News/Governance
World Bank confirms Wolfowitz as President
The directors of the World Bank confirmed the appointment of Paul Wolfowitz as its President on Thursday 31 March, but agreed on the need for a more open and transparent process for selecting future bank presidents.
Canada's Dodge on bank's 70th anniversary
In an interview to mark the Bank of Canada's 70th anniversary, governor David Dodge said the bank is more open today than ever about how it goes about its business. "The day of the high priesthood of central bankers has come and gone."
Turkey's Serdengecti on promised reforms
In an interview published on Wednesday 23 March , the governor of Turkey's central bank, Sureyya Serdengecti, said reforms promised by the ruling AK government - but yet to be finalised - were essential to the bank's continued ability to reduce inflation…
BNB governor proposes Kostov as deputy
The governor of the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), Ivan Iskrov, has proposed Dimitar Kostov as deputy governor of the central bank and head of the banking department.
Georgia to appoint new National Bank chief
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has asked parliament to approve the chairman of the parliamentary finance and budget committee, Roman Gotsiridze, as the next president of the National Bank, Imedi TV reported.
Adams nominated to U.S. Treasury post
U.S. President George Bush has picked Tim Adams as the Treasury's new under secretary for international affairs, the White House said on Wednesday 23 March.
Interview with ECB's Trichet
In an interview published on Wednesday 16 March, European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet said the bank continues to see moderate economic growth in the eurozone during 2005, despite recent signs of "greater dynamism" in investments and…
Interview with Bundesbank's Weber
Speaking in an interview on Wednesday 16 March, Bundesbank president Axel Weber said with higher incomes resulting from an increase in 2006 German employment, there should be better consumption and thus a recovery in the domestic economy.
Elections to the Board of Directors, Denmark
The five-year terms of three of the 25 members of the Board of Directors expire on 31 March 2005. At a meeting on 15 March the Board of Directors re-elected Helle Bechgaard, Director, Niels Fog, Merchant, and Kirsten Stallknecht, Former President of the…
New head of statistics at Danmarks Nationalbank
As of 1 August, Jens Dalsgaard, Deputy Head of Statistics, will take over the position as Head of Statistics at Danmarks Nationalbank.
Sleepy Hollow's central bank
This article published on Monday 14 March looks at the situation surrounding the appointment of Stanley Fischer as governor of the Bank of Israel. There is contradictory information in Jerusalem on when exactly Fischer will arrive in Israel, it says, and…
Democracy in inaction at the World Bank
This article by Joseph Stiglitz asks why the search for James Wolfensohn's successor at the World Bank should be limited to an American loyal to a particular political party? According to the Nobel laureate, the entire process of choosing its leaders is…
Greenspan shields Fed's political independence
During Alan Greenspan's 17 1/2 years as Fed chairman, he has toiled endlessly - and largely successfully - to shield the US central bank from assaults on its independence, whether from Congress or the White House, this article says.
Wolfowitz nominated to head World Bank
George W. Bush nominated one of the administration's top hawks, Paul Wolfowitz, as the next President of the World Bank this week, in a move that drew criticism from various quarters.
PBOC says Guo Shuqing still bank vice governor
The People's Bank of China has said Guo Shuqing is still a vice governor at the central bank, following his recent appointment as the Communist Party secretary of China Construction Bank.
Fischer will become Bank of Israel governor 1 May
The government is due to approve Prof. Stanley Fischer's appointment as the eighth governor of the Bank of Israel on Monday 21 March, local press reports said.
ECB opinion on new Executive Board member
At a meeting on Friday 18 March, the Governing Council of the ECB adopted an opinion on a recommendation from the Council of the European Union on the appointment of a new member of the Executive Board of the ECB.
Zhou Xiaochuan appointed Chairman of the BIS ACC
The Board of Directors of the Bank for International Settlements announced on Monday 7 March that Zhou Xiaochuan, Governor of The People's Bank of China, will become Chairman of the BIS Asian Consultative Council (ACC).
BIS appoints Gunter Pleines to head Banking Dep't
The Board of Directors of the Bank for International Settlements announced the appointment of Gunter Pleines as Head of its Banking Department on Monday 7 March. His appointment takes effect on 1 April 2005 and is for a five-year term.
Phil Fed's Santomero on post-Greenspan era
In an interview published this week, Anthony Santomero of the Philadelphia Fed told Handelsblatt he does not fear any trouble in the financial markets when Alan Greenspan leaves office at the beginning of 2006. "It is understandable that the markets ask …
China fires PBOC official for gambling
The People's Bank of China has sacked the head of a local branch in northeast China's Jilin province for gambling, China News Service reported, without citing sources.
South Korean finance minister resigns
South Korea's finance minister resigned on Monday 7 March over media allegations about his involvement in lucrative real estate deals.
Rock star Bono could be World Bank president
The latest rumour on the World Bank job has U2 rock star Bono lined up for the role. US Treasury Secretary John Snow described him this week as a kind of "rock star of the development world".
Former central banker named Portugal's fin min
Portugal's Prime Minister-elect Jose Socrates named Luis Campos e Cunha, a former central bank deputy governor to the post of finance minister this week.