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Measuring Central Bank Independence: Ordering, Ranking, or Scoring?

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  • King Banaian

    (Department of Economics, St. Cloud State University)

Abstract

After reviewing the measurement of central bank independence since the original measurement of Bade and Parkin and of Banaian, Laney and Willett, I reconsider the use of a scoring system for central banks as practiced by most modern papers. I conclude that these measures introduce errors that may generate bias in statistical estimations of relationships of central bank autonomy with inflation or growth. I propose a return to a classification system using a typology of central banks and show how central banks have evolved from less independent to more independent types. This paper is forthcoming in Banaian and Roberts, The Design and Use of Political Economy Indicators, Palgrave-Macmillan, 2008.

Suggested Citation

  • King Banaian, 2007. "Measuring Central Bank Independence: Ordering, Ranking, or Scoring?," Working Papers 2008-3 Classification-E58, Saint Cloud State University, Department of Economics, revised 28 Feb 2008.
    • Handle: RePEc:scs:wpaper:0803
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    1. Kenneth Rogoff, 1985. "The Optimal Degree of Commitment to an Intermediate Monetary Target," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 100(4), pages 1169-1189.
    2. Banaian, King & Burdekin, Richard C K & Willett, Thomas D, 1998. "Reconsidering the Principal Components of Central Bank Independence: The More the Merrier?," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 97(1-2), pages 1-12, October.
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    3. Tadadjeu Wemba, Dessy-Karl & Essiane, Patrick-Nelson Daniel, 2018. "Autonomie des Banques Centrales et Finances Publiques en Afrique subsaharienne [Autonomy of Central Banks and Public Finances in Sub-saharan Africa]," MPRA Paper 100828, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Diouf, Ibrahima & Pépin, Dominique, 2017. "Gender and central banking," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 193-206.

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