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An Independent Central Bank faced with Elected Government: A Political Economy Conflict

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Author Info
M. Demertzis
A. Hughes Hallett
N. Viegi

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Abstract

The literature argues that the benefits of an independent Central Bank accrue at no cost to the real side. In this paper, we argue that the lack of correlation between monetary autonomy and output variability, is due to the proactive role of fiscal policy when faced with rigid monetary objectives. Few of the attempts to measure these correlations actually allow for a changing fiscal role. Yet, when monetary policy is handled by an independent authority, fiscal and wage/social protection policies remain as an instrument in the hands of elected governments. We find that, so long as the two authorities pursue their goals independently of each other, a conflict arises which becomes stronger as preferences diverge. Further to that, we find that the establishment of a conservative Central Bank encourages more divergent preferences amongst the public (as reflected in the governments they elect). The election of more interventionist governments then makes it harder for either authority to reach their own preferred objectives, unless they are able to co-operate.

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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Netherlands Central Bank, Research Department in its series WO Research Memoranda (discontinued) with number 686.

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Date of creation: May 2002
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Handle: RePEc:dnb:wormem:686

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Related research
Keywords: Central Bank Independence; Accountability; Fiscal policy; Political Uncertainty;

Other versions of this item:

Find related papers by JEL classification:
E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
E63 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Comparative or Joint Analysis of Fiscal and Monetary Policy; Stabilization
F42 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - International Policy Coordination and Transmission

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References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
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  4. Alesina, Alberto & Gatti, Roberta, 1995. "Independent Central Banks: Low Inflation at No Cost?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 85(2), pages 196-200, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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  20. Maria Demertzis & Andrew Hughes Hallett & Nicola Viegi, 1999. "Can the ECB be Truly Independent? Should It Be?," Empirica, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 217-240, September. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Silvia Sgherri, 2002. "The fiscal dimension of a common monetary policy: results with a non-Ricardian global model," European Journal of Finance, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 8(4), pages 449-479, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
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