CB In Depth
James Bullard on 2% rates, tariffs and Fed leadership
The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis speaks about the impact of US trade policies, the disruption to the banking industry from Silicon Valley, shrinking the Fed balance sheet and the potential for agent-based modelling
The perilous road to normality
Many central banks are starting to tighten policy, but their room for error is limited and their final destination unclear. What more can they do?
Book notes: Till Time’s Last Sand, by David Kynaston
Kynaston allows readers to develop their own understanding of how the BoE has had to refind its place in a country where the political system has migrated from commercial republic to full-franchise democracy
Switzerland’s Jordan on extraordinary monetary policy and sovereign money
The Swiss National Bank governor speaks about currency intervention, negative rates, sovereign money and the diversification of reserves
A real-time payments revolution in Asia
Asian central banks have encouraged the development of instant payment systems to defend monetary policy transmission and counter cryptocurrency usage
Book notes: American default, by Sebastian Edwards
Edwards’ book is fascinating, well written and enjoyable, and provides an account of one of the US’s forgotten chapters of history
Is the pursuit of a common accounting standard for monetary gold a fool’s errand?
More consistent accounting for monetary gold could address transparency concerns and help smaller emerging economies to achieve greater independence by clarifying treasury transfers
Book notes: Unfinished business, by Tamim Bayoumi
Anand Sinha praises Bayoumi’s analysis of how the euro crisis and US housing crash were, in fact, intertwined
Bank of Jamaica’s Wynter on the path to inflation targeting
Bank of Jamaica’s governor talks about revamping accountability, communications and operations as the central bank embraces inflation targeting
Alternatives to Japan’s 2% flexible inflation target
The Bank of Japan may review its policy framework, given its five-year failure to hit a 2% flexible inflation target
Book notes: Edge of chaos, by Dambisa Moyo
John Chown applauds Moyo’s analysis of how the current democratic framework is failing
Federico Sturzenegger on Argentina’s efforts to create a credible central bank
The Central Bank of Argentina governor, in his last interview before leaving office, speaks about panic in emerging markets, the IMF bailout, and bringing to an end high inflation and monetary financing
Have central banks created a ‘debt trap’? No, but ...
Tougher regulation has helped ensure extraordinary monetary policy has not caused a dangerous rise in private debt
Book notes: Unelected power, by Paul Tucker
Tucker’s well-argued text sets out a set of principles for those in unelected positions of power to ensure they continue to act for the benefit of the general public, but Reddell says it is a shame more attention is not paid to smaller central banks
The toxicology of post-crisis shadow banking
Mark Carney tempted fate in 2017 when he declared the most toxic forms of shadow banking “no longer represent a global stability risk”. Did he speak too soon?
Philip Lane on systemic risk, transparency and Brexit
The Central Bank of Ireland governor speaks with Dan Hardie and Chris Jeffery about transparency, shadow banking, ECB succession and tackling systemic banking risk in the eurozone
Book notes: I do what I do, by Raghuram Rajan
This collection of speeches and commentary sheds light on how the ‘rockstar’ central banker operated, but it reveals little in the more controversial areas of Rajan’s governorship
Andreas Dombret on ECB policy, deposit insurance and Basel III
The Deutsche Bundesbank executive board member speaks about exiting QE, the viability of European deposit insurance, the German banking system and doing a deal on Basel III
The Bank of Italy’s approach to risk-based budgeting
The financial crisis blurred the lines between Anglo-Saxon and continental European central bank models, presenting challenges when treating both the sources of risk and risk-bearing capacity using financial and accounting budgeting techniques
Kganyago on central bank independence and future plans for the IMFC
The South African Reserve Bank governor spoke with Christopher Jeffery at the Central Banking Awards about the South Africa’s new president, the importance of operational independence and key targets for the IMFC
Central banks: the economy’s emergency responders
When economic infrastructure is destroyed during natural disasters, central banks spring into action, engaging contingency plans to ensure the economy continues to run
Book notes: The paradox of vulnerability, by John Campbell and John Hall
Quality of national institutions vital to handling financial crises, say authors
Former governor: Life lessons from Taiwan
Perng Fai-nan, former governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan), shares key insights upon accepting Central Banking’s Lifetime achievement award
Book notes: A diary of the euro crisis in Cyprus
Panicos Demetriades’ book tells the inside story of the Cypriot crisis and how battles over central bank independence led ultimately to his resignation