Central banks are major players in today's economic and financial policy making. While respected for their technical acumen and their pivotal role in defusing the global financial crisis, they are at the same time mistrusted by others and considered to be too powerful. In order to contribute to...

Chapter 1. Introduction -- Chapter 2. From War Financier to Bankers’ Bank -- Chapter 3. Central Banks under the Gold Standard -- Chapter 4. The Federal Reserve: A Unique Institution -- Chapter 5. From War to War: 1914-1939 -- Chapter 6. Post-war Progress: 1946-1960 -- Chapter 7. The 1960s:...

Even though the sector of Non-bank financial intermediaries (NBFI) or shadow banks represent a large part of the contemporary financial system, these institutions received almost no attention in macroeconomic studies so far. Their presence has significant influence on the conduct of monetary...

Since the turn of the 21st century, the global economy has faced several significant financial crises such as the monetary mismanagements of the EURO Zone countries struggling with sovereign debt problems, the Global Financial Crisis between 2007 and 2009 preceded by the housing market collapse,...

This book comprehensively and scientifically tests the assertion that accommodative monetary policy can eliminate the "crowd out" problem, allowing fiscal stimulus programs (such as tax cuts or increased government spending) to stimulate the economy as intended. The book is intended to be the...