A traditional function of the central bank is to control the price level. The fiscal theory of the price level challenges this assumption, arguing instead that the fiscal authority's budgetary policy is the primary determinant of the price level. The authors provide a critical review of the...

Central banks around the world potentially face a skeptical public when they announce a commitment to controlling inflation. Some economists have argued that, to enhance credibility, central banks should adopt monetary growth rules or other institutional arrangements. Yet it appears there are no...

After two decades of successfully restoring price stability in much of the world economy, central banks begin the next millennium facing a new set of challenges. One key task is how to conduct monetary policy in an era of price stability. Clearly, policymakers would like inflation to remain...

During Alan Greenspan’s years at the helm of the Federal Reserve System, the global economy has undergone significant structural change and withstood a variety of financial and economic shocks. In addition to helping steer the global economy through such challenges, Chairman Greenspan has been...

Over the past twenty years the world's major central banks have been largely successful at bringing inflation under control. While it is premature to suggest that inflation is no longer an issue of great concern, it is quite conceivable that the next battles facing central bankers will lie on a...

In a presentation at the Federal Reserve Banks of Kansas City's 2000 symposium, "Global Economic Integration: Opportunities and Challenges," Governor Brash of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand highlighted four issues related to global economic integration that affect central banks. First,...

Forecasts of future economic developments play an important role for the monetary policy decisions of central banks. For example, forecasts of goal variables can help central banks achieve their goals and make them more accountable to the public. There are two primary explanations for the...

Most central banks implement quantitative easing through asset purchases. Sweden took a different path.

In recent years several countries have granted greater independence to their central banks; others have made price stability the only objective of monetary policy. These two trends can be seen as social responses to a fundamental problem of central bank credibility called the time inconsistency...

This article provides an analytical framework for discussing the monetary responsibilities of a central bank. The framework shows how the central bank gives the price level a well-defined equilibrium value and how the central bank causes this equilibrium value to change over time.