Development within the European Union of the Second World Countries - Assignment Example

Thus, in the course of discussion on the development process of these countries, it is inevitable to tackle the history of transition of these countries from a system of planned economy to their membership to the European Union and their subsequent integration to the global free market. A brief presentation on the situation of the Second World countries during the late 1990s was presented in this paper; however, the whole discussion gives its main focus in the past ten years of the new millennium.

Introduction The European Union has become one of the most influential economic and political organizations in the world since the Second World War. Starting from a membership of six countries in 1958, European Union has now a membership of twenty seven countries and still expanding. European Union was established based on the framework of Europe-wide single market that would promote peace, stability and prosperity. Economic cooperation is at the core of the guiding principles of EU country-members basis of unity.

EU stands for borderless economy within Europe and strives to make Europe an accessible place to live and work for all the Europeans. It is still a glaring reality; however, that unequal development still exists within the European Union. For the last five to ten years, changes within the boundaries associated with the European regions have caused altered changes in the economy of European Union. Despite of the thrust to create a single Europe, member-countries of the European Union sill differs from each in other in terms of economy, politics and social well-being of the people in the society.

Specifically in terms of economy, the differences between the second world countries within the union have created a gap in the past decade. The economic activities of the second world countries in the region have been directly affected by their membership in the European Union either positively or negatively. How do the second world countries progress as members of the European Union? Is this helpful for them as a whole? Basically, this paper will delve on these matters. This paper will examine the economic growth of the second world countries within the European Union for the last five to ten years.

This paper also tries to establish that in as much as the Second World countries need the integration within the framework of the European Union, Europe would also benefit from the accession. In the past years, Europe has been insulated in productivity, especially in terms of labor. An American worker generates 27 percent more output per dollar compared to the European workers. Employers in France and Belgium are entitled at least twenty six paid national holidays in addition to their vacations.

A German worker being is paid with 14.5 months of work per year but actually works for 9.5 months (Tupy, 2003). Also, the European GDP per capita today is less that two thirds compared to that of the United States, whereas they were roughly equal before. The glaring reality of Europe’s economy – slow growth, generous social provisions, high unemployment rate, and high taxes on European’s citizens – raises questions on the correctness of the European economic model would be able to help the Second World countries in their thrust for prosperity (Tupy, 2003).

Thus, this paper will also discuss how the status of the economy of the second world countries affects the stature of European Union as a whole. Second