In this paper we compare the policy responsiveness of the Federal Reserve System, the European Central Bank, the Bank of Japan and the Bank of England. At first glance we find substantial differences in the frequency and amplitude of monetary policy decisions. Differences in the actual...

This article develops a model-based method to detect booms and busts in the Euro area housing market. A model is constructed and tested, whereby the user cost rate, a demographic variable, unemployment rate, disposable income, debt-to-income ratio and housing stock are fundamental variables...