Economy of the EU States
- Credits: 5
- Ending: Examination
- Range: 2P + 2C
- Semester: summer
- Year: 1
- Faculty of International Relations
Teachers
Included in study programs
Teaching results
The course aims to acquire knowledge about the economies of the European Union, understanding their current economic situation and position within the European Union. The course develops the student's analytical skills and deepens knowledge in the field of economics, the world economy and international economic relations. Through the research of individual regions of the European Union, it allows not only to gain knowledge about the current economic situation and economic policy of the member states of the European Union but also to comprehensively assess the direction of the European Union.
Knowledge: to analyze the development of European Union countries, gaining knowledge about the economic structure of the EU member states and the position of their economies within the EU, the ability to identify key EU challenges and attitudes of the member states towards them, the ability to critically define key challenges of the European Union and assess current EU challenges. Competences: to analyze the economic environment and international economic relations, the ability to critically re-evaluate and analyze current European Union challenges, bring current proposals and solutions with knowledge of economic context and the ability to conduct a dialogue on the European Union with economic actors and politicians.
Skills: the ability to respond to the current economic situation, ability to manage communication with economic actors and political representatives, ability to prepare background materials for international economic policy strategies on the issue.
After completing the course, the student should:
- Identify the main problems and challenges of the European Union also at the level of individual Member States
- To be able to analyze and compare the individual economies of the Member States of the European
Union also in relation to the European Union and the economic policy of the European Union
- Think critically and reflect on the current challenges of the European Union
Indicative content
The position of the EU in the world economy. Economy of Germany. Economy of France. Economy of Italy. Characteristics of the economies of the BENELUX countries. Characteristics of the economies of Spain and Portugal. Economies of Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Austria. Economies of Ireland, Greece, Malta and Cyprus. Characteristics of the economies of the Baltic countries. Economies of Visegrad Group countries. Economies of Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania. Economies of Western Balkans. Summary.
Support literature
ZAGORŠEKOVÁ, Natália (2024): Ekonomika štátov Európskej únie. Bratislava: Vydavateľstvo EKONÓM. ISBN 978-80-225-5045-1.
NEAL, Larry (2007): The economics of Europe and the European Union. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521864510.
Eurostat statistical yearbooks.
Current documents and materials of an analytical and conceptual nature – central banks, statistical offices, economic ministries of individual European Union member states, EUROSTAT, European Commission, international institutions and organizations (OECD, IMF, WB, etc.).
Syllabus
1. The position of the EU in the world economy. Economic development of the EU since its establishment. EU enlargements. Comparison of the development of the EU with the economies of the USA, China and Japan. Current challenges. 2. Economy of Germany. Economic policy – social market economy. German reunification. Macroeconomic development. Current challenges – investment debt. 3. Economy of France. Economic policy – dirigisme. Macroeconomic development. Current challenges – government debt, competitiveness. 4. Economy of Italy. Economic policy. Macroeconomic development. Current challenges – unemployment, regional differences. 5. Characteristics of the economies of the BENELUX countries. History of integration. Labour market. Impacts of the financial crisis. 6. Characteristics of the economies of Spain and Portugal. Economies during dictatorships. Entry into the EC. Financial and debt crisis. Current challenges. 7. Development of the economies of Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Austria. Economic and political circumstances of entry into the EC/EU. Welfare state. Environmental policy. 8. Economies of Ireland, Greece, Malta and Cyprus. Specifics of the Irish economy. Different course of the financial crisis. Irish economy during the Covid-19 crisis. 9. Characteristics of the economies of the Baltic countries. Historical and security aspects of the relationship with Russia. Startups. Demographic specifics. 10. Economies of the Visegrad Group countries. Comparison of economic development since the transformation. Convergence vs. Divergence. Automotive industry. 11. Economies of Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania. Economic development since the end of the Cold War. Gradual integration (Schengen zone, eurozone). 12. Economies of the Western Balkan countries. Prospects for EU accession. Current economic situation. Obstacles to EU accession. 13. Summary.
Requirements to complete the course
40 % semestral work, 60 % exam
Student workload
total student workload: 130 hours
of this:
participation in lectures 26 hrs, participation in seminars 26 hrs, preparation for seminars 25 hrs, preparation for semestral test 13 hrs, preparation for final exam 40 hrs
Language whose command is required to complete the course
Slovak
Date of approval: 20.02.2025
Date of the latest change: 15.01.2026