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...

This paper shows that the eurozone payment system does not effectively protect member states from speculative attacks. Suspicion of a departure from the common currency induces a terminal outflow of central bank money in weaker member states. TARGET2 cannot inhibit this drain but only protects...

This paper shows that the eurozone payment system does not effectively protect member states from speculative attacks. Suspicion of a departure from the common currency induces a terminal outflow of central bank money in weaker member states. TARGET2 cannot inhibit this drain but only protects...

The article points out that monetary stability does not hinge upon formal central bank independence. The reason is that the legislator can easily restrict that independence by changing the law. Because the EU council as the true legislator does not face effective supervision by the citizens it...

This paper shows that the eurozone payment system does not effectively protect member states from speculative attacks. Suspicion of a departure from the common currency induces a terminal outflow of central bank money in weaker member states. TARGET2 cannot inhibit this drain but only protects...

During and after the Great Recession, the European Central Bank adopted unconventional monetary policies that are more or less uncontroversial in the literature. By contrast, its quantitative easing (QE) program that started in 2015 is highly disputed. The article evaluates the pros and cons of...