Opinion
Japan's Koizumi: Need deflation-fighter at BOJ
INTERVIEW - Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said Wednesday the nation needs a bold deflation-fighter to lead the central bank when the current governor's term ends in March, underscoring the concerns falling prices continue to eat away at the…
A new general approach to capital adequacy?
ARTICLE - The Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation on Tuesday released a proposal aimed at replacing the Basel committee's new capital adequacy proposal. CentralBankNet attended the press conference.
Bernankeian Economics
ARTICLE - This article looks at Fed Governor Ben Bernanke's recent speech "Deflation: Making Sure "It" Doesn't Happen Here" and says it is one of most important speeches on Federal Reserve and monetary policy in the past fifteen years. The article…
Thinking about life after Greenspan
ARTICLE - America's interest rates came under the spotlight again on December 10th, when the Federal Reserve met for the last time this year. At the Fed, as well as at the Treasury department, attention is turning to regime change. This article…
CentralBankNet Monday Special Feature
SPECIAL FEATURE - While economists appear to be increasingly concerned with the possibility of deflation, the hideous reflection of an old enemy, central bankers have been reassuring us that the chances of a Japan style downward spiral are highly…
Central banks must be radical in post-bubble world
ARTICLE - An article asks how conservative central bankers can be turned into radical policy makers, suggesting the problem lies in persuading the public that central bankers really can change their spots.
Why not a female Governor of the Bank of England?
ARTICLE - An interesting article looks at women in central banks and why so few make it to the top position. The article suggests central bankers like the power of knowing things which they can keep from the public but that women don't like playing that…
ECB Press Conference
PRESS CONFERENCE - Duisenberg said that since the last rate cut there has been no abatement in the uncertainty on the euro zone economic outlook but more uncertainty than ever. This has increased concerns about the sluggishness of the economy. The half…
Turkish central banker determined to hit CPI goal
Turkey's new government has little opportunity to alter economic targets under a program of reforms backed by the International Monetary Fund, the country's central bank governor said in an interview Friday.
Afghan notes switch proceeding despite problems
ARTICLE - The switchover of bank notes in Afghanistan continues as the war ravaged country attempts to stabilise the weak economy. Deputy central bank governor Isa Turab described the operation as "proceeding well despite logistical problems".
'Tis the season to read Bollard- between the lines
ARTICLE - CentralBankNet hears that the recently appointed governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Alan Bollard, has taken it upon himself to design the Bank's christmas card. He used to do this when he worked at the Treasury and speculation has…
Interview with Swedish PM on the euro referendum
INTERVIEW - Following the recent announcement that Sweden will hold a referendum on euro entry next year, Prime Minister Goran Persson spoke to Swedish radio on the topic. In the interview he said the exact wording of the question would be decided later…
CentralBankNet Monday Special Feature
Mervyn King will be the next governor of the Bank of England, it was revealed this week. With Sir Edward George in the post until June next year it is expected that the changeover will be smooth. But along with headlines announcing the arrival of the…
Heading for a collision over the euro
ARTICLE - The article suggests that it would be 'extraordinary' were the UK Treasury to recommend entry to the euro after the signals they have sent out since the last general election.
Economist slams Hungarian central bank policies
ARTICLE - The article 'In the grips of the central bank; To where does the MNB's monetary policy lead?' suggests that the National Bank of Hungary has failed to learn from mistakes made over the previous several years.
The Bank is losing a house price game
ARTICLE - This article suggests that the Bank of England's interest rate strategy has gone wrong causing a house price bubble and that central bankers avoid discussion on asset price bubbles incase their collapse makes them look stupid.
Stelmakh says politics behind upcoming dismissal
INTERVIEW - In an interview the beleaguered Ukrainian national bank chairman Volodymyr Stelmakh says his expected dismissal is all down to politics and puts the blame firmly with former Prime Minister Anatoliy Kinakh.
CentralBankNet Monday Special Feature
While many central banks have more or less secured operational independence and central bank governors enjoy job security, recent events have shown this situation is far from universal.
Cutting kronas in Sweden
ARTICLE - As we reported earlier in the week Swedish prime minister Goran Persson is set to name the date for the euro referendum next week. The proposed referendum on Sweden's entry to the euro looks like taking place in Autumn 2003. However on current…
Argentina claws its way back from the abyss
ARTICLE - In an interesting article former governor of the Central Bank of Argentina, Mario Blejer, looks at Argentina's recent progress in economic stability and looks at the future for the South American nation.
Redefine the Bank of Canada
ARTICLE - An extract from former governor of the Bank of Canada John Crow's new book 'Making Money' has Crow on monetary policy. He says it's time for the federal government to clarify responsibility.
CentralBankNet Monday Special Feature
SPECIAL FEATURE - Mervyn King caused a stir last week saying "I have no wish to go into the pulpit" and lecture people about house prices. But with UK property values at dangerously high levels and the catastrophic consequences for the UK economy if, in…
Britain held back by isolation from euro
LETTER - Letter published in the Financial Times, 18 November by Simon Buckby, Campaign Director, Britain in Europe. He says Britain's label of the 'reluctant European' has cost it dear and membership of the euro will be the first step in repairing the…
Spotting the next asset price bubble
ARTICLE - A thoughtful article in last Friday's FT by John Calverly of American Express Bank suggests that an asset valuation committee should be set up to warn of potential asset price bubbles. Though Calverly was directing his remarks to the UK, it is…