Same answer as to the previous question, although my impression was that the literature is less kind to regional policies relative to industrial policies.
Research on this topic seems to me to be quite inconclusive, with some evidence for some positive returns (https://ideas.repec.org/p/cep/cepdps/dp1113.html or https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/mac.20120103), and other evidence for neutral or negative effects (http://voxeu.org/article/surprising-prevalence-surprises-export-specialisation or http://www.nber.org/papers/w18694). If a new industrial policy is adopted, then it is probably wise to keep it modest and use recent research to design it effectively.
Question 3: More generally, do you agree that it is desirable to maintain central bank independence? Again focus on the near future, say next 48 months.
Among all economic policymaking institutions in most advanced countries today, central banks tend to be the better prepared, the better informed, and make the more sensible decisions. Their success at keeping inflation close to targets in the past 15 years has been extraordinary. Their responses to the financial and debt crisis were, with all their flaws and shortcomings, still much better than that of almost all other policy institutions. I am worried that there has been too much discretionary policymaking, and too quick of an embrace of financial stability as a goal that can be achieved by the central bank alone. But for now, the track record of independent central banks is very good.
Question 2: Do you agree that the traditional argument that less central bank independence leads to higher inflation will (still) be relevant over the next 48 months in Western economies?
Independent, inflation-targeting, central banks have had an extraordinary track record of success in the XXIst century at fulfilling the main part of their mandate: controlling inflation. Across the OECD, inflation has been low and stable, in spite of a myriad of shocks. Moving away from this regime can only do worse, because better would be hard. (I am only not very confident in my answer because worse may mean deflation instead of high inflation.)
It depends, first and foremost, on political developments, which I am not competent to forecast. Yet, the rise of populism in the western world in 2016, the recent electoral success of authoritarian politicians, and the public relations campaign against experts and knowledge, all point to pressure on attacking independent technocratic institutions and reducing their power, including the central bank.
The CFM surveys informs the public about the views held by prominent economists based in Europe on important macroeconomic and public policy questions. Some surveys focus specifically on the UK economy (as the CFM is a UK research centre), but surveys can in principle focus on any macroeconomic question for any region. The surveys shed light on the extent to which there is agreement or disagreement among these experts. An important motivation for the survey is to give a more comprehensive overview of the beliefs held by economists and in particular to include the views of those economists whose opinions are not frequently heard in public debates.
Questions mainly focus on macroeconomic and public policy topics. Although there are some questions that focus specifically on the UK economy, the setup of the survey is much broader and considers questions related to other countries/regions and also considers questions not tied to a specific economy.
The surveys are done in collaboration with the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR).
A “new” UK industrial strategy ?
====================================================================
Question 2: Do you agree that the UK needs a new regional policy?
====================================================================
====================================================================
Question 1: Do you agree that the UK needs a new industrial policy?
====================================================================
The Future of Central Bank Independence
====================================================================
Question 3: More generally, do you agree that it is desirable to maintain central bank independence? Again focus on the near future, say next 48 months.
====================================================================
====================================================================
Question 2: Do you agree that the traditional argument that less central bank independence leads to higher inflation will (still) be relevant over the next 48 months in Western economies?
====================================================================
====================================================================
Question 1: Do you agree that central bank independence in the Eurozone and the UK will decline over the next 48 months?
====================================================================
Pages