Belgium
National Bank of Belgium paper looks at IMF research networks
IMF staff provide useful case study of how co-authorship networks form, paper says
Peter Praet on Europe’s Covid-19 responses
The former ECB chief economist talks about threats to financial stability, negative rates, common debt issuance and steps to improve the EMU
Belgium to launch new ‘smart’ ATM network
Network will look to solve geographical disparity and maintain cash services
Brexit uncertainties reduced Belgian exports to UK - NBB paper
Paper looks at impact on exports and imports of uncertainty caused by Brexit referendum
Belgian and Slovene central banks tighten macro-prudential regimes
NBB warns of Belgian mortgage risks and Slovene central bank cautions over consumer loans
New governor starts work at Belgian central bank
Former vice-governor Pierre Wunsch is backed by centre-right Francophone party
Belgium’s mint to close in 2018
Coin production will be outsourced to save money, given decline in production, losing no jobs in the process, Mint official says
ECB buys €500 million worth of renminbi for forex reserves
Belgian central bank also announces purchase of Chinese currency, plus South Korean won
ECB gives mixed reception to new macro-pru measures
Austrian proposals welcomed, but ECB raises concerns over Belgian draft law
Belgian paper examines use of illiquid loans as collateral
Liquidity and funding purposes both inform banks’ decisions, researchers say
People: Romanian deputy nominated; Belgium’s Dewatripont leaves central bank
Romania to soon have new deputy governor, pending parliamentary approval; National Bank of Belgium’s deputy Dewatripont leaves central bank; India creates CFO role; and more
Offshoring of services could hinder job security – paper
National Bank of Belgium examines impact of offshoring goods and services; pace of services offshoring could hurt job prospects for those working in the sector
Luc Coene, 1947–2017
Former Belgian central bank governor also had significant political career
Belgian paper studies work of pioneer of regional economics
Robert Triffin was the “architect” of the European Payments Union
EBA does not object to further macro-prudential measures for Belgian banks
The European Banking Authority clears the way for Belgium’s central bank to tighten macro-prudential measures affecting housing exposures; calls for changes in regulatory framework
National Bank of Belgium sees deposit guarantee scheme as ‘missing component’
Central bank says a joint scheme is the ‘missing component’ of banking union, but argues risk-sharing must be accompanied by better risk control
National Bank of Belgium closes scientific library
The National Bank of Belgium will close its research library in Brussels in March; diminished need for the facility due to more widespread access to electronic resources, bank says
Eurozone macro-prudential policy should be ‘streamlined’, says Belgian director
Mathias Dewatripont praises shared responsibility as a ‘clever idea’ at ECB forum, but acknowledges this ‘leads to some complex procedures’
Belgian paper explores link between monetary policy and risk-taking
Model suggests central banks should stabilise the path of the real interest rate more when there is a ‘risk-taking channel’ of monetary policy, to help reduce ‘welfare detrimental fluctuations’
Belgian paper examines ‘crisis-proof’ services
Working paper finds ‘significant’ differences between the elasticity of goods exports and services exports with respect to GDP growth during the crisis
Belgian central bank embraces responsive design with new website
National Bank of Belgium launches new website with cleaner design and upgrades its statistical database, while wider central banking community look to improve online presence
Outgoing Belgian governor takes ECB role
Luc Coene named as one of four ECB representatives on the SSM supervisory board, a role he will start after stepping down as National Bank of Belgium governor next month
Belgian research examines policy response to oil price shocks
To curb the wealth-shifting effect of oil price shocks ‘optimal policy calls for a large but short-lived increase in the real interest rate’
Belgian paper examines impact of unit labour costs on exports
Working paper results imply a 10% increase in unit labour costs leads to drop in exports of between 2% and 4%, based on data from 1999 to 2010