Opinion
Koizumi's timidity
ARTICLE - A Leader column in the Financial Times argues that Fukui's appointment shows "a lack of courage" from prime minister Junichiro Koizumi with Fukui having the "weakest punch" against falling prices.
CentralBankNet Monday Special Feature
SPECIAL FEATURE - Worrying about asset price cycles is a popular pastime. Not surprising, when UK, French and German stock market indices are struggling to maintain half their peak levels. We won't even talk about Japan. But what, if anything, can be…
Sveriges Riksbank Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - Sweden in the European economy, 19 February. Deputy Governor of the Riksbank Lars Nyberg today spoke at Commerzbank Securities' capital market conference about Sweden's role in the European economy and the Riksbank's role in the EMU…
Fixing a forecasting model that ain't broke
ARTICLE - The Bank of England is due to start using a new forecasting model from June this year onwards. This article suggests that while it is good to keep up with the latest developments in economics, the new model has not been fully tested and that…
War is no excuse for European profligacy
ARTICLE - Bundesbank vice-president, Jurgen Stark, says the "never ending" debate over the stability and growth pact has damaged its credibility but the rules of the Pact must not be relaxed. Such a relaxation, called for by the UK and Germany, would,…
Choosing the new Bank of Japan governor
ARTICLE - Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is due to announce by the end of this month his choice for governor of the Bank of Japan, the central bank of the world's second-largest economy. He will also pick two deputy governors. The article…
Can't compare today's economic problems with 1991
ARTICLE - Stephen King looks at Alan Greenspan's testimony and says comparing the current economic position with the 1990-91 experience is rather futile. Both periods involved Iraq and at least one period will have involved war. Other than that however,…
The Bank of Canada and the search for a new No. 2
ARTICLE - The Bank of Canada has received a wide range of inquiries from both inside and outside the bank to fill its No. 2 job, the central bank's selection committee chairman said on Friday.
Musical chairs at the ECB
ARTICLE - The plan to alter the ECB's voting council gets some attention here. The article says even if Europe's finance ministers agree to the rotation plan they should revisit the issue soon. Competency, not nationality, should be the key qualification…
CentralBankNet Monday Special Feature
SPECIAL FEATURE - In this weeks special feature CentralBankNet looks at the recent court case which the BIS lost requiring them to pay more money to their small shareholders. The episode labels the BIS as "mean" and bought continued criticism of the BIS…
Is Japan ready to reflate?
ARTICLE - When the Japanese prime minister says he wants a "deflation fighter" at the Bank of Japan, he may not be referring to monetary policy at all. This article says the Japanese consensus view - one shared by Mr Koizumi and Masaru Hayami, the BoJ's…
Paul Krugman on Alan Greenspan's testimony
ARTICLE - Last week we re-published an article by Paul Krugman, a much respected figure in the world of economics, saying that Alan Greenspan was an apologist for Bush's wayward fiscal policies. Now having heard Greenspan's testimony Professor K puts pen…
Interview with the governor, Malta's central bank
INTERVIEW - In the interview Michael Bonello sheds light on the role of the central bank and comments on the state of Malta's economy. He also discusses the effects eventual EU membership will have on the operation of the central bank.
Interview with RBNZ governor Alan Bollard
INTERVIEW - In the interview Reserve Bank of New Zealand Governor Alan Bollard revealed that the central bank is looking closely at the model it uses for forecasting the economy. "Definitely part of what I need to do is get some confidence about what the…
Monetary Policy Committee or Puzzle Committee?
ARTICLE - Perhaps the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee should be re-named the Monetary Puzzle Committee suggests Stephen King in an article. For him the B of E's decision to reduce interest rates last week after Sir Edward George criticised…
CentralBankNet Monday Special Feature
SPECIAL FEATURE - Interest rate setting is abit like gambling with players weighing up the odds and placing their bets. The ECB's announcement last week that it intends to formally recommend a new voting system for its Governing Council will change the…
What role for inflation targeting?
ARTICLE - Former executive director of the Reserve Bank of India, A. Vasudevan, asks whether inflation targeting or multiple objective targeting should be of concern only to central banks. He argues that, generally speaking, monetary policy needs to be…
Inflation-target sentiment seen growing inside Fed
ARTICLE - This article weighs up Federal Reserve policy-makers current positions on the issue of inflation targeting. The board appears split with governors putting the case for and against a target and Chairman Alan Greenspan coming down on the side of…
Some inflation target fans at Fed despite ECB
ARTICLE - This article asks whether some Federal Reserve officials are pushing an idea that gets the European Central Bank nothing but grief? The idea in question is inflation targeting.
Is the Maestro a Hack?
ARTICLE - Paul Krugman, a much respected figure in the world of economics, says he yearns for the return of the "old" Alan Greenspan. Once noted for his stern lectures on disciplined tax policies Greenspan is now, Krugman argues, an apologist for a…
Interview with Afghan central bank chief Ahadi
INTERVIEW - The head of the Afghan Central Bank, Anwar al-Haq Ahadi, has hailed the stability of the afghani since new banknotes were introduced. Speaking in an interview with Iranian radio, Ahadi also said that forgery was a problem, with forged…
Ex-BOJ Matsushima: need broad, combined policy
ARTICLE - Japan will succeed in ridding its economy of deflation only when the government and the Bank of Japan implement a coordinated, broad-based policy, according to an ex-BOJ senior official.
Kikuo Iwata: BOJ needs inflation target
INTERVIEW - The Bank of Japan should set a mild inflation target to defeat deflation, says Kikuo Iwata, a Gakushuin University professor, who believes that unless deflation is stopped, there can be no business revival nor fiscal reform.