Per un bilancio dell'Unione Monetaria Latina

The Author analyzes the effects of the realization of 19th-century Latin Monetary Union covering Belgium, France, Italy, Greece, and Switzerland, by evaluating the official aims and expectations of each involved member state. The monetary uniformity actually did not result in a better commercial integration and the member States failed to obtain the expected advantages. Furthermore, they had to limit the damage brought about by the forced circulation and the fall of silver prices. Seemingly, only Italy partly succeeded in getting some advantage from the monetary Union. Scholars have often stigmatized the problems stemming from the weak rules that underlay the Union’s system. Nevertheless, the Author assumes that even a more rigid and centralized rationale would not have averted those problems.