Central Banking Journal
The Eurosystem has done enough; time for politicians to choose
The Eurosystem has done enough to support the eurozone, says Jens Weidmann, who believes the euro area should either accept fiscal union or allow sovereigns to default
The changing structure of the euro money market
Systematic reports on the European secured and unsecured money market would represent a powerful tool for central bankers despite the current distortions caused by Eurosystem liquidity operations
The case for nominal GDP targeting by central banks
Central banks have experimented with new monetary policy approaches, with nominal GDP targeting the latest idea to be put forward. Richard Werner looks at the empirical data supporting such a policy
China’s new financial and regulatory architects
Keeping Zhou Xiaochuan as governor of the People’s Bank of China will provide policy stability in the world’s second largest economy. But there are plenty of changes elsewhere
Communicating uncertainty in economic forecasts
The way central banks and economists communicate uncertainty in macroeconomic forecasts differs around the world. Charles Manski contrasts the approaches of the Federal Reserve and Bank of England
Bank Negara Malaysia’s approach to developing a financial inclusion index
Malaysia’s index of financial inclusion was created as a first step to increasing the depth of financial participation in the country, but more data is needed, says Zarina Abd Rahman
Bretton Woods Transcripts reveal insights into IMF quotas and governance
In the second of a three-part series, Andrew Rosenberg writes about how the negotiators at the Bretton Woods conference in 1944 spent much of their time deliberating quotas and governance for the IMF
Booknotes: After the Music Stopped: The Financial Crisis, the Response, and the Work Ahead
According to Alan Blinder's publisher, he has taken the time 'to think his way through to a truly comprehensive narrative of how the worst economic crisis in postwar American history happened'
Booknotes: The Federal Reserve and the Financial Crisis
This volume is based on the transcripts of four lectures from a series delivered by the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board at George Washington University in the spring of 2012
Booknotes: Bull By the Horns: Fighting to Save Main Street from Wall Street and Wall Street from itself
This is a great book with a clear message: no more bailing out of too-big-too-fail banks.
Booknotes: The Leaderless Economy: Why the World Economic System Fell Apart and How to Fix It
The title of Peter Temin and David Vines’ book, especially its subtitle, promises the reader a lot
Bundesbank research finds strong role for China in global inflation dynamics
Discussion paper weighs cross-border effects of supply and demand shocks in China; results suggest Chinese shocks explain an average of 5% of total inflation across countries
Fed ‘stimulus’ chokes indirect finance to SMEs
Low interest rates in the US are crowding out indirect finance to SMEs and distorting financial markets generally. The Fed needs to act by raising rates to 2%, argues Ronald McKinnon
Stockton’s Bank of England review offers forecasting lessons for central banks
The Stockton review of the Monetary Policy Committee at the Bank of England offers valuable lessons for central bankers and economists around the world.
Deutsche Bundesbank’s losing struggle in European integration battle
The Deutsche Bundesbank was once the cornerstone of European monetary stability but has become little more than a bargaining chip for politicians negotiating European integration.
Booknotes: Making the European Monetary Union
A history of the Committee of Central Bank Governors for the period 1964 to 1993, for which the author, Harold James, had access to the archives
Booknotes: The New Economics of Sovereign Wealth Funds
This book is a brave and welcome contribution to the analysis of sovereign wealth funds.
Booknotes: Europe's Unfinished Currency
Mayer has grasped the essential truth about Europe’s single currency – that the project not only has an economic context but also an historical one and, above all, a political one.
Booknotes: The Ponzi Scheme Puzzle: A History and Analysis of Con Artists and Victims
Tamar Frankel offers us a colourful and broad picture of con artists who have initiated their own ‘Ponzi schemes’.
Renminbi internationalisation to get boost from 60m overseas Chinese
Use of the renminbi by the 60-million strong Chinese diaspora will accelerate the currency’s use in global trade and reserves management. By Gary Smith.
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.
The trade-off between bank regulation and economic growth
The pendulum has swung firmly in favour of financial services regulatory reform. But economic growth is likely to suffer – particularly in Europe – unless some of the rules are changed
Central banks need to be wary of ‘new’ monetary policy trends
Policy-makers are reappraising the role of independent central banks pursuing inflation targets. Bernd Braasch1 encourages them to use sound evidence to inform their judgements
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.