Ample monetary stimulus is creating space for structural reforms
One silver lining is that the different areas of economic policy, such as monetary policy and fiscal policy, have operated well together during the crisis and even in synergy. The adverse effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy have also been mitigated by a variety of supervisory and macroprudential measures. Global financial institutions have answered the call for the unprecedented amount of emergency funding needed in advanced and emerging economies.
Monetary policy in the euro area has supported economic recovery substantially and safeguarded medium-term price stability. In the current environment of heighted uncertainty, the Governing Council of the ECB carefully assessed incoming economic information at its meeting in September 2020. ‘Ample monetary stimulus is needed to support the economy and employment and to achieve the price stability objective’, stressed Bank of Finland Governor Olli Rehn. Asset purchases will continue under the Eurosystem's monetary policy purchase programmes. Furthermore, the Eurosystem will continue to provide ample liquidity via its targeted longer-term refinancing operations, to facilitate bank lending to households and firms.
‘The ECB’s very accommodative monetary policy stance has opened up space for other economic policies. It is important that this space is put to effective use for investment and reforms throughout the euro area, including Finland’, stated Governor Rehn. With the substantial rise of public sector debt in the euro area, the need for structural reforms in labour and product markets and growth-friendly investments is only more pressing.
The ECB has restarted its review of its monetary policy framework, after being postponed in the spring by six months due to the coronavirus pandemic. Changes in economic fundamentals in the past decades have reduced the leeway to cut rates and dampened inflationary pressures. Among others, these include a change in the dynamic between economic slack and inflation, the decline in the long-term equilibrium real interest rate, and central bank policy rates settling near the so-called effective zero lower bound.
‘Reviewing the ECB's monetary policy framework is more necessary than ever before, not only because of sustained low inflation but also because of the damage wrought by the coronavirus pandemic’, stated Governor Rehn. It is the task of the ECB, without prejudice to price stability, to strive to support the other economic objectives of the union with greater effect, so that the economy may recover and its long-term growth prospects improve.
Keywords
Images
Links
About Suomen Pankki
The Bank of Finland is the national monetary authority and central bank of Finland. At the same time, it is also a part of the Eurosystem, which is responsible for monetary policy and other central bank tasks in the euro area and administers use of the world’s second largest currency – the euro.
Subscribe to releases from Suomen Pankki
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Suomen Pankki by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Suomen Pankki
Medialle: BOFIT julkaisee Kiinan talouden ennusteen maanantaina 22.4.18.4.2024 10:15:15 EEST | Kutsu
Suomen Pankin nousevien talouksien tutkimuslaitos BOFIT julkaisee ennusteen Kiinan talouden kehityksestä maanantaina 22.4.2024 kello 13. Ennuste julkaistaan osoitteessa bofit.fi. Median edustajien on mahdollista saada ennuste embargolla maanantaina aamupäivällä. Pyydämme ilmoittautumaan embargojakelulistalle viimeistään maanantaina 22.4. klo 9.00. Ilmoittaudu embargojakelulistalle BOFIT julkaisee ennusteen Kiinan talouskehityksestä keväisin ja syksyisin. Lisätiedot: Suomen Pankin viestintä, media@bof.fi, p. 09 183 2101.
Meri Obstbaum appointed Adviser to the Board of the Bank of Finland, and Kimmo Virolainen’s position as Adviser to the Board was renewed17.4.2024 15:00:00 EEST | Press release
The Board of the Bank of Finland has appointed Meri Obstbaum, DSc (Econ. & Bus. Adm.), and Kimmo Virolainen, DSc (Econ. & Bus. Adm.), as Advisers to the Board. These appointments are for a five-year term. Obstbaum will also head the Bank’s Monetary Policy Preparation Process. Virolainen will head the Bank’s International Economic Policy Process.
Meri Obstbaum förordnad till rådgivare åt Finlands Banks direktion, Kimmo Virolainen fortsätter som rådgivare åt direktionen17.4.2024 15:00:00 EEST | Tiedote
Finlands Banks direktion har förordnat pol.dr Meri Obstbaum och pol. dr Kimmo Virolainen till rådgivare åt direktionen. Förordnandena gäller för en period på fem år. Meri Obstbaum svarar också för processen för penningpolitisk beredning. Kimmo Virolainen är chef för processen för den internationella ekonomin.
Meri Obstbaum johtokunnan neuvonantajaksi ja Kimmo Virolainen jatkaa johtokunnan neuvonantajana17.4.2024 15:00:00 EEST | Tiedote
Suomen Pankin johtokunta on määrännyt neuvonantajikseen KTT Meri Obstbaumin ja KTT Kimmo Virolaisen. Tehtävät ovat viiden vuoden määräajaksi. Meri Obstbaumin vastuulla on samanaikaisesti rahapolitiikan valmisteluprosessi. Kimmo Virolainen toimii kansainvälisen talouden prosessin päällikkönä.
Bank of Finland Governor to attend IMF Spring Meeting17.4.2024 11:00:00 EEST | Press release
The Governor of the Bank of Finland, Olli Rehn will participate in the International Monetary Fund’s Spring Meeting in Washington DC, on 18–19 April 2024. Governor Rehn represents Finland on the Fund’s Board of Governors.
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom