Real-time, quasi-real, `nearly real` and full sample output gaps for the UK, generated by linear and quadratic, Hodrick-Prescott filter and unobserved components (UC-ARIMA) techniques, are presented and analysed. Particular attention is paid to the behaviour of the different series during the...

Monetary policy reaction functions are estimated for the UK over three periods - 1985-90, 1992-97 and 1997-2003 - in order to disentangle two effects: the switch from an emphasis on exchange rate stabilization to inflation targeting, and the introduction of instrument-independence in 1997. The...

We examine the role and nature of external influences (US as well as German) and changing institutional constraints upon UK monetary policy by estimating Taylor-type reaction functions for three subperiods: 1985-90 (pre-ERM), 1992-97 (post-ERM) and 1997-2000 (MPC). We identify and contrast...

Middle East and North African (MENA) countries have traditionally anchored their currencies largely on the US dollar, but the creation of the euro means that there is now for the first time a real alternative numéraire and anchor available. This paper estimates the effect of a menu of exchange...

A 'new version' gravity model is used to estimate the effect of de facto exchange rate regimes, as classified by Reinhart and Rogoff (2004), on bilateral trade. The results indicate that, while participation in a common currency union is typically strongly 'protrade' - as first suggested by Rose...

Effective public investment requires governments to address the "recurrent cost problem" to ensure operations and maintenance (O&M) expenditures are sufficient to sustain the flow of productive public capital services to private factors of production. Building on the model of Buffie et al...

The starting point of this project is the question of whether the macroeconomics of the German political establishment does indeed differ, as it often seems to do, from standard textbook macroeconomics: in particular, the former appears to neglect demand management (although it may be quite...