We use industry valuation differentials across European countries to study the impact of membership in the European Union as well as the Eurozone on economic and financial integration. In integrated markets, discount rates and expected growth opportunities should be similar within one industry,...

In the aftermath of the global financial and economic crisis, the ECB became deeply involved in activities aimed at stabilizing the financial system, over-leveraged banks, and over-indebted governments. This article addresses the costs of these monetary policy measures, which heavily exceed the...

Among many other issues, the global financial crisis brought to the fore the question of how monetary policy and financial stability interact . in both a positive and a normative way. Understanding this relationship and its implications for monetary policy is an ongoing process, with many...

During and after the Great Recession of 2008/09, the European Central Bank (ECB) adopted far-reaching measures, including reductions in the main refinancing rate, a long-term refinancing operation (LTRO), outright purchases of selected government bonds (SMP), and more generous collateral...

Since the financial crisis in 2007–08, central bank balance sheets in advanced economies have expanded significantly. This expansion has not led to inflation risks (at least not to date), but it has raised concerns about financial stability, which have been especially vocal in the euro area....

Over decades, if not centuries, the reputation of central banks has gone through ups and downs. The Great Moderation marked a period in which inflation came down from rather high levels. Growth and employment were at least satisfying and output variability declined substantially. Was this...

The world’s major central banks have radically altered their strategies since 2008 as they grappled with the great financial crisis and its various consequences. One view (Issing 2016) is that they have gone too far, and that their actions will result in inflation and loss of independence....