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Extending the approach of Bernanke and Blinder (1992), Strongin (1992), and Christiano, Eichenbaum, and Evans (1994a, 1994b), we develop and apply a VAR-based methodology for measuring the stance of monetary policy. More specifically, we develop a semi-structural VAR approach, which extracts information about monetary policy from data on bank reserves and the federal funds rate but leaves the relationships among the macroeconomic variables in the system unrestricted. The methodology nests earlier VAR-based measures and can be used to compare and evaluate these indicators. It can also be used to construct measures of the stance of policy that optimally incorporate estimates of the Fed's operating procedure for any given period. Among existing approaches, we find that innovations to the federal funds rate (Bernanke-Blinder) are a good measure of policy innovations during the periods 1965-79 and 1988-94; for the period 1979-94 as a whole, innovations to the component of nonborrowed reserves that is orthogonal to total reserves (Strongin) seems to be the best choice. We develop a new measure of policy stance that conforms well to qualitative indicators of policy such as the Boschen-Mills (1991) index. Innovations to our measure lead to reasonable and precisely estimated dynamic responses by variables such as real GDP and the GDP deflator. ; In Erweiterung der Beiträge von Bernanke und Blinder (1992), Strongin (1992) und Christiano, Eichenbaum und Evans (1994a, 1994b) stellen wir eine VAR-Methode zur Messung des jeweils vorherrschenden geldpolitischen Ansatzes vor. Wir entwickeln eine semi-strukturelle VAR, die aus Daten über Bankreserven und die Federal Funds Rate Informationen über die Geldpolitik extrahiert, aber die Beziehungen zwischen den makroökonomischen Variablen im System unrestringiert läßt. Die Methode integriert frühere VAR-gestützte Ansätze und kann verwendet werden, um diese Indikatoren zu vergleichen und zu bewerten. Sie eignet sich auch zur Konstruktion von Maßen über den Stand der Geldpolitik, welche die Schätzungen für die Zentralbankoperationen in jeder Periode in optimaler Weise berücksichtigt. Wir finden, daß unter den existierenden Ansätzen auf die Federal Funds Rate wirkende Schocks (Bernanke-Blinder) ein gutes Maß für die Politikinnovationen in den Perioden 1965-79 und 1988-94 darstellen. Für die gesamte Periode 1979-94 scheinen Schocks auf die Komponente der frei verfügbaren Reserven, die orthogonal zu den Gesamtreserven sind (Strongin), die beste Wahl zu sein. Wir entwickeln eine neues Maß für den Stand der Geldpolitik, welches gut mit qualitativen Indikatoren wie dem Boschen-Mills-Index (1991) übereinstimmt. Schocks auf unser Maß führen zu vernünftigen und präzis geschätzten dynamischen Reaktionen von Variablen wie reales GDP und GDP Deflator.

Gonçalves, Carlos Eduardo Soares: Monetary policy independence and floating exchange rates: what does the Brazilian evidence tell us? - S. 29-35. Palley, Thomas: Escaping the dept constraint on growth: a suggested monetary policy for Brazil. - S. 36-49 Maria Rita Loureiro e Fernando Luiz Abrucio: Política e reformas fiscais no Brasil recente. - S. 50-72

For some time now the buzzword 'transparency' has been bandied about in the media almost daily. For example, calls were made for greater transparency in the financial system in connection with developments in the Asian financial markets. But the call for greater transparency goes far beyond the financial markets. It is now regarded as a necessary part of "good governance" demanded of all economic policy makers. As the World Bank's chief economist Joseph Stiglitz put it: 'No one would dare say that they were against transparency (....): It would be like saying you were against motherhood or apple pie.' This paper focuses on transparency in monetary policy, in particular with respect to the European System of Central Bank.

After giving an overview of Fijian geography, recent history and latest econmic development, this study deals with a detailed description of the country's financial system and its institutional arrangement. In particular the reader is informed about the Reserve Bank of Fiji, its domestic and international monetary policy anad the country's supply of demand for money. Finally, the author gives some remarks about strategies for the conduct of monetary policy in Fiji. (DÜI-Sbt)

For some time now the buzzword 'transparency' has been bandied about in the media almost daily. For example, calls were made for greater transparency in the financial system in connection with developments in the Asian financial markets. But the call for greater transparency goes far beyond the financial markets. It is now regarded as a necessary part of "good governance" demanded of all economic policy makers. As the World Bank's chief economist Joseph Stiglitz put it: 'No one would dare say that they were against transparency (.): It would be like saying you were against motherhood or apple pie.' This paper focuses on transparency in monetary policy, in particular with respect to the European System of Central Bank.

In this article we propose a policy framework for inflation targeting that contains elements of both optimal and simple rules. We use a simple feedback rule for the interest rate to look after monetary policy in the long run whilst using optimal control in the short run to determine appropriate responses to shocks. The composite policy is capable of substantial welfare improvements over using a simple rule alone whilst maintaining tractability. We see the use of such a framework together with a fully specified model as a feasible approach to practical policy design.

What is the optimal institutional structure for an independent central bank? The paper shows when it will be optimal for a country to have a central bank to be organized according to federal, purely national or a combination of both aspects. The analysis is then extended to a supranational monetary union and it is shown which organizational structure of a common central bank is optimal for participating countries and when they are willing to join. The implications for an enlargement of a monetary union are derived as well.