Two developments are currently shaping Europe's financial and foreign exchange markets: Innovations, including the private use of the ECU, and the erratic fluctuations of the US dollar. Professor Nydegger analyses the causes and effects of these developments from the perspective of the world...

We document that monetary policy has a substantial impact on innovation activities. After a tightening shock of 100 basis points, research and development (R&D) spending declines by about 1 to 3 percent and venture capital (VC) investment declines by about 25 percent in the following 1 to 3...