This paper analyses the interactions between, on one hand, monetary policy and financial stability responsibilities of the ECB and, on the other hand, Post-Trading-Financial Market Infrastructures. Its basic conclusion is that Payment Systems are critical for monetary policy while Central...

While the Eurosystem has considerably improved its operational transparency in the last few years, it is still lagging the Federal Reserve System (Fed), especially in terms of the information it provides on operating costs and staff numbers, for which it provides very scarce data. In addition,...

While the Eurosystem has considerably improved its operational transparency in the last few years, it is still lagging the Federal Reserve System (Fed), especially in terms of the information it provides on operating costs and staff numbers, for which it provides very scarce data. In addition,...

Central banks are not profit-maximising institutions; their objectives are rather of macroeconomic nature. The European Central Bank’s overriding objective is price stability. Nevertheless, there are three good reasons to conclude that it is preferable for central banks to achieve profits...