The problems associated with chronically high inflation and hyper inflation continue to preoccupy policy makers and economists. In Great Inflations of the 20th Century, Pierre Siklos has gathered together major papers by a distinguished group of scholars who use historical episodes to understand and explain a key issue.Beginning with general surveys of historical experiences of hyperinflation and cases of chronic inflation, this volume continues with papers on the conditions which are conducive to generating high inflation. The link between monetary policy and inflation is examined through empirical studies of inflationary episodes in Germany, Hungary and Bolivia. The final part looks at how policy makers can seek to end high inflation with the smallest possible economic cost. Bringing together in one accessible volume a series of acclaimed contributions to the field, Great Inflations of the 20th Century will be a key reference resource for interested scholars and policy makers concerned with the myriad of issues surrounding the beginning and end of high or chronic inflation.

In a single volume, this book treats the theoretical, empirical, and case studies approaches to the implementation of monetary reforms and discusses specific countries' experiences with these approaches. The analyses are not restricted to central bank or exchange rate reforms, but consider all the principal tools of monetary reforms in this volume. The first section surveys and examines the types of monetary reforms. The second and third sections examine the pros and cons of exchange rate management and central bank independence. The final section of the book presents case studies on monetary and central bank experiences in Germany, the United States, Canada and Hungary.

The process of transition from a centrally planned economy to one driven primarily by market forces has been a source of controversy and debate. Although the pace and approach has varied we are now beginning to understand some of the essential ingredients necessary for a successful transition.These changes have produced a tremendous quantity of literature which can make it difficult to grasp the most important issues. This book focuses on the key questions and problems facing the monetary and financial sectors of transitional economies, specifically in Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic. It examines many of the reforms, why these proved necessary, and their impact in the early stages of transition. The authors focus on four main themes: the removal of state intervention and its effect on liquidity and the availability of credit the failure of credit markets and the implications for corporate finance< the role of property rights and the importance of bankruptcy in a well-functioning market economy effects of the separation of the central bank from commercial lending functions, and its consequences for the overall operation of monetary policy in a transitional economy. Money and Finance in the Transition to a Market Economy will be essential reading for those wishing to learn more about the financial and monetary implications of the transition to a market economy in the Central and Eastern European countries. It will be welcomed by graduates, academics, researchers and policymakers alike.

This collection of seminal papers examines how economies behave under deflationary conditions. The volumes cover both theoretical and empirical aspects of this important subject. The editor presents articles exploring whether, and under what conditions, deflation can lead to beneficial economic outcomes, and also articles emphasizing that deflation should be avoided at all costs. Further sections examine specialized topics of the economics of deflation; including wage rigidities, the liquidity trap, and the zero lower bound of interest rates. A selection of important case studies of economies in deflation completes this comprehensive collection.

In a single volume, this book treats the theoretical, empirical, and case studies approaches to the implementation of monetary reforms and discusses specific countries' experiences with these approaches. The analyses are not restricted to central bank or exchange rate reforms, but consider all the principal tools of monetary reforms in this volume. The first section surveys and examines the types of monetary reforms. The second and third sections examine the pros and cons of exchange rate management and central bank independence. The final section of the book presents case studies on monetary and central bank experiences in Germany, the United States, Canada and Hungary.

Central banks play an important role in the course of national economies and the global economy. Their leaders are regularly feted or vilified, their policy pronouncements highly anticipated and routinely scrutinized. This is all the more so since the global financial crisis. The past fifteen years in monetary policy is essentially the story of two mistakes and one triumph, argues Pierre L. Siklos, a professor of economics at Wilfrid Laurier University. One mistake was that central bankers underestimated the connection between finance and the real economy. The other was a failure to realize how inter-connected the world's financial system had become. The triumph, in turn, was the recognition that price stability is a desirable objective. As a result of the financial crisis, central banks stepped into the breach to provide services other institutions were unwilling or unable to carry out. In doing so, the responsibilities for governing monetary policy and financial system stability became more elastic without due consideration for the appropriateness of the division of responsibilities. Central banks no longer influence just prices they also change financial system quantities. This leads to rising policy uncertainty. And low economic growth, an insufficiently unsubstantiated expansion of central bank responsibilities, and worries over future financial instability are sources of concern that contribute to a loss of confidence in the monetary authorities around the globe. Because no coherent new framework for central bank policy has since emerged, central banking is not broken, but it is in need of repair. Central Banks into the Breach provides an overarching analysis of the current and vulnerable state of central banks and offers potential solutions to stabilize the uncertain future of central banking.

