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The 3 E’s of central bank communication with the public

Author

Listed:
  • Haldane, Andrew

    (Bank of England)

  • Macaulay, Alistair

    (University of Oxford)

  • McMahon, Michael

    (University of Oxford)

Abstract

In this paper we explore both theoretical and empirical evidence on communication with the general public. The model provides guidance for policymakers by highlighting some potentially important risks in communicating simply with a broader audience. In particular, in a model where trust and engagement are low, there are benefits to engaging a wider audience. But doing so risks ultimately lowering welfare unless guided by the 3 E’s of public communication: Explanation, Engagement and Education. Central banks have made great strides in all three, but numerous challenges remain.

Suggested Citation

  • Haldane, Andrew & Macaulay, Alistair & McMahon, Michael, 2020. "The 3 E’s of central bank communication with the public," Bank of England working papers 847, Bank of England.
    • Handle: RePEc:boe:boeewp:0847
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Alan S. Blinder & Michael Ehrmann & Jakob de Haan & David-Jan Jansen, 2024. "Central Bank Communication with the General Public: Promise or False Hope?," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 62(2), pages 425-457, June.
    2. Ferrara, Federico Maria & Angino, Siria, 2022. "Does clarity make central banks more engaging? Lessons from ECB communications," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    3. Marcus Miller, 2021. "Choosing the Narrative: the Shadow Banking Crisis in Light of Covid," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 32(2), pages 291-310, April.
    4. Mochhoury, Sarah, 2023. "Central bank communication and trust: an experimental study on the European Central Bank and the general public," Working Paper Series 2824, European Central Bank.
    5. Ehrmann, Michael & Wabitsch, Alena, 2022. "Central bank communication with non-experts – A road to nowhere?," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 69-85.
    6. Munday, Tim & Brookes, James, 2021. "Mark my words: the transmission of central bank communication to the general public via the print media," Bank of England working papers 944, Bank of England.
    7. Piotr Turek, 2023. "Bezrobocie, inflacja i wzrost gospodarczy w świetle polityki informacyjnej Narodowego Banku Polskiego," Bank i Kredyt, Narodowy Bank Polski, vol. 54(5), pages 499-518.
    8. Francesco D'Acunto & Daniel Hoang & Maritta Paloviita & Michael Weber, 2020. "Effective Policy Communication: Targets versus Instruments," Working Papers 2020-148, Becker Friedman Institute for Research In Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Monetary policy; communication; general public;
    All these keywords.

    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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