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The Failure of ECB Monetary Policy from a Mises-Hayek Perspective

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  • Gunther Schnabl

Abstract

The paper analyses the common European monetary policy based on a Mises-Hayek overinvestment framework, which is combined with the theory of optimum currency areas. It shows how since the turn of the millennium a too expansionary monetary policy contributed to unsustainable overinvestment booms in the periphery of the European Monetary Union, and more recently in Germany, dependent on the national fiscal policy stances. It is argued that the ECB´s ultra-loose monetary policy as a crisis therapy puts a drag on long-term growth by conserving distorted economic structures. To preserve political stability a timely exit from the ultra-expansionary monetary policy is postulated.

Suggested Citation

  • Gunther Schnabl, 2017. "The Failure of ECB Monetary Policy from a Mises-Hayek Perspective," CESifo Working Paper Series 6388, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_6388
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    19. Pablo Duarte & Gunther Schnabl, 2015. "Macroeconomic Policy Making, Exchange Rate Adjustment and Current Account Imbalances in Emerging Markets," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 19(3), pages 531-544, August.
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    25. José Abad & Axel Löffler & Gunther Schnabl & Holger Zemanek, 2013. "Fiscal divergence, current account divergence and TARGET2 imbalances in the EMU," Intereconomics: Review of European Economic Policy, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics;Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), vol. 48(1), pages 51-58, January.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Gunther Schnabl, 2017. "Monetary policy and overinvestment in East Asia and Europe," Asia Europe Journal, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 445-462, December.
    2. Van Den Hauwe, Ludwig, 2017. "Monetary Constitutionalism: Some Recent Developments," MPRA Paper 83052, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Schäfer Wolf, 2018. "70 Jahre Wirtschafts- und Währungsreform: Von der Rekonstruktionstheorie zur Ordnungspolitik," ORDO. Jahrbuch für die Ordnung von Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft, De Gruyter, vol. 69(1), pages 85-95, July.
    4. Schnabl Gunther & Müller Sebastian, 2019. "The Brexit as a Forerunner: Monetary Policy, Economic Order and Divergence Forces in the European Union," The Economists' Voice, De Gruyter, vol. 16(1), pages 1-18, December.
    5. Thomas Mayer & Gunther Schnabl, 2020. "Post-COVID-19 EMU: Economic Distancing by Parallel Currencies," Intereconomics: Review of European Economic Policy, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics;Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), vol. 55(6), pages 387-391, November.
    6. Schnabl, Gunther, 2017. "Monetary policy and wandering overinvestment cycles in East Asia and Europe," Working Papers 148, University of Leipzig, Faculty of Economics and Management Science.
    7. Schnabl, Gunther, 2018. "70 years after the German currency and economic reform: The monetary, economic and political order in Europe is disturbed," Working Papers 156, University of Leipzig, Faculty of Economics and Management Science.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Hayek; Mises; European Monetary Union; European Central Bank; monetary overinvestment theory; optimum currency areas; fiscal policy; asymmetric shocks; secular stagnation;
    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
    • F42 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - International Policy Coordination and Transmission
    • E63 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Comparative or Joint Analysis of Fiscal and Monetary Policy; Stabilization; Treasury Policy

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