Feature
Central banks need to define clear role for operational risk
Despite crossing management and business lines, operational risk must be defined within the wider risk management framework at central banks. By Rudy Wytenburg.
Bretton Woods transcripts reveal global discord that still resonates today
In the first of three articles, Andrew Rosenberg discusses the issues that arose at the 1944 conference that continue to echo down through the years.
State Bank of Vietnam needs a single mandate not independence
Lessons from South Korea, Japan and the US indicate a single mandate would benefit the State Bank of Vietnam more than an IMF call for legal independence.
Collateral problems in the euro area
The euro area sovereign debt crisis has caused remarkable growth in the operations of the Eurosystem. It also led to diminished collateral availability.
Solid financial accounts can help central banks meet their mandates – CBP roundtable
The manner that central banks manage and present their financial accounts is becoming critical to them achieving their mandates, according to a CBP working group.
The next ‘Mr RMB’
Five leading candidates have emerged as the likely successor to Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People’s Bank of China. Hui Feng assesses their relative strengths and weaknesses
Governing the central bank governors
Central banks face multiple challenges in the current market environment. But they still need to press towards better governance to build institutions that are fit for purpose
The ghost at the IMF’s Tokyo feast
Robert Pringle looks back at the main themes of the IMF’s annual meeting, which was held in October in Tokyo, and forward to prospects for 2013
The Bretton Woods transcripts
Bretton Woods was one of the world’s most important financial conferences, but one that was little known about until now
Striving for a strategic role for risk management
Risk management needs to be split from control functions to provide boards with a holistic view of qualitative and quantitative risks
Banking union divides Europe
The European Central Bank is set to gain responsibility for the supervision of the continent’s banks in a move unlikely to restore trust with an already sceptical German public
Taming the finance monster
The best way to resolve global financial instability is for the owners of capital to assert themselves, with sovereign funds well positioned to take the lead, say Paul Woolley and Dimitri Vayanos
The future of bank capital
Prudential regulators are relying on the Modigliani-Miller theorem to hold true as banks are required to hold substantially more capital. But could their faith in the theorem be misplaced?
Where the BIS falls short
Robert Pringle compares the analysis and policy recommendations offered by the BIS in its latest annual report with those in his new book, The Money Trap
The beginning of the end for renminbi internationalisation?
The People’s Bank of China has surprised market watchers by taking critical steps to liberalise the renminbi and interest rate policy in the country
Central bank's crucial role in Myanmar's new economic reform
The Central Bank of Myanmar is on the verge of securing operational independence and a budget that will enable it to double its headcount to help it oversee rapid economic reform
Keeping sight of the real inflation target
The appropriate construction of CPI indexes is vital to maintain public confidence in inflation targets. Jill Leyland points out issues in current index construction
Can Japan afford to grow?
Japan has managed to maintain living standards during its two ‘lost decades’, but its efforts to do so now represent obstacles to achieving sustainable growth. By Ryo Watabe.
Germany's concerns about the ECB’s bloated balance sheet
The ECB’s unconventional monetary policy actions have caused a stir in Germany. The Bundesbank's Joachim Nagel speaks with Klaus Engelen about the risks the ECB now faces
The flaws in the Fed's new macro stress test proposals
New macro stress test proposals by the Fed and ECB appear to conflict with rules put forward by the UK, and are raising concern in countries where financial institutions are relatively robust
Designing a new global financial architecture
Developing a financial architecture for the future requires substantial thought about international capital flows and the role of institutional investors. By Bernd Braasch
System risk lessons from FX loans in Central and Eastern Europe
The build-up of forex loans in the CEE presented a systemic challenge to the region's financial stability. Piotr J Szpunar argues this points to a need for macro-prudential rules in Europe
Germany’s political elite treads tightrope of public opinion on euro
Citizens of Europe’s most powerful economy have never had a real affection for the euro, making Germany’s role in resolving the continent’s debt crisis extremely tricky. By Norbert Walter
Berlin and the Bundesbank in spat over IMF
The Bundesbank has played a pivotal role in building Germany’s reputation as defender of monetary discipline at the IMF. But Berlin’s efforts to bail out Greece have damaged this reputation