NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH
NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH

The First Year of the Eurosystem: Inflation Targeting or Not?

Lars E.O. Svensson

NBER Working Paper No. 7598 (Also Reprint No. r2276)*
Issued in August 2000
NBER Program(s):   IFM    ME

This paper is a brief evaluation of the Eurosystem's monetary-policy regime after its first year, in particular of the extent to which it is similar to inflation targeting as practiced by an increasing number of central banks. I examine the Eurosystem's goals, framework for monetary-policy decisions and communication with outsiders. Criteria for evaluation are whether the goals are unambiguous and appropriate; whether the decision framework is efficient in collecting and processing information and reaching decisions that are appropriate relative to the goals; and whether the communication is effective in motivating decisions, simplifying external evaluation and thereby improving transparency and accountability. I also consider whether the actual instrument setting has been appropriate, given the information available at the times of decision.

*Published: American Economic Review: Papers and Proceedings, Vol. 90, No. 2, (May, 20 00).

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