Mata, Maria EugéniaBiagini, SaraSchuen, Laurin Richard Gerrit2024-11-222024-11-222023-09-222023-08-08http://hdl.handle.net/10362/175658This thesis studies the role of rail in the European Monetary Union. It considers the history of rail, the theoretical contributions of Mundell regarding Optimal Currency Areas and regions, and of von Thünen (“the Isolated State”). Key variables are analysed and an econometric fixed effects regression analysis (10 countries; 2002- 2021; 2 subsamples) is conducted. Average prices (per passenger kilometre and ton-kilometre) are the dependent variables. The main findings are: The European Monetary Union is not yet a region in Mundell’s sense (centre more than periphery) but evolving towards one. Rail is a crucial contributor for connecting European countries and markets.engRailFreightPassengersEuropean Monetary UnionTransportationGreen economyEfficiencyCompetitionSustainabilitySpace economicsOptimal currency areaRegionmaster thesis203683978