1. Economic

2. Developed or Developing?
All of the countries in Europe are considered developed.

3. Demographics High per capita GDP High life expectancy
Low population growth rate
Low infant mortality
Low percentage of population under age 15
High literacy rate

4. Infrastructure
The countries in Europe have well developed infrastructures. Some examples are:
The Chunnel
Rivers are connected with canals
Efficient rail system
Large % of internet connections and cell phone use

5. Economic Systems There are three major types of economic systems:
Free market economy (operates on the idea of supply and demand and private ownership)
Mixed economy (government owns important industries)
Command economy (government owns all means of production)

6. Economic Systems
After WWII ended in 1945, the Soviet Union controlled much of Eastern Europe and forced the countries to be communist and have a command economy. In 1990, these countries regained independence.

7. Economic Systems Denmark and Sweden have mixed economies.
The Good - Healthcare is paid for by government, early retirements are common, unemployment is low.
The Bad - Denmark and Sweden rank number 1 and 2 in terms of how much taxes the people pay. Income tax in Denmark is around %.

8. Economic Challenges
Several areas in Europe are facing severe pollution problems:
Black Forest - Acid Rain
Venice - Water Pollution
Rhine, Danube, and Seine Rivers - Water Pollution

9. Human Geography of Northern Europe
Economic Activities
All of the Nordic countries are small, open economies that rely on foreign trade.
Nordic countries rapidly evolved from agrarian- based economies into modern, industrialized countries.
Commercial fishing, mining, forestry, and energy are the main resources in the area.
The Nordic model emphasizes labor force participation and promotes gender equality and fiscal expansion.

10. Human Geography of Northwestern Europe
Economic Activities
Northwestern Europe is the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.
Over 70 percent of workers are employed in service industries.
Agribusiness, or large-scale corporate farming, arose to address the increasing demand for food as the number of farmers shrank.
The EU has achieved high volumes of trade by eliminating tariffs and trade barriers among member nations.

14. Human Geography of Southern Europe
Economic Activities
The global recession of 2008 hit Southern Europe hard.
Spain and Italy continue to face challenges.
As one of the least developed in the area, Greece’s economy remains weak as it grapples with high public spending, low productivity, and tax evasion.
The EU is facing its first test of economic stability with Southern Europe suffering from record national debt and high unemployment.

17. The European Union (EU)
The World’s Strongest Supranational Organization

18. Economic Unions
The European Union is the dominant economic union in Europe. The European Union has introduced a single currency called the euro in order to promote and facilitate trade.

20. What is it?
The European Union (EU) is a family of democratic European countries, committed to working together for peace and prosperity.
It is not a State intended to replace existing states, but it does represent a greater compromise of sovereignty than any other international organization.
The EU is unique; its Member States have set up common institutions to which they delegate some of their sovereignty so that decisions on specific matters of joint interest can be made democratically at European level.
This pooling of sovereignty is also called "European integration" 

21. GROWTH OF THE EU

22. D O M A I N ?
CORE
ANTICIPATED EXPANSION ?

23. The Euro The Treaty of Rome (1957)
Declared a common market as a European objective
Aim: increase economic prosperity and contribute to "an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe"
The Single European Act (1986) and the Treaty on European Union (1992) built on this
introduced Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)
laid the foundations for a single currency
name “Euro” was selected in 1995
in January 1999, the exchange rates of the participating currencies were irrevocably set and Euro area Member States began implementing a common monetary policy
in January 2002, 12 States in the EU introduced the new euro banknotes and coins

24. The Eurozone Coins and banknotes 1st used Jan 1, 2002
Cyprus sheduled to join in 2008
Slovakia scheduled to join in 2009
Estonia scheduled to join in 2010
Sweden is technically obliged to join but the EU has made public that they will not enforce this with regard to Sweden
Britain and Denmark have a “derogation” releasing them from having to join

25. Why have bills different sizes & colors?
What values are reflected in these “artifacts” that are not found in American money?

26. SUMMARY
The European Union is the strongest supranational organization in the world
shared currency & financial management
legislative, judicial, and executive bodies
regulatory and planning bodies
The EU is growing geographically, and its growth suggests a core-domain model
core and domain are borne out by distribution of income
The EU does not appeal to all Europeans (at least not yet)
small states in particular seem skeptical
Roughly comparable to the US in some ways
population slightly larger than that of the US
somewhat more densely settled than the US
economy is at least as strong as the American economy
other social statistics (e.g. literacy, infant mortality & homicide) are as good or better than the US