In this paper, I describe the implementation of monetary policy by the Banque de France between 1987 and 1996. This period was characterised by a quasi-fixed exchange rate for France, as the franc was never realigned within the European Monetary System (EMS). I build indicators of the stance of...

In this paper, I describe the implementation of monetary policy by the Banque de France between 1987 and 1996. This period was characterised by a quasi-fixed exchange rate for France, as the franc was never realigned within the European Monetary System (EMS). I build indicators of the stance of...

We construct credit risk indicators for euro area banks and non-financial corporations. These are the average spreads on the yield of euro area private sector bonds relative to the yield on German federal government securities of matched maturities. The indicators are also constructed at the...

We set up a model where asset price bubbles due to risk shifting can be moderated by capital requirements. However, imperfect information about the ratio of required capital, or, in the context of the sub-prime crisis, the extent of regulatory arbitrage, introduces uncertainty about the risk...

La récente crise économique et fi nancière appelle non pas une modification de la stratégie de politique monétaire, mais une meilleure prise en compte des conditions financières et du risque de crise fi nancière dans la mise en oeuvre de cette stratégie : telle semble être la principale...

The recent economic and financial crisis does not call for a change in monetary policy strategy, but rather better integration of financial conditions and financial-crisis risks in the implementation of this strategy: this appears to be the main conclusion of a conference organised by the Banque...

We analyse the information content of the relative structure of interest rates on economic activity. Over and above currently defined spreads, we have defined spreads based on bank interest rates. In order to analyse the information content of financial variables on economic activity, measured...

We analyze the risk-taking behavior of heterogenous intermediaries that are protected by limited liability and choose both their amount of leverage and the risk exposure of their portfolio. Due to the opacity of the financial sector, outside providers of funds cannot distinguish “prudent”...