In the December ECB meeting, there was no new news. As expected, the MPC left rates unchanged and signaled a continuation of their easing program.
As you recall, in the October meeting, the committee announced a plan to continue implementing the asset purchases until September this year. This January, the asset purchases will be reduced to $30 billion per month. The committee also left options for an extension past September on the table.
Come September, Mario Draghi and the team will find themselves in a dilemma. Do they start the normalization process? If yes, what will be the thinking or scientific background behind it? For sure, in economics, a lot can happen between now and September. However, if status quo remains, Draghi will have a challenge explaining the thinking behind normalization.
Of course, the normalization will not be about inflation. Recent data shows that the Euro area inflation is at 1.5% below the targeted 2%. Recent data from the European Commission showed that consumer inflation target for the next twelve months is at a 4-month low.
Inflation plays a major role in determining the monetary direction of any country. Apart from job creation and ensuring financial stability, keeping inflation in check is perhaps the most important role of central bankers. In theory, central banks should work to ensure that prices rise slowly. A deflation – where prices reduce – is not desirable.
So, what will be the motivation for normalization? Remember, while the Euro area economy is doing well and with business confidence at a 17-year high, some factors like high commodity prices and high property prices could be a hindrance to economic growth.
In addition, there is a challenge of Euro Area being a combination of multiple independently run countries. For example, while the unemployment rate in Germany is currently below 4%, the overall EU unemployment rate in the EU is a massive 9%.
Perhaps, the ECB will start normalization for reasons they are not telling us. My guess is, the motive for normalization – when its not necessary – is all about financial stability. Remember, central banks never forecast recessions and the IMF does not issue notices of a country’s odds of defaulting.
Let me explain. In Economics, we all know that long periods of low interest rates are never ideal. This is because with easy money, people and companies move with speed to acquire assets. This often leads to bubbles and of course, bubbles always burst. To prevent the formation of bubbles, the ECB – and other Central Banks – raise interest rates.
Another reason why the ECB might start normalizing will be pressure from the German’s Bundesbank. Among all the national central banks, the Bundesbank is the most hawkish. It believes the lower for longer notion is a catalyst for an instable Eurozone.
Other Central Banks are cautious and suspicious. Remember, Germany and France – the two biggest Euro countries have an interesting relationship based on Rectitude and Redistribution. Let me explain. Germany is known to meet all proposals by France by calculating the costs to German taxpayers. On the other hand, France takes proposals by Germany as a way of hiding behind rules and regulations so that Germans can have their cake and eat it.
In the meantime, Draghi and his colleagues are faced with a challenging year in terms of monetary policy decisions.
In the December ECB meeting, there was no new news. As expected, the MPC left rates unchanged and signaled a continuation of their easing program.
As you recall, in the October meeting, the committee announced a plan to continue implementing the asset purchases until September this year. This January, the asset purchases will be reduced to $30 billion per month. The committee also left options for an extension past September on the table.
Come September, Mario Draghi and the team will find themselves in a dilemma. Do they start the normalization process? If yes, what will be the thinking or scientific background behind it? For sure, in economics, a lot can happen between now and September. However, if status quo remains, Draghi will have a challenge explaining the thinking behind normalization.
Of course, the normalization will not be about inflation. Recent data shows that the Euro area inflation is at 1.5% below the targeted 2%. Recent data from the European Commission showed that consumer inflation target for the next twelve months is at a 4-month low.
Inflation plays a major role in determining the monetary direction of any country. Apart from job creation and ensuring financial stability, keeping inflation in check is perhaps the most important role of central bankers. In theory, central banks should work to ensure that prices rise slowly. A deflation – where prices reduce – is not desirable.
So, what will be the motivation for normalization? Remember, while the Euro area economy is doing well and with business confidence at a 17-year high, some factors like high commodity prices and high property prices could be a hindrance to economic growth.
In addition, there is a challenge of Euro Area being a combination of multiple independently run countries. For example, while the unemployment rate in Germany is currently below 4%, the overall EU unemployment rate in the EU is a massive 9%.
Perhaps, the ECB will start normalization for reasons they are not telling us. My guess is, the motive for normalization – when its not necessary – is all about financial stability. Remember, central banks never forecast recessions and the IMF does not issue notices of a country’s odds of defaulting.
Let me explain. In Economics, we all know that long periods of low interest rates are never ideal. This is because with easy money, people and companies move with speed to acquire assets. This often leads to bubbles and of course, bubbles always burst. To prevent the formation of bubbles, the ECB – and other Central Banks – raise interest rates.
Another reason why the ECB might start normalizing will be pressure from the German’s Bundesbank. Among all the national central banks, the Bundesbank is the most hawkish. It believes the lower for longer notion is a catalyst for an instable Eurozone.
Other Central Banks are cautious and suspicious. Remember, Germany and France – the two biggest Euro countries have an interesting relationship based on Rectitude and Redistribution. Let me explain. Germany is known to meet all proposals by France by calculating the costs to German taxpayers. On the other hand, France takes proposals by Germany as a way of hiding behind rules and regulations so that Germans can have their cake and eat it.
In the meantime, Draghi and his colleagues are faced with a challenging year in terms of monetary policy decisions.
Sources:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-10/ecb-hawks-take-the-lead-on-qe-debate-as-doves-stay-quiet-for-now
https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/companies-and-deals/ecb-sells-steinhoff-bond-at-loss-after-scandal/
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