European Central Bank (ECB)
What remains of the SGP?
Franz-Christoph Zeitler, a member of the executive board of Deutsche Bundesbank, delivered a speech at the Salzburg seminar, a high-profile meeting place of international leaders, at which raised the question "What remains of the Stability and Growth…
Comment: The Benefits of Joining the EMU
What is the gain for new European Union member states of joining the Euro currency area so soon? This is the question asked by Federico Ravenna in a recent ECB working paper*. The author argues that the decision to become part of the monetary union is…
Europe's unstable currency union?
John Nugee writes on how a "one size fits all" interest rate policy in the Eurozone can exacerbate divergence between economies.
Fears over narrow inflation targets
Wolfgang Munchau criticises overemphasis on inflation targets in a column in the Financial Times. Inflation targets have done good work in bringing down inflation and inflation expectations, he says, but with that battle won, perhaps they are no longer…
ECB behind BoE, Fed on clarity; must reveal more
This article published on Thursday 18 August reveals the results of a poll of economists and academics who were asked to compare the ECB with the Bank of England, U.S. Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan for clarity of communication.
Interview: Kenneth Clarke
In this interview Kenneth Clarke, Britain’s chancellor of the exchequer from 1993 to 1997, calls on the ECB to rethink its role and communications.
Time for the ECB to intervene
Charles Goodhart makes the case for Europe’s central bank to sell the euro.
Dear Jean-Claude...
Changing the way the ECB works would improve its image and make your job easier, writes Charles Goodhart in an open letter to the ECB’s president.
Review of Monetary policy Transmission in the Euro Area
The ECB is piecing together how monetary policy affects the eurozone economy. A review by Paul Brione of Central Banking.
Interview with ECB's Issing
In an interview published on Tuesday 9 August, ECB Chief Economist Otmar Issing said that recently the eurozone economy has seen a series of positive signals. However risks to the outlook remained on the downside, he said, particularly with the continued…
Italian economy minister wants ECB rate cut
Italy's deputy economy minister Mario Baldassari said he favours the European Central Bank cutting its interest rates, as well as the euro being valued at parity with the dollar.
Cultural days of the ECB 2005: Hungary
Hungary will be the country featured in this year's Cultural Days of the European Central Bank, which will be held from 2 to 28 November 2005 in cooperation with Magyar Nemzeti Bank, the central bank of Hungary, the ECB said on Thursday 11 August.
ECB Monthly Bulletin, August 2005
The European Central Bank published its August 2005 Monthly Bulletin on Thursday 11 August. The euro zone economy is on track for gradual expansion without pressing inflationary problems, the report said.
German finance minister calls for ECB rate cut
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Clement called on the European Central Bank to cut interest rates, saying it was "remarkably" more reserved than other central banks.
IMF letter on prospects for ECB rate cut
In a letter published by the Financial Times on Tuesday 9 August, Michael Deppler of the IMF said international developments suggest that the worst may be over on growth in the eurozone but point to further upward pressure on headline inflation because…
ECB's Issing sees positive signals on economy
European Central Bank chief economist Otmar Issing said in an interview there have been a series of positive signals on the economy, but said high oil price could curb growth.
Trichet at the memorial service for Wim Duisenberg
In a speech during the memorial service for Wim Duisenberg given on 6 August Jean-Claude Trichet of the ECB called Duisenberg a great European and friend.
DNB's Wellink on Duisenberg's legacy
In a speech at Wim Duisenberg's memorial service given on 6 August Nout Wellink of the DNB said his open manner of communicating was enhanced by another quality: his ability to delegate and bestow trust, even on very young employees.
The future of EMU: one size fits none?
According to the forthcoming edition of Central Banking, inflation and output gap differentials have grown between European states since the inception of the EMU in 1999. If these continue to worsen, the resulting tensions would put a big strain on…
Wim Duisenberg
This obituary for former European Central Bank president Wim Duisenberg, who died on Sunday 31 July, contrasts his rough ride at the ECB with the high reputation he had enjoyed among fellow central bankers during his tenure as governor of the…
Bank of Italy under siege
The trials and tribulations of Antonio Fazio, governor of the Bank of Italy, have raised many disturbing questions regarding the governance of Italy's central bank and of its regulatory system. This is a very sad business. This is the first of a new…
ECB 'Blue Book' on payment and settlement systems
The European Central Bank published the latest addendum to the June 2001 report entitled "Payment and securities settlement systems in the European Union" (third edition) on Tuesday.