The independence of Central Banks is still considered tobe a credibility factor in ensuring price stability. Thus, many centralbanks in transition countries have undergone a change in their stat-utes in order to achieve greater independence from governments. Inthis vein, within a decade, North...

Low inflation hit the Japanese economy shortly after the burst of the bubble in stocks and real estate in 1991 and has haunted the domestic economy ever since. The bubbles were partly attributable to prolonged monetary easing in the second half of 1980s, which was conducted to increase domestic...