We analyze if and to what extent fundamental macroeconomic factors, temporary influences or more structural factors have contributed to the low levels of US bond yields over the last few years. For that purpose, we start with a general model of interest rate determination. The empirical part...

Bei der operativen Umsetzung der Geldpolitik hat es in den letzten Jahren einige Änderungen gegeben. Welche Entwicklungen sind festzustellen? Welche geldpolitischen Instrumente stehen den Zentralbanken grundsätzlich zur Verfügung? Was ist der zentrale geldpolitische Ansatzpunkt der EZB, des...

This paper analyses the information content of M1 for euro area real GDP since the beginning of the 1980s and reviews theoretical arguments on why real narrow money should help predict real GDP. We find that, unlike in the U.S., in the euro area, M1 has better and more robust forecasting...

This paper describes and analyses the evolution of euro area currency in circulation in the last years and especially in the run up to the cash change-over. In particular, it revisits the possible effect of the latter on the euro/dollar-exchange rate, which has been emphasised recently in the...