Economics Commons^™

Determinants Of Commercial Bank Interest Rate Spread In A Liberalized Financial System: Empirical Evidence From Nigeria (1989-2000), C.I. Enendu

Economic and Financial Review

This paper provided empirical evidence on the determinants of interest rate spread in a liberalized financial system for the period 1989-2000, using selected banks in Nigeria. Ex-ante interest rate spread equations were estimated using bank balance sheet and income statement as well as macroeconomic data. The results showed that macroeconomic and monetary policy/financial regulation factors were more important determinants of commercial banks' interest spread than bank level factors, Inflation rate, GDP, .financial deepening, cash reserve requirement, risk premium, treasure bill rate, loan asset quality, liquidity risk and non interest expenses were the most important.factors that affected commercial banks' interest rate …

Communication And Monetary Policy, Jeffrey Amato, Stephen Morris, Hyun Song Shin

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

One role of monetary policy is to coordinate expectations in the economy and greater transparency of monetary policy may lead to greater coordination. But if transparent monetary policy helps coordinate expectations, then it must also magnify mistakes.

Monetary-Policy Targeting In The Central European Transition Economies, Lucjan T. Orlowski

WCBT Faculty Publications

This chapter examines the monetary-policy-targeting systems, in the second half of the 1990s (until 1998), of three Central European EU-accession candidates—the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland--and advocates the potential benefits of applying a direct-inflation-targeting (DIT) system in them. For the purpose of the analysis presented here, DIT is defined as "a monetary policy framework that is based on the assumption of long-term price stability as the official policy goal and on the designation of the official inflation forecast as intermediate policy target" (Orlowski, 2000). Section 1 is a brief overview of monetary-targeting practices in the Czech Republic Hungary, and Poland. …

Dynamics Of The Federal Funds Target Rate: A Nonstationary Discrete Choice Approach, Ling Hu, Peter C.B. Phillips

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

We apply a discrete choice approach to model the empirical behavior of the Federal Reserve in changing the federal funds target rate, the benchmark of short term market interest rates in the US. Our methods allow the explanatory variables to be nonstationary as well as stationary. This feature is particularly useful in the present application as many economic fundamentals that are monitored by the Fed and are believed to affect decisions to adjust interest rate targets display some nonstationarity over time. The empirical model is determined using the PIC criterion (Phillips and Ploberger, 1996; Phillips, 1996) as a model selection …

2002-3 Inflation Targets Versus International Monetary Integration: A Canadian Perspective, David Laidler

Economic Policy Research Institute. EPRI Working Papers

No abstract provided.

Central Bank Of Nigeria Annual Report And Statement Of Accounts For The Year Ended 31st December 2001, Central Bank Of Nigeria

CBN Annual Report

The Report, as in the past, reviews the operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria in its efforts at discharging its mandate for the fiscal year 2001. The major objectives of monetary policy for 2001 were outlined in the Bank's Monetary Policy Circular No. 35, which aimed to maintain internal and external balance, contribute to sustainable output growth and poverty reduction, and focus on the banking system, rate, rate regime, viability, and stability. Key policy targets included growth in broad money, narrow money, aggregate bank credit, growth in bank credit to the government, private sector, inflation rate, and GDP growth. …

How Do Forecasts Respond To Changes In Monetary Policy?, Laurence Ball, Dean D. Croushore

Economics Faculty Publications

Just as changes in atmospheric conditions affect weather forecasts, changes in monetary policy affect economic forecasts. When monetary policy shifts, forecasters change their predictions about growth and inflation. But does the economy change to the same extent that forecasts do? In this article, Laurence Ball and Dean Croushore examine forecasts from the Survey of Professional Forecasters to determine if forecasts and the economy respond in tandem or if there are significant differences.

Fiscal Policy: Its Macroeconomics In Perspective, James Tobin

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

President George W. Bush is preparing a drastic permanent reduction in federal income and estate taxes. He cites as precedents tax cuts by Kennedy-Johnson 1962-64 and Reagan 1981. In those cases, however, the economy was operating well below full employment and needed a “demand-side” stimulus (even though Reagan advertised his tax reduction as “supply-side”). In 2001, however, the economy is very close to full employment, and if it needs a stimulus at all, it is a quick modest temporary one instead of the large permanent one proposed. And why can’t monetary policy do the job of stabilization, as it did …

Estimates Of The Effectiveness Of Monetary Policy, Ray C. Fair

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

This paper examines various interest rate rules, as well as policies derived by solving optimal control problems, for their ability to dampen economic fluctuations caused by random shocks. A tax rate rule is also considered. A multicountry econometric model is used for the experiments. The results differ sharply from those obtained using recent models in which the coefficient on inflation in the nominal interest rate rule must be greater than one in order for the economy to be stable.

