Opinion/Financial Stability
Robert Pringle’s Viewpoint: Looking for a game-changer for the financial system
The world may need to look to central bank governors in countries such as China and India to champion reform of the global monetary architecture
A turning point for Greece and the euro
The seeds of Greece’s financial crisis are also present in many other modern democracies, writes Herbert Grubel. Currency union offers a politically expedient way to prevent such crises
Robert Pringle’s Viewpoint: Managing without safe assets – tricky but not impossible
Unless sovereigns provide a credible backstop to the banking system the private sector will have to do the best it can, writes Robert Pringle
Robert Pringle’s Viewpoint: Rebalancing the fraught relationship between governments and central banks
The growing politicisation of central banking involves central bankers needing to make difficult judgement calls on the areas that lie outside of their competence
Robert Pringle's Viewpoint: Watch what central bankers do, not what they say
Recent speeches by Ben Bernanke and Mark Carney signal a new phase in the development of central bank rhetoric. The big question is whether they preface a change in policy
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
Robert Pringle's Viewpoint: King’s efforts to be heard hit some marks
In his calls for reform, Bank of England governor Mervyn King has ploughed a lonely furrow. But some of his efforts are paying off
Robert Pringle’s Viewpoint: Wider lessons of the Cyprus bail-out
The clumsy attempts to resolve a banking crisis in Cyprus underline the need to make more rapid progress on wider issues afflicting much larger financial markets in Europe
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
Robert Pringle’s Viewpoint: Assessing Masaaki Shirakawa’s legacy
The policies of outgoing Bank of Japan governor, Masaaki Shirakawa, have brought economic stability to Japan and are likely to be viewed favourably by future generations
Efta court's Icesave ruling leaves European deposit insurance in tatters
Efta court move to dismiss deposit insurance claims on Iceland is a ‘Pyrrhic victory’ that throws the participation of small countries in the single banking market into doubt, argues Tim Young
Robert Pringle’s Viewpoint: Cameron’s high-risk European gamble
British Prime Minister David Cameron's high-stakes bid to renegotiate the UK’s role within the EU has rankled some officials in Europe. But both sides would lose from a UK withdrawal
Robert Pringle’s Viewpoint: Can banking recover its lost reputation?
The UK’s Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards issued a thoughtful paper in December offering clarity on some of the flaws present in current banking reform
ECB in danger of being forged from fiscal fragility
Mario Draghi has made his mark at the helm of the European Central Bank. But Europe also needs a core set of values that must not be violated
Systemic risk in Europe heightened by Target trap
Huge Target liabilities may explain why Germany sanctioned proposals for ECB bond-buying and the formation of the ESM. But this will not solve Europe’s problems
Robert Pringle’s Viewpoint: Fixing banks and regulation
Central bank balance sheets are ballooning due to the failure of banking systems and new rules are unlikely to address the issue. Only a full legal separation of banking activities will do.
Robert Pringle’s Viewpoint: Central bankers gamble for high stakes
The world’s major central banks have made high-stakes bets in a bid to stabilise economies. But their efforts may do little to promote confidence in the longer-term future of monetary management
Robert Pringle’s Viewpoint: Under pressure from Hollande and Obama
François Hollande, the new president of France, takes up residence in the Elysée Palace at a time when significant economic adjustment is taking place in the eurozone, albeit at high cost. His victory looks set to add to pressure on central bankers – and…
Robert Pringle's Viewpoint: Strauss-Kahn on central banks, the euro and the dollar
Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s personal failings deprived the world of a leader with the expertise, vision and drive to push though vital monetary and economic reform. But his views still hold weight
Goodhart hits out at current macro-prudential focus
Economist Charles Goodhart agrees with Robert Pringle that risk and return incentives need to change at banks to ensure future financial stability. But permitting failures is a step too far
Brendan Brown on life after death for the Emu
Brendan Brown puts forward a proposal for how a functioning monetary union in Europe could operate if the current system was to fail
Robert Pringle’s Viewpoint: Central bank macro-prudential powers are no panacea
Central banks will take on substantial new macro-prudential supervisory powers in the years ahead. But this is a dangerous experiment, and a step in the wrong direction