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The ECB, Between Conservatism and Pragmatism

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Listed:
  • Cécile Bastidon

    (LEAD, Université de Toulon, France)

  • Philippe Gilles

    (LEAD, Université de Toulon, France)

  • Nicolas Huchet

    (LEAD, Université de Toulon, France)

Abstract

The 2008 and 2011 crises have durably affected the conditions of monetary policy transmission, particularly in the euro area. However, it is generally considered that the European Central Bank’s (ECB) monetary policy truly became unconventional only at a late stage. Our contribution is threefold. We first show that the notion of “conventional” monetary policy, which is the reference of this assessment, is a recent theoretical construction. Secondly, the mandate of the ECB, which is its institutional expression, may raise specific difficulties in managing major financial crises, particularly with regards to the forward guidance of expectations and the commitment to an accommodative policy. Finally, the resulting policies have, at this stage, paradoxically achieved acceptable levels of macroeconomic and overall financial stability, but failed to restore a private funding supply to the banking sector enabling it to play its normal role in financing economic activity.

Suggested Citation

  • Cécile Bastidon & Philippe Gilles & Nicolas Huchet, 2016. "The ECB, Between Conservatism and Pragmatism," Journal of Central Banking Theory and Practice, Central bank of Montenegro, vol. 5(1), pages 25-52.
    • Handle: RePEc:cbk:journl:v:5:y:2016:i:1:p:25-52
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Aleksandra Praščević & Milutin Ješić, 2019. "Modeling Macroeconomic Policymakers’ Interactions under Zero Lower Bound Environment: The New Keynesian Theoretical Approach," Journal of Central Banking Theory and Practice, Central bank of Montenegro, vol. 8(1), pages 5-38.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    European Central Bank; unconventional monetary policies; generations of crises; financial stability; money markets.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies
    • G01 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Financial Crises
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages

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