We consider how differences between the way firms react to a common monetary policy affect the performance of a monetary union. A model is presented in which heterogeneous firms respond discontinuously to monetary shocks. The implication is that the level of economic activity has a selective...

Die Macht der Ratingagenturen wird derzeit allenthalben kritisiert. Tatsächlich haben ihre Beurteilungen eine große Bedeutung bei der Kreditvergabe. Dies wurde aber vor allem durch zahlreiche Regularien vom Staat selbst verursacht. Dabei wirken sich die Länderratings aufgrund des...

With many emerging market currencies tied to the U.S. dollar either implicitly or explicitly, movements in the exchange values of the currencies of major countries have the potential to influence the competitive position of many developing countries. According to some analysts, establishing...

The creation of the euro and the European Central Bank is a remarkable and unprecedented event in economic and political history: creating a supranational central bank and leaving eleven countries without national currencies of their own. The experience of the first year confirms that one size...