Monetary Policy
African common currency 'will open up economies'
The introduction of the "ECO" as a common currency for Ghana, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Guinea and The Gambia will open up the economies of member states to increase trade and commerce, according to Lanto Harding.
German government calls for quick Welteke decision
Bundesbank chief Ernst Welteke can be replaced "very quickly" if he resigns or is removed by the central bank over a hotel stay paid for by a commercial bank, the German government said Wednesday.
Independent evaluation of ECB research activities
The ECB released a report on Wednesday 7 April of an evaluation of the economic research activities at the ECB. The report provides a positive assessment of the research conducted at the ECB on several criteria, including scientific quality and relevance…
IMF see 'sweet spot' in financial stability report
The global economy has hit a "sweet spot" according to the International Monetary Fund's April 2004 Global Financial Stability Report, published Tuesday.
RBA Financial Stability Review, March 2004
The Reserve Bank of Australia has published the first edition of its new report, the Financial Stability Review for March 2004. The report will be published every six months.
St Louis Fed's Regional Economist, April 2004
The Quarterly Review of Business and Economic Conditions, The Regional Economist, April 2004 edition from the St Louis Fed includes the article "Miscommunication". What the Fed said last year it could do if deflation surfaced was one thing. What the…
Fed's Bernanke on trade and jobs
In a speech on 'Trade and jobs' given on 30 March, Ben Bernanke of the Federal Reserve said the slow pace of hiring in the US is related to increasing productivity and not to outsourcing or trade.
Gramlich on The Board's Modeling Work in the 1960s
In a speech on 'The Board's Modeling Work in the 1960s' given on 26 March, Edward Gramlich of the Federal Reserve said poor decision-making by Federal Reserve officials in the late 1960s reflected political interference and not a misunderstanding of the…
Ueda on the role of capital for central banks
In a speech on 'The Role of Capital for Central Banks' given on 25 October (published 27 Feb), Kazuo Ueda of the Bank of Japan said that political-economy constraints in the real world may prevent central banks from fulfilling their responsibility to…
ECB accepts planned accounting rules
A report said that the European Central Bank is no longer worried over the introduction of planned accounting rules to help improve transparency in financial reports.
Papademos says 'no' to stability pact changes
Lucas Papademos, vice president of the ECB, has rejected calls for changes to the eurozone's stability and growth pact saying any improvements could be made within the current framework.
ECB appointee against short-term rate changes
European Central Bank appointee Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramo has said he opposes "short-term" interest rate moves to stimulate growth.
Welteke asks Bundesbank Board to review conduct
Ernst Welteke said on Tuesday 6 April that he had asked the Bundesbank's executive board to review his conduct in accepting a hotel stay paid by one of the country's major commercial banks. The move follows a decision by Welteke to pay the bill Monday.
Philippines steps up anti-counterfeiting drive
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) launched an intensified campaign against counterfeit money on Tuesday 6 April, with the promise of rewards to whistleblowers with information that would lead to the arrest of counterfeiters.
Fund focus on regulatory governance
After five years investigating national financial systems under its FSAP programme, the International Monetary Fund has decided that poor regulatory governance - how regulatory authorities themselves are governed - is undermining financial stability.
The Japanese Economic Model: JEM
This Bank of Japan Working Paper sets out the Japanese Economic Model, a large macroeconomic model of the Japanese Economy. Although the JEM is a theoretical model it can be used for both projection and simulation analysis.
Bernanke: Financial education and Jump$tart survey
In the speech 'Financial education and Jump$tart survey' given on 1 April Ben Bernanke of the Federal Reserve said the Federal Reserve is involved with financial education on many fronts. Reserve Banks around the country conduct workshops for teachers…
BoJ's Haru: deflation unlikely to end this year
Bank of Japan (BOJ) Policy Board member Hidehiko Haru has suggested that Japan is unlikely to overcome deflation by the end of 2004, saying greater increases in consumption holds the key to a full economic recovery.
Report says ECB rate cut 'blocked'
A UK newspaper has reported that the ECB was effectively blocked from cutting interest rates last week after German and Dutch governors resented political pressure to ease eurozone monetary policy further.
Italy calls for stability pact revamp
Italy has demanded a revamp of the EU Stability and Growth Pact to devote more attention to nurturing economic growth than curbing deficits.
Poland says to adopt euro by 2007
Poland, which on May 1 will become a member of the European Union, should adopt the euro as its national currency by 2007, the country's central bank chief said.
Bundesbank chief Welteke pays disputed bill
The president of the Bundesbank sought to head off calls for his resignation on Monday by agreeing to pay back a controversial luxury-hotel bill which was covered by a private bank.
IMF agreement close as Lemierre pulls ahead
EU finance ministers hope to thrash out agreement on Europe's choice for the next head of the International Monetary Fund at weekend talks, the EU's Irish presidency said this week.
Gaddafi calls for African central bank
The Libyan "Leader of the Revolution" Colonel Muammar Gaddafi has called for the establishment of an African Central Bank.