August 17, 2001 The Changing Effects of Energy-Price Shocks on Economic Activity and Inflation Bank of Canada Review - Summer 2001 Gerald Stuber In this article the author examines the effects that major changes in energy prices in recent years have had on inflation and on the pace of economic expansion. These are then compared with the effects of the oil-price shocks that occurred in the 1970s and early 1980s. Changes in the intensity of energy use are examined, as well as developments in Canada's merchandise trade surplus in energy commodities and products. The author also considers the effects that a monetary policy anchored to low and stable inflation could have on price-setting behaviour and thus on the pass-through of higher energy costs to core inflation in Canada and in other industrial countries. Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Business fluctuations and cycles
August 17, 2001 Bank of Canada Review - Summer 2001 Cover page Trade Silver The objects featured on the cover range in size from 1 to 2.5 inches in width. They form part of the National Currency Collection, Bank of Canada. Photography by James Zagon. Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review
August 16, 2001 Innovation and Competition in Canadian Equity Markets Bank of Canada Review - Summer 2001 Serge Boisvert, Charles Gaa Innovations in communications and information technology and the related globalization of financial markets have created the potential for important changes to the structure of Canadian equity markets. Established marketplaces can now compete more effectively on an inter-regional and international basis. At the same time, reduced costs have lowered the barriers to entry faced by new competitors known as alternative trading systems (ATSs). In response to this heightened competition, established Canadian stock exchanges have taken measures to improve market quality. While regulators see innovation as positive for the development of Canadian markets, there is some concern that market liquidity may be fragmented in the short run. The Canadian Securities Administrators have proposed a framework that attempts to address this issue and that would allow ATSs to compete with traditional exchanges for the first time. The authors provide an overview of the Canadian equity market and its structure, focusing on these recent developments. Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Financial markets
August 15, 2001 Analyzing the Monetary Aggregates Bank of Canada Review - Summer 2001 Dinah Maclean In recent years, the Bank has put renewed emphasis on analyzing monetary variables and on developing models that incorporate money as an active part of the transmission mechanism. In this article, Dinah Maclean describes how the monetary aggregates are used in the formulation of monetary policy analysis at the Bank, outlining the key tools and models used. The most important money-based model currently in use is the M1-VECM. In this model, deviations in the money supply from the long-term demand for money cause changes in inflation. The author briefly describes the "active-money" paradigm underlying this model and explains the key equations within it. Other simpler empirical models are also outlined, including single-equation indicator models for output based on the narrow aggregates, a neural network, and a model based on the broader aggregate M2++. A detailed technical annex provides details on model equations and coefficient values. Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Monetary aggregates
August 10, 2001 Proposed Terms and Conditions for Auctions of Receiver General Cash Balances On behalf of the Minister of Finance, the Department of Finance and Bank of Canada are releasing today draft terms and conditions for participation in Receiver General auctions. These auctions are the means by which the government invests its short-term Canadian dollar cash balances. Content Type(s): Press, Market notices
August 9, 2001 Expansion of List of Securities Eligible as Collateral for use in Bank of Canada Standing Liquidity Facility Under its Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF), the Bank of Canada is prepared to provide liquidity on a daily basis to financial institutions that participate directly in the payment systems operated by the Canadian Payments Association - the Automated Clearing Settlement System (ACSS) and the Large Value Transfer System (LVTS). Content Type(s): Press, Market notices
August 2, 2001 Summer Market Consultations 2001 Overview The objectives of debt strategy are to provide stable, low cost funding for the federal government, and to maintain and enhance a well-functioning market for Government of Canada securities. A key element of the strategy is to maintain a prudent debt structure, with approximately two-thirds of the debt stock in fixed-rate instruments. The Government […]
August 2, 2001 Summer Consultations - Market Views Sought on Issues Relating to the Design and Operation of Government Debt Programs over 2001-02 and Beyond A consultation document on issues relating to the design and operation of government debt programs over 2001-2002 and beyond, prepared jointly by the Department of Finance and the Bank of Canada, is being made public today. Content Type(s): Press, Market notices
Predetermined Prices and the Persistent Effects of Money on Output Staff Working Paper 2001-13 Michael Devereux, James Yetman This paper illustrates a model of predetermined pricing, where firms set a fixed schedule of nominal prices at the time of price readjustment, based on the work of Fischer (1977). This type of price-setting specification cannot produce any excess persistence in a fixed-duration model of staggered prices, but we show that with a probabilistic model of price adjustment, as in Calvo (1983), a predetermined pricing specification can produce excess persistence. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Monetary policy transmission JEL Code(s): E, E3, E30
August 1, 2001 Monetary Policy Report Update – August 2001 The Bank’s outlook for inflation and overall economic activity in Canada to the end of 2002 has not changed fundamentally from that presented in the May Monetary Policy Report. Content Type(s): Publications, Monetary Policy Report