On Modeling The Effects Of Inflation Shocks, Ray C. Fair

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

A popular model in the literature postulates an interest rate rule, a NAIRU price equation, and an aggregate demand equation in which aggregate demand depends on the real interest rate. In this model a positive inflation shock with the nominal interest rate held constant is explosive because it increases aggregate demand (because the real interest rate is lower), which increases inflation through the price equation, which further increases aggregate demand, and so on. In order for the model to be stable, the nominal interest rate must rise more than inflation, which means that the coefficient on inflation in the interest …

Central Bank Of Nigeria Annual Report And Statement Of Accounts For The Year Ended 31st December 2000, Central Bank Of Nigeria

CBN Annual Report

This Report reviews the operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and macroeconomic developments during the fiscal year 2000 and appraises the major economic policy outcomes during the period. The bank is responsible for administering the Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BOFI) Act, which aims to ensure high standards of banking practice and financial stability through surveillance activities and the promotion of an efficient payments and clearing system. The bank's major objectives for monetary policy in 2000 were outlined in the Bank's Monetary Policy Circular No. 34. Key policy targets included growth in broad money, narrow money, aggregate bank …

How Accurate Are Confidence Intervals For Impulse Responses In Large Var Models?, Lutz Kilian, Pao-Li Chang

Research Collection School Of Economics

We study the finite-sample accuracy and average length of pointwise confidence intervals for impulse responses in vector autoregressive models with many variables and many lags. Our results complement existing simulation evidence based on much simpler bivariate models.

Agriculture Outcomes And Monetary Policy Actions: Kissin' Cousins?, Burton W. Pflueger

Economics Commentator (1972- 2016)

No abstract provided.

Agriculture Outcomes And Monetary Policy Actions: Kissin' Cousins?, Burton W. Pflueger

Economics Commentator (1972- 2016)

No abstract provided.

The Cbn As A Catalyst To National Economic Policy And Development., J. O. Sanusi

Bullion

The paper examined the activities of the Bank into perspectives, particularly with the often-mis-construed belief the CBN should be held accountable for all the woes of the Nigerian economy. It also reviewed and appraised the performance of the CBN in the effort to meet its statutory mandate and adapt to the circumstances of the new global trend in Central Banking in which the maintenance of price stability supercedes all other objectives of monetary policy. The challenges facing the Bank are enormous, but not insurmountable. Efforts are already being made to confront these challenges. The instrument autonomy recently granted to the …

Monetary And Financial Sector Policies In The Year 2000 Budget Of The Fgn, M. O. Ojo

Bullion

The paper attempts to review the monetary and financial sector policies of CBN during the 2000 fiscal year. It also discussed the issues and problems of implementation of the policies. The paper observes that the Nigerian economy witnessed some anxious moments during the 1999 fiscal year. Severe Pressures built-up in the economy mainly because of the expansionary fiscal policy of the Federal Government during the first five months of the year. lf price of oil in the international market continue to rise above budget expectations and expenditure does not rise in tandem, finance is likely to constrain achievement of most …

2000-14 Optimal Central Bank Conservatism And Monopoly Trade Unions, Helge Berger, Carsten Hefeker, Ronnie Schoeb

Department of Economics Research Reports

No abstract provided.

Ben S. Bernanke, Thomas Laubach, Frederic S. Mishkin, And Adam S. Posen, Inflation Targeting (Book Review), Lucjan T. Orlowski

WCBT Faculty Publications

The volume by Bernanke, Laubach, Mishkin, and Posen provides a comprehensive examination of inflation targeting practices of nine countries: Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Israel, Australia, and Spain.

International Trade, Monetary Policy, And The Yellow Brick Road, Joseph Santos

Economics Commentator (1972- 2016)

No abstract provided.

International Trade, Monetary Policy, And The Yellow Brick Road, Joseph Santos

Economics Commentator (1972- 2016)

No abstract provided.

Exchange-Rate Policies In Central Europe And Monetary Union, Lucjan Orlowski

WCBT Faculty Publications

Looks at the relationship between exchange-rate and monetary policies in transition economies (TEs) in central Europe bent on becoming part of the European Union. Review of practiced targets of monetary policy in response to the requirements of monetary union; Question of whether or not candidates will resort to a final currency devaluation; Suggestions for adjustments in short- and long-term monetary policy.

