Suchergebnisse

This paper compares the relative effectiveness of inflation contracts and inflation targets in the presence of uncertainty regarding the central bank's preferences and the underlying output target. The model explains why discretion may be superior to a delegation solution. We also show that there might be the need to combine inflation targets and contracts with the appointment of a Rogoff‐type 'conservative' central banker if contracts and targets cannot be made state‐contingent, and that less flexible inflation targets may be appropriate with uncertain central bank preferences.

Looks at the background to the South's debt crisis and identifies its causes. The macroeconomic linkages between the South and the OECD countries played an important part in the crisis' emergence--and may also in its cure consider some of the debt rescheduling programmes proposed. Suggests that an effective package needs to include both a greater degree of macroeconomic cooperation and a commonly agreed position on outstanding debt. (SJK)

In this paper we examine financial interactions between tiers of government. Whilst most existing empirical evidence has focused on the US, it is difficult to generalize conclusions obtained to countries where the position and remit of lower tiers of government is evolving or is less clear constitutionally. Applying event study methodology to a dataset covering 15 countries we examine the timing, extent and composition of fiscal changes around consolidation attempts and central government grant cuts. Highlighting the participation of central and sub-central tiers of government, our analysis also sheds light on key outcomes, including decentralized service provision and macroeconomic adjustment.

We estimate forward–looking interest rate reaction functions for the G3 and some inflation targeters. Shifts in the conduct of monetary policy are detected for the USA and Japan. In contrast with the existing literature, we show that these countries only shifted to policies consistent with an implicit inflation–targeting regime in the 1990s. Inflation targets and central bank reforms in Sweden, the UK, Canada and New Zealand only led in some cases to changes in policy responses, and changes in policy pre–date the introduction of targets. We challenge the one–model–fits–all approach towards monetary policy that permeates much of the current literature.