Opinion
Should Iraq dollarize or float? A policy analysis
This article from Stern Business School asks 'Should Iraq dollarize, adopt a currency board or let its currency float? A policy analysis.' It says there are good reasons to think that the dollar or euro would not make an ideal currency for a major oil…
A fine line between deflation and inflation
An article in the Financial Times says that if the Federal Reserve continues with its current policies, inflation could become a threat, but a change could see further contraction it contends. On asset price bubbles the author says the world economy…
New governor Bernanke is shaking up the Fed
In a few short months, Ben Bernanke has done what other Fed governors have not: taken center stage from Chairman Alan Greenspan on some of the most controversial topics before the board. An article published by Steve Liesman for CNBC says Bernanke sheds…
Politics blamed for jailed ex Ukraine c banker
The influential Ukrainian newspaper Zerkalo Nedeli carried out a detailed analysis of the case against former deputy central bank chief Volodymyr Bondar who was jailed for five years last week. The paper said the charges don't hold water.
Inflation is a bigger danger than deflation
An article in the Financial Times says that although the threat of global deflation has become a preoccupation for economic commentators there are signs of the loss of value of dollar money, which is a symptom of incipient monetary inflation.
Buba's Welteke rejects recession idea in interview
Bundesbank president Ernst Welteke said in a radio interview that Germany was simply in a "phase of mere stagnation" rejecting an IMF report that said the country was on the brink of recession, according to a broadcast by Deutsche Welle Radio.
CentralBankNet Monday Special Feature
SPECIAL FEATURE - In this weeks CentralBankNet Special Feature Andrew Smithers discusses the economic solutions and political obstructions to reviving Japan's stagnant economy.
Secrets of a soon to be missed central banker
Speaking on Tuesday 20 May, UK chancellor Gordon Brown spoke in glowing terms of Sir Edward George, the soon to depart governor of the Bank of England. "I will miss Eddie" he said, and went on to reveal a few central banking secrets, including the case…
Britain misses its euro connection
An article in the Financial Times says that it shouldn't be forgotten that the decision over whether Britain joins the euro is a political rather than an economic one. Both Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, the authors argue, are guilty of dressing the…
Kuwait Islamic Banking Law opens doors for others
An article in Arab News says Kuwait's long-awaited Islamic banking law leaves Saudi Arabia and Oman the only two Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states which do not have an Islamic banking law in place.
EU's pact is a false promise of stability-Stiglitz
In an article in Business day (South Africa), Joseph Stiglitz says the lesson for Europe is clear: the EU should redefine its stability pact in terms of the structural or full employment deficit to what the fiscal deficit would be if the economy were…
How Independent are Arab Central Banks?
An article in the Middle east Financial Network says that one way to measure the independence of a central bank is to consider the period of the governor's term and how often it is renewed. A number of Arab central bank governors and their deputies, it…
Exit economists from NY Fed contest
An article in the Financial Times calls it troubling that the two front runners have pulled out of contention for the job of New York Fed president. This reluctance fits something of a disturbing trend, the article asserts, with all the members of George…
Wanted: An Alan Greenspan for South Korea
In a recent interview South Korean. When asked what he thought the Bank of Korea should do to boost growth, Bloomberg News reports thathe showed his determination to maintain the bank's independence: "I think that issue should be determined by the…
Is Europe already experiencing deflation?
An article in the Financial Times asks whether the threat of deflation is likely and suggests it may already be here and that, given the example of Japan, it may be that nothing can be done about it.
Riksbank on the euro in Swedish financial sector
Manageable risks in the changeover process if Sweden adopts the euro 2006, 14 May. A report published on Wednesday 14 May by the Sveriges Riksbank "The Euro in the Swedish Financial Sector - Progress Report 9" contains a summary and update of financial…
'The central bank that has missed the point'
The ECB's new monetary policy strategy has not impressed Professor Paul De Grauwe. In an article in the Financial Times he calls the moves an anticlimax with the ECB creating confusion instead of clarity. He suggests the eurozone central bank come up…
CentralBankNet Monday Special Feature
SPECIAL FEATURE - The threat of deflation in Europe prompted the European Central Bank to soften its inflation objective and redefine its monetary policy strategy on Thursday. In this weeks CentralBankNet special feature we look at what the ECB has done…
The case for a common Asian currency by 2025
An article in Asahi Shimbun considers the case for a common currency in Asia, saying Asia is a logical candidate to take a leadership role in the reform of global currency markets.
New Irish financial regulator welcomed
An article in the Irish Times welcomes the development of the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority (IFSRA), saying it makes little sense for financial services activities within a group to be regulated by separate regulators when a failure of…
The price Britain faces for delay on euro entry
In an article supporting Britain's entry to the euro, Professor David Begg says that maintaining a 'wait and see' policy on the euro may have a significant price for the UK and the real issue is when not if Britain will join the euro.
Blair's euro ambitions in danger
A article in the Financial Times suggests that Tony Blair's euro ambitions are in danger from the five economic tests and the latitude given to the chancellor of the exchequer by the prime minister.
Interview with Bank of England's Sir Andrew Large
In an interview with the Financial Times, Bank of England deputy governor for Financial Stability Sir Andrew Large raised speculation that the Bank's MPC might reduce interest rates at its meeting next week after flagging up concerns about the weakness…