This book studies the history of the single, or internal, market of the European Union since its beginnings after the Second World War until the end of 2000. It covers several dimensions: historical, political, economic; legal and sociological.

Cet ouvrage retrace le cheminement intellectuel qui a mené à l’instauration d’un marché commun destiné à améliorer les conditions de vie des Européens.

Chronologically written and drawing on new findings from two major archives (the archives of the US State Department and Archive of European Integration), this book is a good introduction into the history of European integration and its political, economic, and diplomatic dimensions.

An analysis of the “quiet revolution” of the 1980s and 1990s (single market, Maastricht, the euro) and of the diversity of projects underpinning its market-making programme.

Policy-Making in the European Union explores a wide range of policy areas in detail, including the single market.

For the development and the historical context see particularly chapter 5 "The single market" of former editions:

Routledge Handbook of the Economics of European Integration provides readers with a brief but comprehensive overview of topics related to the process of European integration in the post-World War II period, see for example chapter “West European economic integration since the 1950s”.