CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2025
| Author | Reiff, Frederik |
|---|---|
| Title | Comparing the Progress, Risks, and Benefits of the Capital Markets Union: Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary, and Poland |
| Summary | Ten years after its launch, the Capital Markets Union (CMU) remains an unfinished project. Despite a renewed attempt under the rebranded “Savings and Investment Union” and strong political backing from figures like Macron, Scholz, Letta, and Draghi, progress has been uneven. This thesis evaluates which legislative reforms have been implemented since the CMU’s inception, their impact on financial integration and capital market development, and where integration efforts have stalled or even regressed. It also examines who stands to benefit most from the CMU by comparing the more developed capital markets of Germany and the Netherlands with the less developed markets of Poland and Hungary. Through a mixed-methods approach combining legislative analysis, quantitative indicators, and comparative case studies, the thesis finds that while there has been some progress in financial integration and development, current levels do not exceed pre-financial crisis peaks. The CMU promises to deliver benefits for major Western European Economies. For Central and Eastern European countries, the direct benefits remain limited, as the project is misaligned with the economic structures of the region. Nevertheless, these countries may still benefit indirectly from spillover growth effects originating in Western Europe. |
| Supervisor | Dóra Piroska |
| Department | Undergraduate Studies BA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2025/reiff_frederik.pdf |
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