February 5, 1998 International developments and the prospects for the Canadian economy Remarks Gordon Thiessen Saint John, New Brunswick A year ago, in early 1997, prospects for global economic growth were very promising. World economic activity had strengthened and was expected to accelerate further, with the benefit of low inflation, reduced fiscal imbalances, and stable or declining interest rates. In Canada too, output and employment growth had picked up. Content Type(s): Press, Speeches and appearances, Remarks
Les provinces canadiennes et la convergence : une évaluation empirique Staff Working Paper 1994-10 Mario Lefebvre This paper examines whether the hypothesis of economic convergence holds for the Canadian provinces. Using data on real gross domestic product per capita and on factor productivity from 1966 to 1992, the paper shows, using two different methods, that the convergence hypothesis cannot be rejected. This evidence supports the findings of other authors who have studied convergence among Canadian provinces. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Recent economic and financial developments
The Term Structure and Real Activity in Canada Staff Working Paper 1994-3 Barry Cozier, Greg Tkacz This paper examines the predictive content of the term structure of interest rates for economic activity in Canada. Recent papers for the United States and other countries find that the slope of the term structure is a very good predictor of output growth. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Interest rates, Monetary and financial indicators
A Further Analysis of Exchange Rate Targeting in Canada Staff Working Paper 1994-2 Robert Amano, Tony S. Wirjanto In a recent paper Mercenier and Sekkat (1988) conclude that the Bank of Canada has followed a policy of exchange rate targeting using the money supply. We re-examine their results using a different estimation approach and with different assumptions about the forcing process of the exogenous variables. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Exchange rates
November 8, 1995 The role of monetary conditions and the monetary conditions index in the conduct of policy Bank of Canada Review - Autumn 1995 Charles Freedman In these excerpts from a presentation to a conference in Toronto, Deputy Governor Charles Freedman analyses the way in which the monetary conditions index (MCI) enters into the Bank's thinking and actions. He describes how the Bank works in the context of a forward-looking assessment of economic developments and inflationary pressures to decide upon a desired path for the MCI that will result in a rate of inflation, six to eight quarters ahead, that is within the Bank's target band. Mr. Freedman also uses specific examples to explain how various shocks to the economy can change the Bank's desired path for monetary conditions. He describes the role that tactical considerations relating to market circumstances play regarding the timing of Bank actions to bring monetary conditions onto the desired path and emphasizes the need to give precedence to steadying nervous markets. Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Monetary conditions index
November 10, 1995 The Government of Canada bond market since 1980 Bank of Canada Review - Autumn 1995 Andrew Branion This article focusses on a key component of the federal government's debt-management program, Government of Canada marketable bonds. It first provides a broad overview of the characteristics of these bonds and then discusses the workings of the domestic market, from the formulation of a debt-management strategy to the primary issuance of the bonds, the delivery and payment process, and transactions in the secondary market. Recent developments that have enhanced the overall efficiency of the market are also examined. This article is part of a series that describes and analyses features of the Canadian financial sector. Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Financial markets
August 10, 1995 Bank of Canada Review - Summer 1995 Cover page France: 1,000 francs, 1944 The 1,000 franc note is part of the National Currency Collection, Bank of Canada. Photography by James Zagon. Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review
May 8, 1995 Exchange rate fundamentals and the Canadian dollar Bank of Canada Review - Spring 1995 Robert Lafrance, Simon van Norden Views in the economic literature on the main factors that influence exchange rates have evolved over time in response to economic developments and new trends in economic theory. This article provides a brief interpretative survey of the main theories of exchange rate determination. The factors that influence exchange rate developments are varied and complex. However, the authors show that the broad movements of the Canada-U.S. real exchange rate since the early 1970s can be captured by a simple equation that highlights the role of commodity prices and Canada-U.S. interest rate differentials. The equation is used to interpret the evolution of the real exchange rate over the last two decades. At times, the real exchange rate deviates significantly from what the equation would predict. One explanation is that the equation omits certain factors that can influence the exchange rate, particularly in the short run. These may include fiscal policy variables, international indebtedness, political uncertainty, and investor sentiments—factors that are difficult to quantify but that have been particularly relevant in recent years. Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Exchange rates
June 9, 2010 Crude Oil Futures: A Crystal Ball? Bank of Canada Review - Spring 2010 Ron Alquist, Elif Arbatli Based on recent research, this article discusses three ways that oil-futures prices can improve our understanding of current conditions and future prospects in the global market for crude oil. First, the response of the oil-futures curve can be used to identify the persistence of oil-price shocks and to obtain an indicator of the rate at which they will diminish. Second, the spread between the current futures price and the spot price of oil can be interpreted as an indicator of the precautionary demand for oil. Third, because oil-futures prices are volatile, forecasts of the future spot price of oil using futures prices should be supplemented with other information to improve their accuracy. Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Econometric and statistical methods, Market structure and pricing
March 9, 2010 Inflation Expectations and the Conduct of Monetary Policy: A Review of Recent Evidence and Experience Bank of Canada Review - Spring 2010 Rose Cunningham, Brigitte Desroches, Eric Santor This article explores the role of inflation expectations in the conduct of monetary policy. It reviews the various measures of inflation expectations used by central banks, including surveys and market-based indicators, and considers their advantages and disadvantages. It examines the critical role of inflation expectations in the framework that central banks use to understand, forecast, and control inflation. It also looks at their role as an indicator of central bank credibility. The behaviour of inflation expectations over the past two years is analyzed and policy conclusions are offered. Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Inflation targets, Monetary policy implementation