Archive for March 4th, 2010

Stark on pre-crisis reference model

March 4, 2010

Jürgen Stark, ECB’s chief economist looks at the pre-crisis economic thinking:

In discussing the current macroeconomic framework, I will focus on the institutional aspects that have proved successful, in particular, from the European perspective. These are central bank independence, the centrality of price stability for monetary policy and the need to adopt a medium-term, rules-based perspective in the conduct of monetary and fiscal policies. The financial crisis has not contested or discredited these three principles.

However, it is certainly true that other aspects of the international consensus framework merit some deep re-thinking. I will take this opportunity to share my thoughts on four such elements, namely inflation targeting, central banking as risk management, monetary policy and asset prices, and fiscal policy.

On inflation targeting he says (he reviews New Keynesian framework before this which has the same ideas):

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A look at Australia’s Mining booms

March 4, 2010

Ric Battellino Deputy Governor of RBA covers history of Australia’s mining and energy booms.

The distinguishing features of a mining boom are significant increases in mining investment or mining output, usually both, which go on to have important macroeconomic consequences.

On this basis, I think we can identify five major mining booms during the past two hundred years or so. These are:

  • the 1850s gold rush;
  • the late 19th century mineral boom;
  • the 1960s/early 1970s mineral and energy boom;
  • the late 1970s/early 1980s energy boom; and
  • the current episode, which is again both a mineral and energy boom

After discussing each boom episode he says:

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Does posting calories on food items help?

March 4, 2010

This paper by a team of economists is a must read. It is a kind of event study. In NY city a law was passed that all restaurant chains would have to post calories against food items and beverages. This paper studies the impact of the law on food consumption at Starbucks. Did people become more calorie conscious at Starbucks? Did they consume less food or cut down on high calorie items? Did the move impact Starbucks revenues/profits?   The findings:

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