Following an analysis of the forces behind the so-called "global capital flows paradox" observed in the era of advancing financial globalization, this paper sets out to investigate the opportunity costs of self-insurance through precautionary reserve holdings. We reject the idea of reserves as...

This paper challenges the time-inconsistency case for central bank independence. It argues that the time-inconsistency literature not only seriously confuses the substance of the rules vs discretion debate, but also posits an implausible view of monetary policy. Most worryingly, the inflationary...

Why has the value of the euro fallen? This economist believes that the European Central Bank's efforts to support the euro slowed economic growth to the point that it caused the value of the euro to fall. He traces the ECB's policy errors in recent years as a failure to understand the pro-growth...

On the basis of both economic theory as well as experience gained so far, this papers calls for a U-turn in macro policy-making in the euro zone. It advises that macro policies should be refocused on growth rather than thriftiness, which may be achieved through committing fiscal and monetary...

This paper investigates the causes behind the Euroland crisis, particularly Germany's role in it. It is argued that the crisis is not primarily a 'sovereign debt crisis', but rather a (twin) banking and balance of payments crisis. Intra-area competitiveness and current account imbalances, and...

This study focuses on the financialization of the U.S. household sector, featuring enhanced access to credit and ease of consumer spending as essential aspects. Growth in U.S. private consumption has been remarkably strong since the 1980s considering trends in income growth and income and wealth...

This major Handbook consists of 29 contributions that explore the full range of exciting and interesting work on money and finance currently taking place within heterodox economics. There are many themes and facets of alternative monetary and financial economics but two major ones can be identified.