December 11, 2007 The Zero Bound on Nominal Interest Rates: Implications for Monetary Policy Bank of Canada Review - Winter 2007-2008 Claude Lavoie, Stephen Murchison One of the most important factors that must be considered if countries are thinking about lowering the target level of inflation much below 2 per cent is the zero interest bound. Targeting inflation rates that are too low, the authors note, may restrict the ability of monetary policy to respond to economic shocks by limiting the amount by which interest rates can be eased. Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Inflation: costs and benefits, Interest rates, Monetary policy implementation
December 10, 2007 Inflation Targeting, Price-Level Targeting, and Fluctuations in Canada's Terms of Trade Bank of Canada Review - Winter 2007-2008 Donald Coletti, René Lalonde Coletti and Lalonde compare inflation targeting and price-level targeting in the context of a small open economy subject to sizable terms-of-trade shocks. The authors summarize recent research that compares the ability of price-level targeting and inflation targeting to stabilize the macroeconomy when confronted with shocks similar to those experienced by Canada in recent years. Their preliminary results suggest that price-level targeting may represent a feasible alternative to traditional inflation targeting. Their article also provides insight into the direction of current research in this area at the Bank. Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Central bank research, Inflation and prices, Monetary policy framework
December 10, 2007 Reflections on Developments in the Canadian Financial System Remarks David Dodge Canadian Club of Toronto and the Empire Club of Canada Toronto, Ontario It has become a tradition that I deliver a speech late in the year on issues related to the financial system. When I say "financial system," I mean financial institutions and markets, together with the clearing and settlement systems through which financial assets flow. Content Type(s): Press, Speeches and appearances, Remarks
December 10, 2007 Governor Dodge Says Transparency Essential for Financial Market Efficiency Media Relations Toronto, Ontario Recent market events have shown how important it is to have appropriate levels of transparency and disclosure of information for financial markets to function well, Bank of Canada Governor David Dodge said today. Content Type(s): Press, Press releases
December 6, 2007 More Than Money: Architecture and Art at the Bank of Canada This volume will take you on a tour of the head office complex, highlighting interesting features of architecture, interior design, and decoration, as well as elements of restoration and preservation. It also features pieces from the Bank's art collection. Soft cover, 128 pages (2007). Content Type(s): Publications, Books and monographs, Souvenir books
December 6, 2007 Opening Statement before the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce Opening statement David Dodge Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce In Canada, we were looking for weaker economic growth in the fourth quarter of this year and the first half of 2008, but some strengthening thereafter. As you can see from Table 2, we were expecting continued strong final domestic demand throughout the projection period, but considerably weaker net exports. Content Type(s): Press, Speeches and appearances, Opening statements
December 5, 2007 Opening Statement before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance Opening statement Mark Carney House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance Over time, it has become clear that the best contribution monetary policy can make to the promotion of the economic and financial welfare of Canada is to keep inflation low, stable, and predictable. Content Type(s): Press, Speeches and appearances, Opening statements
December 4, 2007 Bank of Canada lowers overnight rate target by 1/4 percentage point to 4 1/4 per cent Media Relations Ottawa, Ontario The Bank of Canada today announced that it is lowering its target for the overnight rate by one-quarter of one percentage point to 4 1/4 per cent. Content Type(s): Press, Press releases
Electronic Transactions as High-Frequency Indicators of Economic Activity Staff Working Paper 2007-58 John Galbraith, Greg Tkacz Since the advent of standard national accounts data over 60 years ago, economists have traditionally relied on monthly or quarterly data supplied by central statistical agencies for macroeconomic modelling and forecasting. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Business fluctuations and cycles JEL Code(s): E, E1, E17, E2, E27, E6, E66
Uncertainty and the Specificity of Human Capital Staff Working Paper 2007-57 Martin Gervais, Igor Livshits, Césaire Meh This paper studies the choice between general and specific human capital. A trade-off arises because general human capital, while less productive, can easily be reallocated across firms. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Economic models JEL Code(s): D, D9, D92, J, J2, J24, J4, J41, J6, J62