This book investigates whether the structural and policy frameworks of established federal systems can provide a viable blueprint for the future integration of the European Union. David McKay, a scholar of comparative politics, utilizes a comparative methodology to analyze the fiscal and monetary challenges facing the European Union post-1999. By contrasting the EU with existing federal states, the author evaluates the feasibility of centralized policy-making and the potential for a more cohesive European political economy.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of federalist theory and European integration. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a rigorous resource for students and scholars of comparative politics.