Opinion
Kikuo Iwata: BOJ needs inflation target
INTERVIEW - The Bank of Japan should set a mild inflation target to defeat deflation, says Kikuo Iwata, a Gakushuin University professor, who believes that unless deflation is stopped, there can be no business revival nor fiscal reform.
CentralBankNet Monday Special Feature
SPECIAL FEATURE - New research carried out by CentralBankNet reveals that if all 10 of the European accession countries are to take up the euro, the Eurosystem will be able to boast some 70,000 central bankers. Published today, 3 February, in the 2003…
Ex Latvian central bank chief shocks with pay rise
ARTICLE - The ex governor of the central bank of Latvia, Einars Repse, now Prime Minister of the eastern European nation, has announced that all ministers are to have their salaries tripled. The move, needed to say, faced little opposition from the…
Eisuke Sakakibara: Why inflation targets wont work
INTERVIEW - Those who advocate inflation targets have not presented any convincing scenarios of how inflation targeting would cause the prices of goods and services to increase. Setting an inflation target without laying out such a scenario would be…
A funny way to manage Europe's money
ARTICLE - This article looks at the potential for enlargement of the eurozone and its impact on the ECB's governing council. The author sees problems ahead saying that today's 18 member council is already too large and proposals for rotational voting…
Who'll take over Poland's Monetary Policy Council?
ARTICLE - An interesting article 'New RPP in 2004: Who is Going to Replace the Hawks?' speculates on who may take over on the National Bank of Poland's Monetary Policy Council when the present members term finishes in 2004.
Bank of Canada seeks candidates for No. 2 post
ARTICLE - Canada's central bank is searching far and wide to replace its outgoing No.2 official, with advertisements in national newspapers and an international magazine for what observers say is a very short list of contenders.
The Fed official who cried 'bubble'
ARTICLE - The article considers the recently released transcript of an FOMC meeting from five years ago. Jerry Jordan warns in the transcript that inflation may not be the main worry for US policy makers in the future. He apparently forewarns, "The…
Interview with Andrew Crockett of the BIS
INTERVIEW - The global financial system is vulnerable to new shocks and officials will have to be on their toes to react should a series of them come together, the outgoing head of the Bank for International Settlements said in an interview Monday.
CentralBankNet Monday Special Feature
SPECIAL FEATURE - Information Technology plays a crucial role in modern central banking. In this weeks special feature CentralBankNet presents an exclusive interview with the Bank of England's Head of Information Technology, Andrew Brookes.
Clearing risks
ARTICLE - Following the publication of the G30 report last week this article describes the report as both wise and practical and it will serve as a road map that the many actors from the private and public sectors can use to reach the common destination…
The next BOJ governor
ARTICLE - The article sets out some of the qualities the next governor of the Bank of Japan must have and says he should be selected with an eye to the future. But the door should be left open to all qualified persons, including ex-bureaucrats as well as…
Interview with National Bank of Ukraine's Tyhypko
INTERVIEW - In an interview with Ukrainian TV the National Bank of Ukraine chairman Serhiy Tyhypko spoke of his first foreign visit as the NBU head to Moscow which he says will help to understand one of Ukraine's major trading partners better.
Interview with Nobuyuki Nakahara
INTERVIEW - Currently an adviser to Japan's Financial Services Agency Nobuyuki Nakahara is a favourite to land the job of governor of the Bank of Japan in March. In the interview he said the introduction of a 1-3 per cent inflation target would serve as…
BOJ under pressure to target inflation
ARTICLE - As Hayami's term is about to come to an end speculation not only mounts as to his successor but whether the Bank of Japan should introduce an inflation target under the new leadership.
The folly of inflation targets
ARTICLE - This article says that the Bank of Japan should explain what it is intending to do to end deflation and that this will be the first step in defending its threatened independence.
The governor's performance hits a new low
ARTICLE - An article published in the Jerusalem Post on Tuesday criticised Bank of Israel governor David Klein for apparently laying the blame for Israel's 6.5 percent inflation rate on the government.
Extracts from an interview with Toshihiko Fukui
INTERVIEW - In an interview Toshihiko Fukui, a favourite to become the next governor of the Bank of Japan, says he has a great interest in inflation targeting. But if it was introduced it must be done in such a way as not to weaken discipline.
CentralBankNet Monday Special Feature
SPECIAL FEATURE - In this weeks special report CentralBankNet looks at a new survey of central banks. Latest trends in reserve management will be revealed in a book to be published later this week by Central Banking Publications. "How Countries Manage…
No way to run the world's biggest economy
ARTICLE - The article says that the US economy needs a sizeable short-term stimulus to prevent deflation. While the Federal Reserve has led the way, the chronic shortage of saving in the US has reduced policy options, including the possibility of tax…
Swiss revolt
ARTICLE - There is talk a Socialist (the first ever) might join the three-man team manning the Swiss National Bank, reported an article on Tuesday.
Interview - McKibbin backs old friend Takenaka
INTERVIEW - In an interview given Monday Reserve Bank of Australia board member Warwick McKibbin supported his 'old friend' Japanese Economics Minister Heizo Takenaka's campaign to unite the government and central bank to fight deflation.
A case for a Securities Exchange Commission
ARTICLE - This article says that to corporate governance buffs, the news that government is mulling the idea of setting up a Securities Exchange Commission in Zimbabwe is good news.
Germany has only itself to blame for its woes
ARTICLE - This article argues that one size always fits all in any monetary area, referring to the euro zone interest rate. And asks the question, Has the euro in any way aggravated the problem, compared with past monetary arrangements?