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Monetary Policy and Financial Sector Reform For Employment Creation and Poverty Reduction in Ghana

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  • James Heintz
  • Gerald Epstein

Abstract

This report summarizes the findings of a UNDP-sponsored study on the structure of the financial sector, central bank policy, and employment outcomes in Ghana. The financial sector is the primary conduit through which monetary policy affects real economic outcomes, and monetary policy determines the resources available to financial institutions. Therefore, monetary policy must be coordinated with financial sector reforms in order to improve employment opportunities, reduce poverty and support human development. The report develops a critique of financial programming and inflation targeting, presents a series of empirical estimates on the impact of monetary policy variables in Ghana, and describes the elements of an alternative monetary policy. In addition, the report documents the institutional and structural constraints currently operating in the financial system which prevent the sector from facilitating investment, growth, and improved employment opportunities. Econometric estimates of the determinants of investment explicitly link financial variables to real economic activity. The report summarizes a series of financial sector reforms that would improve the financial sector's capacity to move Ghana onto an employment-intensive growth path.

Suggested Citation

  • James Heintz & Gerald Epstein, 2006. "Monetary Policy and Financial Sector Reform For Employment Creation and Poverty Reduction in Ghana," Working Papers wp113, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
    • Handle: RePEc:uma:periwp:wp113
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    Cited by:

    1. Richard Kwabi Ayisi & Joseph Adu, 2017. "Monetary Policy in a Markov-Switching VECM: Implications for the Cost of Disinflation in Ghana," American Journal of Economics and Business Administration, Science Publications, vol. 8(2), pages 53-61, March.
    2. Epstein, Gerald., 2009. "Rethinking monetary and financial policy : practical suggestions for monitoring financial stability while generating employment and poverty reduction," ILO Working Papers 994344393402676, International Labour Organization.
    3. Frank Iyekoretin Ogbeide & Hillary Kanwanye & Sunday Kadiri, 2015. "The Determinants of Unemployment and the Question of Inclusive Growth in Nigeria: Do Resource Dependence, Government Expenditure and Financial Development Matter?," Montenegrin Journal of Economics, Economic Laboratory for Transition Research (ELIT), vol. 11(2), pages 49-64.
    4. repec:ilo:ilowps:465873 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Rick Rowden, 2010. "Poverty reduction is not development," Review of African Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(126), pages 503-516, December.
    6. repec:ilo:ilowps:455446 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Gerald Epstein, 2009. "Rethinking Monetary and Financial Policy: Practical suggestions for monitoring financial stability while generating employment and poverty reduction," Published Studies ilo_epstein11_09, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
    8. Ahmed, Ovais & Mashkoor, Aasim, 2016. "The wrong impact of Fiscal Imbalance on economic growth and Monetary Policy consequences (A case of Pakistan)," MPRA Paper 69752, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Epstein, Gerald., 2015. "Development central banking : a review of issues and experiences," ILO Working Papers 994881283402676, International Labour Organization.
    10. Gerald Epstein & James Heintz & Léonce Ndikumana & Grace Chang, 2011. "Employment, Poverty and Economic Development in Madagascar," Published Studies ndikumana_ilo2010, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
    11. Richard Kofi Asravor & Frank Gyimah Sackey, 2022. "Wage Price Floors and Sectoral Employment Outcomes in Ghana," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 65(1), pages 103-122, March.
    12. James Heintz & Lynda Pickbourn, 2012. "The Determinants of Selection into Non-agricultural Self-employment in Ghana," Margin: The Journal of Applied Economic Research, National Council of Applied Economic Research, vol. 6(2), pages 181-209, May.
    13. James Heintz & Robert Pollin, 2008. "Targeting Employment Expansion, Economic Growth and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: Outlines of an Alternative Economic Programme for the Region," Published Studies targeting_employment_expa, Political Economy Research Institute, University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
    14. Sunday Osahon Igbinedion & Frank Iyekoretin Ogbeide, 2016. "Monetary Policy and Manufacturing Capacity Utilization: Further Evidence from Nigeria," South-Eastern Europe Journal of Economics, Association of Economic Universities of South and Eastern Europe and the Black Sea Region, vol. 14(2), pages 159-174.
    15. repec:ilo:ilowps:488128 is not listed on IDEAS
    16. repec:ilo:ilowps:434439 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Epstein, Gerald. & Heintz, James. & Ndikumana, Léonce. & Chang, Grace., 2010. "Employment, poverty and economic development in Madagascar : a macroeconomic framework," ILO Working Papers 994554463402676, International Labour Organization.
    18. Bamidele M. Ilo, 2015. "Capital Market and Unemployment in Nigeria," Acta Universitatis Danubius. OEconomica, Danubius University of Galati, issue 11(5), pages 129-140, October.
    19. Waeyenberge, Elisa Van. & Bargawi, Hannah., 2011. "Macroeconomic policy for "full and productive employment and decent work for all" : Uganda country study," ILO Working Papers 994658733402676, International Labour Organization.
    20. Reena Agrawal, 2018. "Measures Adopted for Promoting Inclusive and Sustainable Growth," Paradigm, , vol. 22(2), pages 143-159, December.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E22 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Investment; Capital; Intangible Capital; Capacity
    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity
    • 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
    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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