Changes in the field of central banking over the past two decades have been nothing short of dramatic. They include the importance of central bank autonomy, the desirability of low and stable inflation, and the vital role played by how central banks communicate their views and intentions to the markets and the public more generally. There remains considerable diversity nevertheless in the institutional framework affecting central banks, the manner in which the stance of monetary policy is determined and assessed, and the forces that dictate the conduct of monetary policy more generally. The global financial crisis, which began in the United States in 2007, only serves to highlight further the importance of central bank policies. The aim of this volume is to take stock of where we are in the realm of the practice of central banking and considers some of the implications arising from the ongoing crisis.

This book was originally published in 2004. Fears of deflation seemed nothing more than a relic of the Great Depression. However, beginning in the 1990s, persistently falling consumer prices have emerged in Japan, China and elsewhere. Deflation is also a distinct possibility in some of the major European area economies, especially Germany, and emerged as a concern of the US Federal Reserve in 2003. Deflation may be worse than inflation not only because the real burden of debt rises but also because firms would confront rising real wages in a world where nominal wage rigidity prevails. This volume explores some key themes regarding deflation including: (i) how economic agents and policy makers have responded to deflation, (ii) the links between monetary policy, goods price movements, and asset price movements, (iii) the impact of deflation under different monetary policy and exchange rate regimes, and (iv) stock market reactions to deflation.

Central banks have emerged as the key players in national and international policy making. This book explores their evolution since World War II in 20 industrial countries. The study considers the mix of economic, political, and institutional forces that have affected central bank behavior and its relationship with government. The analysis reconciles vastly different views about the role of central banks in the making of economic policies. One finding is that monetary policy is an evolutionary process.

Central banks have emerged as the key players in national and international policy making. This book explores their evolution since World War II in 20 industrial countries. The study considers the mix of economic, political, and institutional forces that have affected central bank behavior and its relationship with government. The analysis reconciles vastly different views about the role of central banks in the making of economic policies. One finding is that monetary policy is an evolutionary process.

Changes in the field of central banking over the past two decades have been nothing short of dramatic. Moreover, they have spanned the globe. They include the importance of central bank autonomy, the desirability of low and stable inflation, and the vital role played by how central banks communicate their views and intentions to the markets and the public more generally. There remains considerable diversity nevertheless in the institutional framework affecting central banks, the manner in which the stance of monetary policy is determined and assessed, and the forces that dictate the conduct of monetary policy more generally. The global financial crisis, which began in the United States in 2007, only serves to highlight further the importance of central bank policies. The aim of this volume is to take stock of where we are in the realm of the practice of central banking and considers some of the implications arising from the ongoing crisis.

This book was originally published in 2004. Fears of deflation seemed nothing more than a relic of the Great Depression. However, beginning in the 1990s, persistently falling consumer prices have emerged in Japan, China and elsewhere. Deflation is also a distinct possibility in some of the major European area economies, especially Germany, and emerged as a concern of the US Federal Reserve in 2003. Deflation may be worse than inflation not only because the real burden of debt rises but also because firms would confront rising real wages in a world where nominal wage rigidity prevails. This volume explores some key themes regarding deflation including: (i) how economic agents and policy makers have responded to deflation, (ii) the links between monetary policy, goods price movements, and asset price movements, (iii) the impact of deflation under different monetary policy and exchange rate regimes, and (iv) stock market reactions to deflation.