Political & Economic Integration

The below articles deal with the history of and theories about political and economic integration between regions and countries.

A plaque in New York City marking the location of Thomas Jefferson’s one-time home, where Hamilton and Jefferson reached a compromise on Hamilton’s plan.

Alexander Hamilton’s Plan for Assumption of State Debts After the American Revolution

Learn about Alexander Hamilton’s plan for the federal government to consolidate and assume states’ debts after the American Revolutionary War, opposition to the plan from Thomas Jefferson & James Madison, and how a compromise on Hamilton’s plan placed America’s capital at Washington D.C.

Headquarters of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, located in Castries, St. Lucia.

Caribbean Integration (Timeline)

Today 13 Caribbean countries and territories are part of a Single Market & Economy working to reduce restrictions on the free movement of people across their national boundaries, 9 of these countries/territories share a single supreme court, and 8 of these countries/territories share a single currency and central bank. Learn about the history of this regional integration.

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank is the monetary authority overseeing the eastern caribbean dollar, a supranational currency shared by 7 island nations and 1 British Overseas Territories.

The Theory of Optimal Currency Areas

The Theory of Optimal Currency Areas considers the macroeconomic conditions that need to be met for two economics regions (e.g. two countries, two regions within a country) to successfully share a single currency.