Perhaps high office holders do not need a higher education, let alone an economics degree. But they should at least know, and respect, the limits of their power. [...]
With Jens Weidmann’s imminent departure, the ECB will lose its most hawkish governor. The move will also symbolise the ECB’s transition into a less stability-oriented institution – right when high inflation expectations in Europe are taking hold. [...]
If experience is anything to go by, the new RBNZ era will end in tears and inflation and it will take another Minister of Finance, and another RBNZ Governor, to clean up the mess. [...]
To keep international investors’ trust, we must remain squeaky clean in our fundamental economic institutions. If we are not, New Zealand will come out of the Covid-19 crisis as a broken economy and a failed state. [...]