In mid-September former ECB President Mario Draghi published a 400-page report recommending changes necessary to boost the EU’s competitiveness. Although couched in broadly positive language, the document did little to…
ECB
CBDCs: the hottest topic in central banking. What form of Central Bank Digital Euro should the ECB Launch?
Introduction – 130 Central Banks have CBDC Projects Since we last reported on the ECB’s thinking about CBDCs1, multiple central banks have undertaken research in designing, operating and selling CBDCs.…
The Outlook for Europe’s banks and economies in the light of Money Supply Increases and potential Reductions
Followers of US monetary policy are raising concerns about the consequences of the Federal Reserve’s efforts to reverse the 17% growth in the money supply (M21) in the two-year period…
New task bolted on to European Stability Mechanism – with how much extra risk?
Introduction The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) will now be backstop-of-last-resort to the Eurozone banking system, in addition to backstopping the Eurozone member states and the currency itself. Its resources have…
Bulgaria Has Postponed its Entry into the Eurozone. What Does this Mean?
Introduction – Bulgaria’s recent announcement On 17 February, Bulgarian finance minister Rositza Velkova announced that, rather than continue as planned with the full, formal adoption of the euro on 1…
To what Extent Can the ECB Override Financial Markets?
Towards the end of August, every year investors focus on the Jackson Hole conference of the central banking global elite. Given widespread acceptance among central bankers that non-temporary inflation is…
This article analyses the disparity between the substance of what was announced and the language put around it by the ECB, mainly in the press release on its Monetary Policy…
Consumer prices started rising in 2021, and the rise has quickly gathered speed. Many politicians and central bankers were caught by surprise. They initially claimed that price inflation was provoked…
ECB Policymakers Run Out of Options; Antifragmentation Cannot BOTH Address Inflation AND Contain Spreads
When the history of the euro currency’s rise and decline in popularity is written, the month of June 2022 will be viewed as decisive. In June, the ECB committed to…
Central banks increasingly consider combating climate change by pursuing a “green monetary policy”. The European Central Bank is also venturing into the field of climate protection. The ECB can support…