Exchange Rates and Monetary Policy

This paper looks at the relation between exchange rates and monetary policy. It focuses in particular on the role of the exchange rate of the euro in the context of the ECB's monetary policy strategy. The objective of monetary policy is to maintain price stability. The euro area is a large and relatively closed economy. Therefore, the exchange rate of the euro is not an intermediate target nor is it an objective. Nevertheless, the ECB's stability–oriented monetary policy strategy does not neglect the exchange rate of the euro. Clearly, exchange rate developments are taken into account both when looking at the transmission mechanism of monetary policy and when assessing the current economic situation and prospects for the euro area.     

Special drawing rights—The result of Rio

To overcome the lack of international liquidity, those who attended the Rio de Janeiro monetary conference agreed to introduce special drawing rights. This measure stemmed from an initiative taken by the Group of Ten. It is considered a milestone in international monetary policy. INTERECONOMICS was able to interview Dr Otmar Emminger, member of the Board of Governors of the Deutsche Bundesbank and Chairman of the working party of the Group of Ten, about the reasons for introducing this new instrument and its probable effects.     

Teamwork skill assessment: Development of a measure for academia

Popular teamwork assessments have been strongly criticized on the grounds of poor psychometric properties and their disconnect with conceptual models of teamwork. These issues raise concerns with respect to our ability to evaluate efforts devoted to advancing teamwork in academia. We report the development of a teamwork assessment that builds on empirically supported conceptualizations of team processes. Two studies were conducted to test and to cross-validate the psychometrics of the resulting measure. In the discussion section, we address the implications of our findings for conceptual models of teamwork and provide guidelines for using the measure in business education.     

Economic Prospects and Policy in Germany

Important economic policy signals have been set in the re-united Germany during the past few years. To achieve the ulfimate goal all those responsible for policy should adhere to the course adopted for lasting success.     

Theoretical and empirical foundations of the Deutsche Bundesbank’s monetary targeting

Criticism of the course followed by the Deutsche Bundesbank has been increasing recently. Professor Dr. Otmar Issing explains the theoretical concept of German monetary policy and the basic principles of the Bundesbank’s monetary targeting.