GDP
Monetary unions in the making in Africa
EAC, Ecowas and SADC can adopt practical steps learned from EMU to prepare for their own currency unions
Few central banks collaborate with private-sector researchers
Collaborations are common with academia, especially in advanced economies
Ghana recovering faster than expected, says governor Addison
Growth has bounced back to double figures and inflation is expected to hit target by mid-2021
Fed holds rates as US recovery falters
Powell calls for fiscal stimulus and says further Covid-19 wave is hitting poor hardest
Book notes: Austerity, by Alberto Alesina, Carlo Favero and Francesco Giavazzi
When it works and when it doesn’t; every chapter is thorough, informative and persuasive
Fed eases terms on emergency facility as uncertainty rises
High-frequency indicators suggest US recovery is slowing amid resurgence of virus cases
Reserve Benchmarks 2020 report – charting new data frontiers
Perspectives on staffing and salaries, reserve coverage, portfolio construction, benchmarking, use of external parties and risk management
An end to the loveless marriage with the US dollar?
Covid-19 represents an unexpected shock that could cause further US dollar decoupling, which could show up in next week’s Cofer data release, writes Gary Smith
Influential Fed economist Thomas Laubach dies
Current and former Fed officials pay tribute to the US central bank’s German influencer, who died on September 2
Covid-19 policy-making and the need for high-speed data
High-frequency data holds the promise of speed and adaptability, but the rush to find alternative economic indicators has the potential to create problems
US and German economies suffer largest quarterly contraction in decades
Official figures say second quarter saw biggest US GDP decline since the Great Depression
Tenreyro sheds light on BoE’s ‘epi-macro’ modelling
Staff have conducted several virus simulations, but uncertainty remains high
Malawi’s new president dismisses governor
Former World Bank official will take over central bank as country faces uncertain outlook
Namibia’s central bank cuts rates to record low
Central bank acts to preserve link to South African currency as it reintroduces lockdown measures
UK GDP growth plunges to -20% in April
Figure is worst on record, but may be somewhat better than earlier official estimates
Nigeria slashes rates by 100bp
Central bank thinks stimulus package can still prevent the economy from entering recession
Eurozone approaching ECB’s worst-case scenario – Lagarde
Economy likely to shrink by over 10% in 2020, says ECB president
People: Carmen Reinhart to be World Bank chief economist
Carmen Reinhart to take over from Penny Goldberg at World Bank; BIS picks Hong Kong hub head; Libra Association appoints chief executive
Sarb carries out fourth consecutive rate cut
Sarb says banks can apply for looser prudential requirements on “case-by-case” basis as it cuts rates to record lows
PBoC’s post-pandemic policy is still up in the air
The Chinese central bank has resisted radical easing, but with the NPC meeting this week, more loosening could be on the way, despite debt-level concerns, writes Hui Feng
Covid-19 should serve as warning for climate change – BIS official
Policy-makers need “holistic approach” to global risks, says Luiz Awazu Pereira da Silva
Debts, deficits, central banks and inflation
Forrest Capie and Geoffrey Wood ask what insights history can provide for central banks and governments managing abrupt, large increases in debt
Carbon tax spike could spur global recession – S&P
Higher carbon prices would trigger widespread industry defaults, says agency research unit
IMF urges countries to use fiscal firepower against Covid-19
“Do whatever it takes, but make sure to keep the receipts,” says IMF fiscal chief