Central Bank Of Nigeria Annual Report And Statement Of Accounts For The Year Ended 31st December 1997, Central Bank Of Nigeria

CBN Annual Report

In 1997, Nigeria experienced its third consecutive year of macroeconomic stability, resulting in modest improvement in domestic output growth and a persistently low inflation rate. The balance of payments position showed a modest surplus, and significant success was achieved in reducing domestic liquidity growth. Domestic output expanded further due to increased agricultural output and crude petroleum production, while the inflation rate declined further. Domestic output, measured by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), increased by 3.8% in 1997, as against the average growth rate of 2.3% in the preceding three years. The fight against inflation was highly successful, reaching a single …

Monetary Policy And Financial Sector Reform., J. O. Adeeribigbe

Bullion

The objective of this paper is to familiarize course participants with the importance of financial sector reform to the effective conduct of monetary policy based on free market principles, and examine the challenges posed to the monetary authorities in Nigeria in this regard. The paper is divided into four parts. following this introduction, part 11 of the paper analyses the framework for financial sector reform and implications for monetary policy. in part 111 an attempt is made to outline the implementation of financial sector reforms in Nigeria, while part IV evaluates the effectiveness of monetary policy between 1990 and 1997 …

Is Money Growth Still A Useful Indicator Of Inflation?, Levent Camlibel

Economics Theses & Dissertations

This thesis examines the linkages among the monetary aggregates, inflation, and the economy through vector auto regression techniques. Multivariate Granger causality tests, variance decompositions and impulse response functions are utilized to examine causal relationships among key economic variables. In 1987, the Federal open Market Committee (FOMC) decided not to establish a specific target range for M1 growth . Since then, the broader M2 measure of money has been the preeminent variable used in implementing monetary policy; however, the results indicate that M1 can be used in predicting inflation and M2 can be used in predicting real GDP. This suggests that …

A Review And Appraisal Of The Monetary And Other Financial Policies In The Federal Government Budget For 1997., M O. Ojo

Bullion

This paper is to be attempts to address the the question: can monetary policy cope with the seemingly increasing challenge of stabilization and growth of the Nigerian economy? In order to provide an appropriate background to the central focus of the paper which is to review and appraise the 1997 monetary policy package, an attempt is made in the second section of the paper to analyse the recent financial and economic conditions in the Nigerian economy after which the basis and elements of the monetary programme for 1997 are outlined in section three. Section four contains an articulation of some …

Inflation Forecasts: How Good Are They?, Dean D. Croushore

Economics Faculty Publications

Forecasts of inflation affect decision-making in many segments of the economy. But in the early 1980s, economists found that forecasts in surveys taken over the past 20 years systematically underpredicted inflation. As a result, many economists stopped paying attention to forecasts. However, they may have abandoned them too quickly. In this article, Dean Croushore takes a closer look at survey forecasts and, after considering some relevant factors, concludes that inflation forecasts may not be as bad as you think.

Evaluating Mccallum's Rule For Monetary Policy, Dean D. Croushore, Tom Stark

Economics Faculty Publications

Some economists have proposed that the Federal Reserve follow a rigid rule for conducting monetary policy. A policy rule is a formula that tells the Fed how to set monetary policy. For example, in 1959 Milton Friedman argued that the Fed should increase the money supply a constant 4 percent each year to eliminate inflation and avoid destabilizing the economy. More recently, other economists have identified an additional benefit: a rule can eliminate the inflationary bias that could occur when discretionary monetary policy is used. Under a discretionary policy, decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

But economists don't agree …

Central Bank Of Nigeria Annual Report And Statement Of Accounts For The Year Ended 31st December 1992., Central Bank Of Nigeria

CBN Annual Report

In 1992, Nigeria's economy faced significant pressures but showed resilience, with rapid growth in output and economic liquidity. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intensified efforts to achieve inflation and exchange rate stability while improving the efficiency of the financial sector. The financial sector experienced rapid growth and structural changes, with the strongest growth occurring in common unity banking and mortgage finance institutions. Monetary and credit aggregates expanded at unprecedented rates, matching the all-time highs of the oil boom era of the mid-seventies. Interest rates rose significantly, with both deposit and lending rates rising in tandem with the movements of …

The Role Of Discount Houses In Monetary Policy Implementation., B. A. Oke

Bullion

Discount houses are financial institutions which shift funds between the central bank on one hand and licensed banks on the other hand, through the provision of discounting and re-discounting of eligible short-term securities such as treasury bills and certificates and commercial bills. The purpose of this paper therefore is to highlight the role of discount houses in monetary policy implementation. Part I discusses the assets structure a d functions of discount houses. Part II discusses the role of discount houses in monetary policy implementation. Part II highlights the relationship between a central bank and discount houses while Part IV focuses …

What Are The Costs Of Disinflation?, Dean D. Croushore

Economics Faculty Publications

The Federal Reserve can use monetary policy to reduce the inflation rate, a process known as disinflation. Are the benefits of disinflation worth the costs? Proponents of disinflation argue that the long-run benefits of price stability, including lower interest rates, increased economic efficiency, and perhaps faster economic growth, greatly exceed the short-run costs. Opponents, of course, claim the opposite, usually arguing that the short-run costs in terms of higher unemployment and lost output would be immense.