Since May 2010 at the latest, the ECB has been criticized for financing government bonds – at least indirectly – and for tolerating to be put under pressure by the fiscal side. The ECB itself has justified its securities markets programme and, thus, its government bond purchases by the need...

This book examines the linkage between central bank structure, central bank autonomy-with respect to setting its monetary policy goals, choosing its policy mechanisms, legal independence, and financial independence-and monetary policy, both in select benchmark countries and at a broader...

This paper shows that the inability to use monetary policy for macroeconomic stabilization leaves a government more vulnerable to a rollover crisis. We study a sovereign default model with self-fulfilling rollover crises, foreign currency debt, and nominal rigidities. When the government lacks...

Weshalb der Euro der Preis für die Wiedervereinigung war -- Die EZB macht sich zum Kumpanen der Politiker -- Neues aus der Haftungsunion -- Das Recht ist unter die Räder gekommen.- Lasset die Fremdlinge zu uns kommen? -- Das Eigeninteresse der Eurokratie -- Neustart jetzt -- Quellen und...

Countries in transition often face high levels of inflation. This paper discusses two ways to reduce inflation: the creation of an independent central bank and the introduction of a currency board. It is shown that both options have advantages and disadvantages. This framework is used for a...

This paper considers how the "true" common monetary policy that is conducted by the ECB under various sources of uncertainty will differ from the policy that was agreed in the Maastricht Treaty, and how the uncertainties may induce a representative government to criticise the common monetary...