Economic Policy within a European Monetary Union

A European Monetary Union (EMU) and the complete transfer of the responsibility for monetary policy to a European central bank are no longer utopian ideas, but a politically highly relevant possibility. The question how economic policy goals can be achieved within such a monetary union is therefore gaining in importance.     

Fiscal and Monetary Policy Rules in an Unstable Economy

This paper examines the implications of different monetary and fiscal policy rules in an economy characterized by Harrodian instability. We show that (1) a monetary rule along Taylor lines can be stabilizing for low debt ratios but becomes de‐stabilizing if the debt ratio exceeds a certain threshold, (2) a ‘Keynesian’ fiscal policy rule can stabilize the economy at full employment, (3) a fiscal ‘austerity’ rule that links fiscal parameters to deviations from a target debt ratio fails to adjust the ‘warranted’ to the ‘natural’ growth rate and destabilizes the warranted path and (4) instability may arise from a combination of fiscal and monetary policy rules which separately would stabilize the system.     

The Explanatory Power of Monetary Policy Rules

Over the past 20 years, the use of monetary policy rules has become pervasive in analyzing and prescribing monetary policy. This paper traces the development of such rules and their use in the analysis, prediction, and stabilization of national economies. In particular, rules provide insight into eras in which monetary policy was not effective as well as when it was, such as the persistence of the ongoing “Great Moderation.” The paper stresses the “scientific” contributions of rules, including their insight into fluctuations of housing construction and exchange rates, as well as into the term structure of interest rates. JEL Classification E52, E58     

The road to European Economic and Monetary Union

The debate on the concrete shape of the second stage of European economic and monetary union ist in full swing. What are the benefits that may be expected from EMU? What risks have to be avoided?     

Economic and political risks of European Monetary Union

As demonstrated by the last European Union summit meetings, the heads of government and of state of the EU's member states appear firmly intent on starting the planned monetary union on schedule on 1st January 1999. The statements they make, and also any pamphlets and advertisements published by their governments and the European Commission, tend to concentrate one-sidedly on the purported advantages of monetary union. Nevertheless, in most EU countries plans for monetary union are greeted with scepticism or disapproval by a large section of the general public. There are good reasons for this reaction because, as will be explained below, European Monetary Union is in fact associated with serious economic and political risks.     

The first stage of European Economic and Monetary Union

After two false starts, the first stage of European Economic and Monetary Union began on 1st July 1990. The following two articles discuss the consequences that the inauguration of EMU will have for economic policy co-ordination in the European Community. The views stated here are only those of the author and can on no account be attributed to the Commission of the European Communities.     

The European Monetary Union

The final stage of the European Monetary Union (EMU) is approaching; the single currency goes into effect on January 1, 1999. The article discusses the far-reaching ramifications of the euro in the context of the international monetary system. Current challenges facing the implementation of the new currency are addressed such as unemployment, high budget deficits, and general skepticism both EU members and non-members have expressed. The argument is made that acceptance and widespread use of the single currency will provide a framework for a deeper economic and political integration across Europe. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

低利率货币政策与农村经济增长的理论探析

当前,农村金融改革滞后,严重制约了农村经济乃至整个国民经济的进一步快速发展.本文认为,农村利率上浮政策推动农村经济增长效果甚微,低利率货币政策在现阶段对促进农村经济增长、增加农民实际收入更为有效,只有构建多层次竞争性的农村金融体系,才能有效发挥利率的杠杆作用,加大促进农村经济发展的力度.     

货币政策传导机制与我国货币政策效力分析

货币政策传导机制主要有:信贷配给渠道、传统利率渠道、汇率渠道、资产价格渠道和心理预期渠道。通过实证研究,在我国务渠道发挥作用与西方不同,但货币政策传导效力是明显的。我国货币政策传导机制尚不完善,还应构造新体系。     

中国经济增长中货币政策与财政政策有效性的比较检验

本文通过一个广义货币供应量、财政支出和国内生产总值三变量向量误差修正模型(VECM)考察中国1978—2005年间货币政策和财政政策对经济增长影响的差异性特征。在应用脉冲响应函数和方差分解方法研究它们之间的动态特性后发现:积极货币政策的经济增长效果无论在短期还是长期内均要强于财政政策,长期内,积极货币政策对经济增长一直有递减的正效应,但是积极财政政策由于挤出效应的影响,长期内对经济增长呈负效应。     

On the Relation of Monetary and Political Union

When EMU took effect in 1999, no progress in the direction of political union had been achieved — indeed, it had not even been attempted. Therefore, from the beginning the euro was confronted with a kind of sword of Damocles: can monetary union survive without political union?     

Challenges facing European Monetary Union

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Challenges facing European Monetary Union     

浅议美国量化宽松货币政策背景下我国的经济对策

为应对金融危机带来的经济衰退,美国政府采用了量化宽松的货币政策,对全球经济产生了深远的影响,对我国经济的影响同样不可忽视。美国的量化宽松政策一方面导致我国出现严重的输入性通胀,另一方面迫使人民币升值压力加剧。更为严重的是我国的货币政策陷入到两难的境地。为了应对美国这一政策,我国需要全面运用货币政策、财政政策、收入政策、产业政策等政策组合,避免成为美国货币政策的牺牲品。同时以此为契机,加快我国经济结构调整和收入分配体制改革,并积极推进人民币国际化。