Comparison of Central Bank and Judicial Independence (original) (raw)

Measuring the Independence of Central Banks and Its Effect on Policy Outcomes

World Bank Economic Review, 1992

Making the central bank an agency with the mandate and reputation for maintaining price stability is a means by which a government can choose the strength of its commitment to price stability. This article develops four measures of central bank independence and explores their relation with inflation outcomes. An aggregate legal index is developedforfour decades in 72 countries. Three indicators of actual independence are developed: the rate of turnover of central bank governors, an index based on a questionnaire answered by specialists in 23 countries, and an aggregation of the legal index and the rate of turnover.

Determinants of Central Bank Independence and Governance: Problems and Policy Implications

2000

Central bank independence and governance (CBIG) is a term subject to conflicting definitions and so its related studies are difficult to compare. This paper therefore focuses on developing of a more useable definition, and an index model identifying the determinants of independence and governance and their possible policy implications. It also examines various independence measurement tools such as ranking and

Central bank independence: cases, measurement and future developments

European Business Journal, 2003

The independence of central banks has become a focus of debate among contemporary policymakers. The importance of this issue has been strengthened by the requirements of the Maastricht Treaty which requires the European Monetary Union states to comply with the legislation of the European Central Bank, which is widely acknowledged to be a highly independent central bank. This paper traces the roots of central bank independence in the historical development of four major central banks. The focus of this study is the evolution of the relationship between the four banks studied and their central government. The banks covered in this study are: the Bank of England, the Banque de France, the Bundesbank and the Federal Reserve. Similarities in the central banks’ development have been captured and comparisons drawn. The emerging increase in the banks’ independence appears to be a part of their evolution, whereas for other countries, one may argue that it has been an exogenously driven phenomenon.

Reconsidering central bank independence

European Journal of Political Economy, 2002

In this paper, we survey the case for central bank independence (CBI). We conclude that CBI is neither necessary nor sufficient for monetary stability. CBI is just one potentially useful monetary policy design instrument among several, and CBI should not be treated as an exogenous variable. Instead, the question that should be addressed is why societies decide to make their central banks independent? The reasons why CBI is chosen are related to legal, political, and economic systems. A number of empirical studies find correlations between CBI and low inflation rates. Endogeneity of CBI suggests, however, that the correlation has no implications for causality. D

Measuring the Statutory Independence of Sub-Saharan Africa Central Banks

Eastern Africa Social Science Research Review, 2014

This study evaluated the degree of legal independence of 14 Sub-Saharan Africa central banks using the CWN (1992) approach. Central bank independence, i.e. freedom from political pressure in the conduct of monetary policy, is an attempt to overcome the inflationary bias inherent in the trade-off between inflation and unemployment reflected in the Phillips curve. Comprising,

Central Bank Independence: Monetary Policies in Selected Jurisdictions (III)

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2000

A sufficient and appropriate degree of central bank independence is widely acknowledged to be necessary for the goal of achieving price stability. However, despite the levels of independence claimed to be enjoyed by several central banks, recent events indicate shifts in focus of monetary policy objectives by various prominent central banks. The impact of political and government influences on central banks' monetary policies has been evidenced from the recent financial crisis-and in several jurisdictions. Many central banks have adjusted monetary policies having been influenced by political pressures which have built up as a result of the recent crises. However such lack of absolute independence (from political spheres) could prove symbiotic in the sense that, despite the need for a certain degree of independence from political interference, certain events which are capable of devastating consequences, namely, a drastic disruption of the system's financial stability, need to be responded to as quickly and promptly as possible. Is it possible for a central bank with absolute independence to operate effectively-particularly given the close links between many central banks and their Treasury in several countries? It may be inferred that central banks' crucial roles in establishing a macro prudential framework provide the key to bridging the gap between macro economic policy and the regulation of individual financial institutions. This however, on its own, is insufficient-close collaboration and effective information sharing between central banks and regulatory authorities is paramount.

Central Bank Independence and Economic Performance

Cyprus Economic Policy Review, 2009

This paper examines the influence that several factors may have on the relationship between legal Central Bank Independence (CBI), on the one hand, and the inflation and real GDP growth on the other. Using multivariate regression analysis for 39 OECD during the two periods, 1991-1998 and 1999-2006, we show that even if we include several control variables in the regression, the negative relationship between CBI and inflation, and the lack of relationship between CBI and the variability of real GDP growth remaining were unaffected. Also, we decompose the index of CBI into its four components and we examine whether they matter for inflation, for real GDP growth and for the sacrifice ratio.

Central bank independence and its effect on money market stability

ILIRIA International Review, 2012

Since 1990s many countries have moved toward greater central bank independence (CBI) by either amending their Central Bank’s laws or writing them de novo. Also countries of Western Balkans and many other transition countries have moved toward greater CBI. There are many potential benefits associated with greater CBI, and one of them is stable growth of money and liquidity. For a given level of money market development the hypothesis is that a more independent CB is likely to promote more stable growth of money supply (Dželetović et al., 2008). As a result the main research task of this work is to estimate the effects of CBI on money market growth for five Western Balkans countries and five other European transition countries. Because the empirical studies were very limited for the relationship between CBI and money market growth, there were no clear conclusions. In addition, there were different measuring methodologies that attempt to quantify the extent of legal and actual CBI. Rel...