European Central Bank
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After the Great Fear: The EU’s Sibiu agenda
EU leaders heaved a sigh of relief after May’s European Parliament elections when the much-feared populist wave failed to rock the boat. Yet at most, they have gained a little time. Judging by the tone of the informal summit held in Sibiu, Romania, the EU’s new leadership will favor old narratives over new strategies.
The dangers of preferential treatment for sovereign debt
Under current rules, eurozone countries’ bonds are classified as “zero-risk,” meaning banks are not required to hold any capital against such assets. The system creates a perverse incentive for banks to stock up on sovereign debt, creating a toxic mix – but what can be done? Putting risk assessments on ...
The debt problem ignored
The world has grown addicted to ceaseless injections of new money, which can only be generated by incurring debt. As relentless fiscal expansion continues on both sides of the Atlantic, politicians have no long-term plan for dealing with the crushing liabilities it generates. A financial meltdown can be delayed for ...
The European Central Bank – independent and unaccountable?
Since its creation in 1998, the European Central Bank has earned a reputation as one of the world’s most independent monetary policy authorities. Unlike its peers, the ECB has no fiscal counterpart pressuring it to manipulate interest rates. Yet as the scope of its activities and global influence have expanded, ...
Which Fed monetary policy ‘normalization?’
Should policies centered on more broadly defined money supply replace central bankers’ traditional preoccupation with interest and inflation rates? Is there a way to tame overregulation in the financial sector while making it more stable, more durable and more squarely based on entrepreneurial responsibility? Such changes may be possible – ...
