The political economy of the European Union : an institutionalist perspective / Dermott McCann

Includes bibliographical references (p. 187 - 202) and index.

Introduction. Organization of the book -- Economic governance, national models of capitalism and the challenge of European integration. Introduction ; Social embeddedness and institutional governance ; Varieties of institutions ; Institutional diversity illustrated ; The prevalence of non-liberal institutions in EU member states ; European integration and national capitalisms -- The European Union and the evolution of liberal Europe. Introduction ; Qualified liberalism : 1957-1980 ; Deepening liberalism : 1980s to the present ; Limits of liberalism ; Conclusion -- National capitalisms and EU competition policy. Introduction ; European competition policy : 1957-1986 ; The single market and beyond : 1986-2003 ; National institutions transformed? ; Competition policy after 2004 ; Conclusion -- Finance, corporate ownership and governance in an integrating Europe. Introduction ; The diversity of member states ; The European Union and reform ; Conclusion -- Finance, corporate ownership and governance : national system change. Introduction ; Banking and financial services : the impact of EU re-regulation ; Restructuring corporate finance, ownership and governance : Germany ; Restructuring corporate finance, ownership and governance : Italy ; Conclusion -- Work and welfare : national capitalism and social Europe. Introduction : labour markets and social models ; Social policy and the European Union ; The European employment strategy ; Conclusion -- Social Europe and industrial relations. Introduction : social models and industrial relations ; European markets, European money and national industrial relations ; European market integration and national industrial relations ; Monetary union and social pacts ; European law and national industrial relations ; Industrial relations at the European level ; Conclusion -- Liberal Europe and national capitalism.

The core business of the European Union is the creation of an integrated European market. The scale of this project is enormous, covering a wide variety of national models' of capitalism, many of which are marked by a heavy reliance on non-market institutions to govern and co-ordinate economic activity.