Essentially there is a risk that the single monetary policy - the single, one-size-fits-all, short-term interest rate - within the euro area, which is a necessary corollary of the single currency, will not in the event prove to be appropriate to the domestic needs of each of the euro-member countries. There is no doubt that such risks exists. They may result from cyclical divergence. They may arise from differences in fiscal positions even though these are to be constrained through the Stability Pact. Or they may result from economic shocks of some sort that have a bigger impact on some countries than on others. The rise in oil prices in the early 1970’s or German reunification are classic examples. So the risk of divergent monetary policy needs within the euro area is real. And the damage it could cause if serious tensions between member countries were to emerge is substantial, because alternative adjustment mechanisms, such as labour migration or fiscal redistribution, that exist within individual countries, and which help to alleviate the similar regional tensions that arise at the national level, are simply not well-developed at the pan-European level.
The significant dimensions of this change include the increased pace of globalisation, the emergence of new technologies and the increasing importance of knowledge as a defining factor in a country's performance. In particular, knowledge accumulation and its application lies at the core of a country's competitive advantage in the global economy. The traditional comparative advantage of abundant natural resources and low-cost labour are now becoming less relevant. It is for this reason that Malaysia has directed significant resources and attention to human capital development, and in particular, to strengthen the intellectual capacity of our nation. As Malaysia transitions into the next stage of development, the vital factor will be having the right skills, knowledge and expertise. If we are to make the quantum leap forward to become a high performance economy, we need to invest in our capabilities. This will become increasingly important as Malaysia ventures into new, cutting edge industries and develops new areas of comparative advantage in this more competitive world economy. To compete effectively in the more challenging global market place that we face today, it will require significant investment in human capital. This is to enable the workforce to deliver superior high value-added products and services and adopt advanced business practices so as to ultimately realise the strategic goals. This trend has become important for all sectors in the economy. Within the financial sector, for example, significant structural enhancements have been made to enable financial institutions and markets to respond to the rapidly changing demands.