Who Needs Bands Exchange Rate Policy Before Emu

Two issues are discussed. The first is which countries might benefit from entry into EMU before the millennium. Germany and her immediate neighbors appear the most likely to gain; however, our knowledge is too uncertain to say whether all, some, or no countries would reap net economic benefits. The second issue is how to avoid exchange rate instability in the transition to EMU. Experience from earlier exchange rate regimes suggests that an early announcement the parities at which different currencies would enter EMU could reduce such instability if governments were willing to accept the required limitations on domestic policies.

Two issues are discussed. The first is which countries might benefit from entry into EMU before the millennium. Germany and her immediate neighbors appear the most likely to gain; however, our knowledge is too uncertain to say whether all, some, or no countries would reap net economic benefits. The second issue is how to avoid exchange rate instability in the transition to EMU. Experience from earlier exchange rate regimes suggests that an early announcement the parities at which different currencies would enter EMU could reduce such instability if governments were willing to accept the required limitations on domestic policies.

Monetary Policy in a Converging Europe covers the most important monetary issues in the transition towards an Economic and Monetary Union in Europe, containing contributions from renowned experts in relevant research and policy areas. Among other things, the contributions discuss the scope for inflation targeting, monetary interdependencies within the `core' ERM countries, money demand within the European Union, the difference between the monetary transmission mechanisms in the various European countries, and the preferred exchange rate policy in Stage Two of EMU. The book provides an excellent overview of current issues for anyone interested in monetary policy in a converging Europe.

The more advanced Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) face an evolving set of considerations in choosing their exchange rate policies. On the one hand, capital mobility is increasing, and this imposes additional constraints on fixed exchange rate regimes, while trend real appreciation makes the combination of low inflation and exchange rate stability problematic. On the other hand, the objectives of EU and eventual EMU membership make attractive a peg to the euro at some stage in the transition. The paper discusses these conflicting considerations, and considers the feasibility of an alternative monetary framework, inflation targeting.

Written by a team of distinguished European academics, this report looks at the final stage of Europe's transition to a monetary union.

This report examines European transition economies and their need to find a robust strategy for macroeconomic policy in the period leading up to accession and in preparation for joining EMU.

Essay from the year 2003 in the subject Business economics - Banking, Stock Exchanges, Insurance, Accounting, grade: 1,4 (A), Oxford Brookes University (Business School), course: International Investment & Finance, language: English, abstract: Since the euro has been introduced as the common currency of the European Monetary Union (EMU) exchange rate policy-making has not been noticeably mentioned on the agenda of the European Central Bank (ECB). This work examines and explains the development of the euro since its introduction in 1999. A discussion of possible exchange rate regimes, their impacts on domestic and international trade and living standards, as well as a brief introduction on market intervention will put forward a recommendation to the ECB for its future exchange rate policy. Since most of the past currency crises emerged from monetary systems of fixed exchange rates, empirical data suggests a non fixed external regime to the EMU, even more since this allows a range of steering and counteracting opportunities. Following the Keynesian monetary theory, the forces of supply and demand are not always sufficient to guarantee a stable and sound economic environment for successful trade and growth. Therefore a free floating system of exchange rates might not be the right way for the ECB to follow its aim of price stability and competitiveness in a highly integrated area as the EU. We recommend employing an external managed floating system at a reasonably high level of currency value, i.e. purchasing power, depending on the situation of employment and export-import balance. The ECB should carefully carry out market interventions, limited by international exchange rate agreements, e.g. by the G-10 Nations summits.