In this speech, the Governor notes that monetary union is fundamentally a political rather than an economic issue, and that the politics of monetary union is for elected politicians. But it is also an economic issue: he goes on to survey the pros and cons of the single currency in the context of...

This is the first in a new series of annual reports, designed to throw light on the operation of the Bank's published framework for implementing monetary policy and providing liquidity to the banking system, known as the Sterling Monetary Framework (SMF). As recommended by Bill Winters' review...

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:...

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...