Germany
As Europe's largest economy and second most populous nation, Germany is a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defence organisations. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries introduced a common European exchange currency, the euro. The population of Germany is 82,400,996 (July 2007 est.).
France
France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a hybrid presidential-parliamentary governing system resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier more purely parliamentary administrations. France introduced Euro currency in January 1999.
The population of this country falls in 60,876,136 in metropolitan France (July 2007 est.) France is in the midst of transition from a well-to-do modern economy that has featured extensive government ownership and intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. The government has partially or fully privatized many large companies, banks, and insurers, and has ceded stakes in such leading firms as Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and Thales.
The New EU Members (Chart 1) Value is shown as Billions in Dollar
The Old EU Members (Chart 1.1) Value is shown as Billions in Dollar
Putting the new and old EU members in one graph would make Bulgaria difficult to be shown in the graph therefore for the comparison I put them separately. Comparing these members of EU we can clearly see that Poland, Romania and Bulgaria is not even meeting it to the value of 500 billion whereas Germany, United Kingdom and France is highly competing the economic looking at the graph 1.2 we can see that Germany’s GDP is growing more then United Kingdom and France in the year of 2005, 2006, and 2007.
These graphs are shown to approve that the New EU members are far behind then the old existed EU members. However Poland has satisfactory increased the GDP growth within years then the Romania and Bulgaria, Romania and Bulgaria is increasing slowly within three years as the graph in (chart 1) shows. Comparing it to Old and existed EU members they are far behind to compete or even to reach to this level. Looking at the graph (chart 2) we can clearly see that Germany is increasing faster then United Kingdom and France whereas United Kingdom and France is after each other however United Kingdom has growth more then France.
Population of new and old EU members (Chart 2)
By gathering the data of population we can justify that these three new EU members are also down according to their population whereas Germany is still the having the highest population. Poland is having has higher population between Eastern European members. A high population advantage is that you will have more labour to increase the economy and make it a wealthy country. France and United Kingdom is standing after each other on population that means that United Kingdom is a tad lower then France’s population. Accordingly population brings labour force and makes it more stronger therefore to live in a modern and competitive world the population should be in a satisfactory level to help to stay economically higher and competitive in the globe. Therefore we can justify that New EU members should increase their population to stay in competitive world.
GDP Purchase Power Parity (PPP) (Chart 3)
This chart is showing that Romania is increasing then Poland and Bulgaria whereas Bulgaria is lower then both in GDP (Purchase, Power, and Parity), however it is lower then the old members of EU whereas Germany is increasingly high then France and United Kingdom. Values above are shown in trillion. In this graph we can comprehend that United Kingdom has a tad more then France. GDP (Purchase, Power, and Parity) in New EU members are less might be because of their limited accession to Europe where the countries such as Germany, United Kingdom, and France had accession from before. However it can be a case but in other hand Romania, Bulgaria, and Poland has a poor economical history before coming in to European Union. This can have an influence on its economy growth.
Unemployment in selected EU countries (Chart 4)
By looking at this graph we can clarify that Poland’s unemployment is more then other EU countries whereas the most economical developed country Germany is in second position of Unemployment. Consequently Bulgaria which is economically poor has of 8% unemployment. Consequently United Kingdom and France a tad difference in unemployment which is of 0.80% difference Romania in the other hand has lower unemployment rate then the rest of EU members.
Exports of new and Old EU countries in billion f.o.b. (2007 est.) (Chart 5)
Here in this graph we Can justify the fact that Germany is obtaining the highest export system that influences the country to have a wealthy economic. France is holding the second place in these selected EU members to have more export then the rest of the EU Members whereas United Kingdom is far way behind in exports system then Germany and France. However the three New EU members are in downwards that it can not even meet a level to the lowest export system of other EU members. Consequently Poland is better then Romania and Bulgaria.
Imports of New and Old EU countries in billion f.o.b. (2007 est.) (Chart 6)
Comparing to export Germany is importing more then the rest of EU countries whereas United Kingdom is a tad lower then France’s importing. However the Eastern EU members which are the New EU members are lower then old EU members and can not even meet the to the lowest importing level of old EU members. Consequently Poland is better then Romania and Bulgaria. Exporting and importing creates a strong relationship within countries, because of the fact that Romania, Poland, and Bulgaria has poor economical history they might have not been able to expand this relationship because of the economical status.
Investments (Gross Fixed) (Chart 7)
According to the graph Bulgaria is higher then all in investments (Gross fixed) where Romania is second following by that Poland is third which has been investing from gross fixed. However coming to very developed countries we can realise that they do no invest a lot so it means their Investments (Gross fixed) is lower then Poland Romania and Bulgaria. Investments in Eastern European or new EU members are more because that these countries are trying to reach the satisfactory level of economical status and compete or stand in the globe. Investments brings more then expenditure in my point of view. Consequently United Kingdom, Germany, France is not investing a lot because of the fact that they have met the level whereas they invest to a level to stay in the economical status.
Inflation (Consumer rates 2007 est) (Chart 8)
The inflation rate the year 2007 according to consumer prices we can state that Bulgaria’s inflation rate (Consumer prices) has been increased that means it is harder for consumers because increasing inflation rates means increasing prices of products, services and etc on consumers. Additionally Romania’s inflation rate is 4.60% which is better then Bulgaria. Accordingly the rest of EU members are obtaining a good percentage of inflation rate (Consumer prices that mostly falls in to 2% for instance Germany is obtaining 2% whereas Poland is a tad more 2.10%. Consequently United Kingdom is obtaining 2.40% where France is obtaining a good level of inflation rate
(Consumers prices) which is 1.5%.
GDP Exchange rate (Chart 9)
This graph apparently shows that Germany is holding the highest GDP exchange rate whereas United Kingdom is holding the second position; going further France is holding the third position. These EU members are at the peak of exchange rate then Bulgaria, Poland, and Romania. However Poland is better then Bulgaria and Romania, In here the we can see that Bulgaria is holding the second position in New selected EU members where Romania got the lowest exchange rate amongst all selected EU members.
GDP Per Capita (Chart 10)
GDP per capita is measured from the country with the lowest GDP per capita which is Romania to the highest GDP per capita which is United Kingdom. Consequently United Kingdom Germany and France one after one that means there is a difference 1000 dollars or more to reach to each other. On the other hand the New EU members are not meeting the level where United Kingdom, Germany, and France is, however Poland has higher level then Romania and Bulgaria. Consequently Bulgaria and Romania has a difference of $700 dollars.
Industrial production growth rates (Chart 11)
Industrial productions within the New EU members have been increased where France, Germany, and United Kingdom has increased. It can be the fact that these countries might have enough industrials so they might have not increased it whereas Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria increased it to reach to obtain a good economical status. Poland has increased successfully more then all selected EU members where the lowest is United Kingdom.
Conclusion
By comparing the data and statistics that I gathered it sums up to me that there are major difference between these countries, I looked at the graphs to find similarity between these countries in such ways however I could not find any similarity that can be proofed. The only similarity is that they are the members of European Union. In the area of population I will suggest that increasing population will successfully let the countries to expand economical status specially Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria amongst the selected EU members. To summarise the case I will say that the New EU members could not grow GDP as much as old and existed EU members because they were suffering poor economical status. However the accession to European Union should help these countries to reach to satisfactory level of GDP Growth.