Opinion/Monetary Policy

The Fed official who cried 'bubble'

ARTICLE - The article considers the recently released transcript of an FOMC meeting from five years ago. Jerry Jordan warns in the transcript that inflation may not be the main worry for US policy makers in the future. He apparently forewarns, "The…

Interview with Andrew Crockett of the BIS

INTERVIEW - The global financial system is vulnerable to new shocks and officials will have to be on their toes to react should a series of them come together, the outgoing head of the Bank for International Settlements said in an interview Monday.

CentralBankNet Monday Special Feature

SPECIAL FEATURE - Information Technology plays a crucial role in modern central banking. In this weeks special feature CentralBankNet presents an exclusive interview with the Bank of England's Head of Information Technology, Andrew Brookes.

The next BOJ governor

ARTICLE - The article sets out some of the qualities the next governor of the Bank of Japan must have and says he should be selected with an eye to the future. But the door should be left open to all qualified persons, including ex-bureaucrats as well as…

Interview with National Bank of Ukraine's Tyhypko

INTERVIEW - In an interview with Ukrainian TV the National Bank of Ukraine chairman Serhiy Tyhypko spoke of his first foreign visit as the NBU head to Moscow which he says will help to understand one of Ukraine's major trading partners better.

Interview with Nobuyuki Nakahara

INTERVIEW - Currently an adviser to Japan's Financial Services Agency Nobuyuki Nakahara is a favourite to land the job of governor of the Bank of Japan in March. In the interview he said the introduction of a 1-3 per cent inflation target would serve as…

The folly of inflation targets

ARTICLE - This article says that the Bank of Japan should explain what it is intending to do to end deflation and that this will be the first step in defending its threatened independence.

Extracts from an interview with Toshihiko Fukui

INTERVIEW - In an interview Toshihiko Fukui, a favourite to become the next governor of the Bank of Japan, says he has a great interest in inflation targeting. But if it was introduced it must be done in such a way as not to weaken discipline.

CentralBankNet Monday Special Feature

SPECIAL FEATURE - In this weeks special report CentralBankNet looks at a new survey of central banks. Latest trends in reserve management will be revealed in a book to be published later this week by Central Banking Publications. "How Countries Manage…

No way to run the world's biggest economy

ARTICLE - The article says that the US economy needs a sizeable short-term stimulus to prevent deflation. While the Federal Reserve has led the way, the chronic shortage of saving in the US has reduced policy options, including the possibility of tax…

Swiss revolt

ARTICLE - There is talk a Socialist (the first ever) might join the three-man team manning the Swiss National Bank, reported an article on Tuesday.

Interview - McKibbin backs old friend Takenaka

INTERVIEW - In an interview given Monday Reserve Bank of Australia board member Warwick McKibbin supported his 'old friend' Japanese Economics Minister Heizo Takenaka's campaign to unite the government and central bank to fight deflation.

Germany has only itself to blame for its woes

ARTICLE - This article argues that one size always fits all in any monetary area, referring to the euro zone interest rate. And asks the question, Has the euro in any way aggravated the problem, compared with past monetary arrangements?

Making too much of the 'right' time

LETTER - A reply to the article 'Sweden can thrive without the euro' asks the question, How can countries such as Sweden, Denmark and the UK have a constructive role in Europe unless they fully participate in a Europe-wide economic system.

ECB Press Conference

PRESS CONFERENCE - Duisenberg confirmed that the recent appreciation of the euro constituted a monetary tightening which went someway to offsetting the half point interest rate cut late last year. He said the EC was right to start the excessive deficit…

ECB must act now

ARTICLE - The article says the ECB must continue to ease interest rates soon to further boost the flagging eurozone economy as the possibility of deflation in Germany is a greater danger than inflation.

Sweden can thrive without the euro

ARTICLE - After Sweden named the date for its euro referendum this article by a Swedish politician says that little enthusiasm exists across Europe for the euro and Swedes themselves are sceptical. It also claims that Britain would be striking a "blow…

The ECB and M3

LETTER - Letter published in the UK edition of the Financial Times on 6 January. The letter "Stubborn ECB does not deserve to be so badly misunderstood" follows an article regarding the ECB's supposed targeting of M3 levels.

Bank of Japan: Losing independence?

ARTICLE - This article looks at the recent initiatives by the Bank of Japan but says the BOJ's independence may be slipping as Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and members of his economic team want a greater say in BOJ policy-making.

CentralBankNet Monday Special Feature

SPECIAL FEATURE - In this weeks special feature, the last for this year, we look back at some of the important stories from 2002 and some you may have missed. From the introduction of euro notes and coins in January to the appointment of new central bank…