Eds. Volbert Alexander, Jacques Mélitz, George M. Von Furstenberg This book analyses formal approaches to overcoming monetary divisions within countries and within integrating regions, focusing on the consequences of monetary union for trade among union members and their financial development and stability ÍNDICE:PART I: CURRENT AND PAST CONCEPTS OF MONETARY UNION 2. Euroization, Dollarization and the International Monetary System 3. Unilateral and Multilateral Currency Unions: Thoughts from an EMU Perspective 4. International Money and Common Currencies in Historical Perspective PART II: TRADE AND PRICE EFFECTS OF MONETARY UNION 5. Geography, Trade and Currency Union 6. Comparing Apples and Oranges: The Effect of Multilateral Currency Unions on Trade 7. The Effect of Common Currencies on International Trade: a Meta- Analysis 8. Common Currencies and Market Integration Across Cities: How Strong is the Link?Common Currencies and Market Integration Across Cities: How Strong is the Link? PART III: MONETARY INTEGRATION IN LATIN AMERICA 9. Trade Agreements, Exchange Rate Disagreements 10. Sudden Stops, the Real Exchange Rate and Fiscal Sustainability: Argentina's Lessons 11. Living and Dying with Hard Pegs: The Rise and Fall of Argentina's Currency Board 12. Anatomy of a Multiple Crisis: Why Was Argentina Special and What Have We Learned from It? PART IV: COMMON MONIES, POLITICAL INTERESTS, AND INFRASTRUCTURE 13. America's Interest in Dollarization 14. Dollarization and Euroization in Transition Countries: Currency Substitution, Asset Substitution, Network Externalities and Irreversibility 15. Electronic Money and The Optimal Size Of Monetary Unions 16. Currency Substitution in Anticipation of EU Accession 17. Allocating Lending of Last Resort and Supervision in the Euro Area