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European Monetary Policy and the Euro. Lotte Ovaere Fall 2011. The Chinese ‘Horse of Troy’. After Greece and Portugal, now Italy Chinese ‘Horse of Troy’: China buys into some strategic sectors No charity Other BRIC(S) countries also consider support to the Euro
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European Monetary Policyand the Euro Lotte Ovaere Fall 2011
The Chinese ‘Horse of Troy’ • After Greece and Portugal, now Italy • Chinese ‘Horse of Troy’: China buys into some strategic sectors • No charity • Other BRIC(S) countries also consider support to the Euro • Chinese State fund (CIC) buys large quantities of Italian state obligations scare away speculation • Italy has, after Greece, highest debt
‘Reverse colonization’ of Europe • Europe is for China one of the most important investment markets: Europe is one of China’s most important trade partners a lot at stake • Thanks to Chinese support Euro gets more expensive again relative to Yuan good for Chinese export because: • European consumers have more purchasing power • End of Euro zone would lead to a lot of currency devaluations in the European countries: income from Europe is worth less then • China also wants to become less dependent of the USA investing in EU = diversification strategy
Why European Union? • European single market enforces economic growth • Automatically more monetary and budgetary stability throughout Europe • Costs of exchanging currencies and risks associated are dropped • Stronger competitive position, improving transparency of prices • Stronger image on world level
Downside • No longer improving competitive position by devaluation • Large budget deficits to support the economy or employment no longer allowed • Only options left to ‘play’ with: wages, working conditions and social security • Germany was the first to set a bad example! Only after a few years after entering, the Germans spent a lot of money on the re-unification of their country