Portal:Business/Selected economy/December 2006
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It is estimated that in the period 2006-2020 the European Union's economy will grow at an average rate of 2.1% per annum, against the United States growing at an annual rate of almost 3.0%, however if growth is taken per head the figures are 2.5% per annum for the US and 2.0% for the EU.
The European Union's economic growth has been below that of the United States most years since 1990, while its unemployment rate has generally been higher. Many point out that there are benefits accruing to EU citizens (the "social wage") that are not visible in traditional economic data - like enhanced time off from work, social protection and other benefits. In recent years, the economic performance of several of its key members, including Germany and Italy, has been a matter of serious concern to policy makers.
Twelve members of the European Union use a common currency, the euro. This group of members (Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain) is known as the Eurozone. Three members (Denmark, Sweden, United Kingdom) have no current plans to join the euro, though the Danish Krone is pegged to it. The remaining members have a treaty obligation to join as soon as they meet the convergence criteria. Slovenia will adopt the euro on 1 January 2007.