Is the European monetary union the Optimal Currency Area?

The aim of this bachelor thesis is to answer the question whether European Currency Union (particularly the countries that have already entered the 3rd phase of European monetary union) is the Optimal Currency Area (OCA). This question is significant, especially when examining advantages and disadvantages of using a common currency (Euro). This work clarifies fundamental conditions that are connected with the theory of optimal currency area, as it has developed since R. A. Mundell. The thesis also briefly introduces historical development of the European Union and Monetary Union, and tries to point to fundamental turning-points within the integration process. Furthermore, there is a comparison with other regions which use a common currency, e g. the United States of America. One of the main characteristics of the OCA is unification of business cycles within the region. The final section of this thesis is devoted to an analysis and overview of business cycles of selected countries before and after adopting Euro