Staaten versinken im Schuldensumpf, Sparer werden mit Negativzinsen enteignet, Volksparteien verlieren dramatisch an Zustimmung. Die Symptome sprechen eine beunruhigende Sprache. Stehen wir vor einem sogenannten perfekten Sturm, bei dem verschiedene Komponenten ungünstig zusammentreffen und...

The ECB has accepted increasing amounts of rubbish collateral since the crisis started leading to exposure to serious private sector credit risk (i.e. default risk) on its collateralised lending and reverse operations (“repo”). This has led some commentators to argue that the ECB needs...

The ECB has accepted increasing amounts of rubbish collateral since the crisis started leading to exposure to serious private sector credit risk (i.e. default risk) on its collateralised lending and reverse operations ("repo"). This has led some commentators to argue that the ECB needs "fiscal...

In the ECB's Survey of Professional Forecasters (SPF) for the second quarter of 2025,1expectations for headline HICP inflation were revised slightly upwards for 2025 and 2026 but remained unchanged for 2027 and the longer-term. At the same time, core inflation expectations, as measured by the...

In the ECB's Survey of Professional Forecasters (SPF) for the second quarter of 2025, expectations for headline HICP inflation were revised slightly upwards for 2025 and 2026 but remained unchanged for 2027 and the longer-term. At the same time, core inflation expectations, as measured by the...

Excessive household debt can have potentially large negative consequences for the macroeconomy, especially in periods of stress. This chapter analyses in detail cross-country differences in household debt developments, distinguishing between the Fischer dynamics, i.e. the automatic...