Comparison Shopping in the Euro Zone.(Brief Article)

Finally, one can travel through Europe without the fuss of converting currencies and needing a calculator to work out price differences between countries. But the introduction of the euro brings a new problem: Europeans can now see those price differences in black and white. Even after his fifth pint of Guinness, a Finnish drinker can see that the euro5.30 he's paying is daylight robbery compared to the Irishman's 3.81 euro. And why should that same Dubliner pay 125 euro to look sharp in a pair of Armani jeans when a Parisian pays only 100 euro? Of course, local goods will cost less, and quality will vary. And some proprietors have simply jacked up the old prices to create nice round euro numbers. But in any case, it's now easier to compare prices, and consequently to become jealous of one's neighbors. An overview of the injustices:

Want a caffeine boost in Finland? Forget it. A cup of espresso will set you back 2 euro. Stick to Spain, where it's less than half that price.

Driving across the Continent may ...