trade, investment, andgrowth in Germanys partner countries? Will East Germanycatch up with the West and can this process serve as a modelforEastern Europe? What are the views of Poland and theUSSR, and what implications arise for Western Europe and theUnited States? Finally, how isthe triangular relationshipbetween the U.S., the EC, and Japan affected, and how doesthis affect the United States ability to organize economiccooperation with Japan, Germany, and other leadingeconomies?