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Inflation Targeting: What Can the ECB Learn from the Recent Experience of the Bank of England?

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  • Artis, Michael J
  • Mizen, Paul
  • Kontolemis, Zenon

Abstract

Establishment of the European Central Bank presents a rare opportunity to define the operations of a central bank without a prior track record. This paper asks what might be learnt from the recent experience of inflation targeting at the Bank of England before the ECB specifies an, as yet undefined, operational target. The authors consider whether there should be single or multiple targets and which inflation measure should be used, if at all. If inflation is targeted then a forecast of its value becomes the intermediate variable. This raises an issue of transparency and the compensating supply of information necessary to fill the gap, but too much 'openness' can also be problematic. The ECB must be accountable and the contracting approach may be useful although being seen to 'say' and 'do' the same thing is ultimately most important.

Suggested Citation

  • Artis, Michael J & Mizen, Paul & Kontolemis, Zenon, 1998. "Inflation Targeting: What Can the ECB Learn from the Recent Experience of the Bank of England?," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 108(451), pages 1810-1825, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecj:econjl:v:108:y:1998:i:451:p:1810-25
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Maurice Obstfeld & Kenneth S. Rogoff, 1996. "Foundations of International Macroeconomics," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262150476, December.
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    8. Stephen J. Leybourne & Paul Mizen,, 1997. "Disinflation and Central Bank Independence in Australia, Canada and New Zealand: Evidence from Smooth Transition Analysis," Discussion Papers 97/6, University of Nottingham, School of Economics.
    9. Bennett T. McCallum, 1997. "Inflation Targeting in Canada, New Zealand, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and in General," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Iwao Kuroda (ed.), Towards More Effective Monetary Policy, chapter 8, pages 211-252, Palgrave Macmillan.
    10. Freeman, Donald G., 1998. "Do core inflation measures help forecast inflation?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(2), pages 143-147, February.
    11. Adrian Orr & Alasdair Scott & Bruce White, 1998. "The exchange rate and inflation targeting," Reserve Bank of New Zealand Bulletin, Reserve Bank of New Zealand, vol. 61, September.
    12. International Monetary Fund, 1998. "The United Kingdom's Experience with Inflation Targeting," IMF Working Papers 1998/087, International Monetary Fund.
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrade, E., 2002. "Bacen e BoE: Uma Analise Comparativa do Nivel de Transparencia," Insper Working Papers wpe_12, Insper Working Paper, Insper Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa.
    2. Kamal, Mona, 2010. "تجربة الاتحاد النقدي الأوروبي في مجال التنسيق بين السياستين المالية والنقدية [The Experience of the European Monetary Union in the Coordination of Monetary and Fiscal Policies]," MPRA Paper 27764, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Andrade, E., 2002. "Bacen e BCs Selecionados: Uma Analise Comparativa do Nivel de Transparencia," Insper Working Papers wpe_13, Insper Working Paper, Insper Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa.
    4. Shu-ki Tsang, 2002. "Inflation Targeting in China?," Working Papers 192002, Hong Kong Institute for Monetary Research.
    5. Kirsten Lommatzsch & Silke Tober, 2004. "The Inflation Target of the ECB: Does the Balassa-Samuelson Effect Matter?," EUI-RSCAS Working Papers 19, European University Institute (EUI), Robert Schuman Centre of Advanced Studies (RSCAS).
    6. Hossein Samiei & Mr. Jan Kees Martijn, 1999. "Central Bank Independence and the Conduct of Monetary Policy in the United Kingdom," IMF Working Papers 1999/170, International Monetary Fund.
    7. Mr. Zenon Kontolemis, 2002. "Money Demand in the Euro Area: Where Do We Stand (Today)?," IMF Working Papers 2002/185, International Monetary Fund.
    8. Silke Tober, 2015. "Monetary Financing in the Euro Area: A Free Lunch?," IMK Working Paper 152-2015, IMK at the Hans Boeckler Foundation, Macroeconomic Policy Institute.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies

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