Dr. Paulette Kurzer joined the Department of Political Science at the University of Arizona in 1994. She teaches comparative politics with a special focus on Europe (West). Her courses cover domestic politics in the countries of Western Europe and the interaction between national governments and the institutions of the European Union. Her research focus ranges from monetary integration/single currency, public health and consumer protection, to European housing markets and mortgage lending institutions. Her publications have appeared in all the major European political science/public policy journals. She also has a direct interest in German politics. She has published several articles on the evolution of German tobacco policy. Currently, she is collaborating on a study that examines the politics of the German housing market.