Economic integration is a process, as a result of which the unification of economic policies of various states occurs due to the partial or complete removal of tariff and other restrictions on trade between them. This leads to lower prices for producers and consumers, which allows to increase the welfare of the country and each individual citizen. The common market is one of the stages of integration. It involves not only the free movement of goods between the united countries, as occurs when the association agreement is signed, but also services, labor and capital.
Stages and their features
The theory of economic integration was first formulated in 1950 by Jacob Wiener. He examined the flows of goods between states before and after unification and compared them with indicators from the rest of the world. However, in its modern form, the theory was developed by the Hungarian economist Bela Balassa in the 1960s. He believed that the supranational common market, which is characterized by the free movement of factors, creates a demand for further integration. Moreover, not only the economy of states is moving closer, but also politics. The following integration stages are distinguished:
- Preferential trade zone. At this stage, the restrictions on the movement of goods, capital and services are partially lifted.
- Free trade Area. This stage involves the removal of tariff barriers to the movement of goods.
- Customs Union. At this stage, the removal of barriers to the movement of goods. A common external customs tariff is also being formed.
- Common Market. This stage is characterized by free movement between the united states of goods, services, monetary and labor resources.
- Economic Union. Everything is the same as in the previous stage, but partly a common foreign policy is added on barriers to the movement of goods and services, capital and labor resources to third countries.
- Economic and monetary union. It further increases the degree of harmonization between countries. This stage assumes, in addition to the features of the previous one, a common monetary policy between the united countries.
- Full economic integration. This is the last step. Its peculiarity is free movement within the union of all production factors, a single monetary and fiscal policy and the establishment of common external barriers for all factors in relation to other countries.
Common, single or unified market?
Within each of the stages of integration, several steps can be distinguished. The overall market is often seen as an intermediate result. Often it is created on the basis of a trade association with a relatively free movement of production factors, in addition to labor, to further remove tariff barriers. Then it transforms into a single market. This step within the fourth stage of integration involves the creation of a block in which most of the trade barriers to goods are removed. The single market also provides for almost complete freedom of movement of other factors of production. Gradually, with the deepening of integration, goods, services, capital and labor resources begin to move within the union without taking into account national borders. When this happens, we can talk about creating a unified market, the last stage of the fourth stage.
Advantages and disadvantages
Creating a single market is fraught with many benefits for a union of countries. Complete freedom of movement of factors of production allows you to use them more efficiently. Increased competition in the market allows crowding out weak players, but preventing monopolies from forming. The remaining firms can take full advantage of economies of scale. Consumers enjoy low prices and a large selection of products. Common market countries may experience the negative effects of creating a union during the transition period. Increased competition may remove some of the national producers from the business. If they fail to increase the efficiency of their work in a short time, then they will have to stop their functioning.
Common Economic Space
It was created in 2012. Initially, a single economic space included Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia. However, since 2015, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan joined the union. Now it operates within the framework of the Eurasian Customs Union. The formation of a single market between countries is considered as the ultimate goal of creating an association.
