Publisher Description

Target balances are the largest single item in some of the balance sheets of the Eurosystem's national central banks (NCBs), and yet very little is known about them by the general public and even by economists. This book shows that Target balances measure overdraft credits between the NCBs that resemble ordinary fiscal credit and which have grown disproportionately, exceeding one billion euros. There is, however, no parliamentary legitimation for the Target balances. The book sheds light on the economic significance of the balances, questions their limitlessness, and addresses controversial views that have been expressed regarding them. It uses the Target statistics to analyze the course of the euro crisis and the ECB's policy reactions from the time of the Lehman bankruptcy up to the outbreak of the Corona crisis. It analyses the credit risks involved for the Eurosystem and concludes with a reform proposal.    This book will be of interest to non-specialist economists and policy makers.

Back Cover

"Though not initially expected or understood large movements in target balances at Eurozone Central Banks turned out to be a central essential feature of enabling the euro-system to survive a series of major shocks. In this beautifully and magisterially written book, Sinn describes clearly how this complex system has operated, and the several problems that this has entailed. An essential read for anyone interested in the workings of the euro-system." - Charles Goodhart, Emeritus Professor of Banking and Finance at the London School of Economics (LSE) "This excellent book, which deeply improves the understanding of the topic of Target balances, comes at a crucial moment in European history where due to the Corona-Crisis substantial reforms in the institutional organization of the Euro-Area and the EU will become necessary. It will help policy makers and academics when facing this enormous challenge. The book is rooted in theoretical economic principles and does not reflect a mere dogmatic or political view of the issue." - Frank Westermann, Professor of Economics and director of the Institute of Empirical Economic Research, Osnabr

Author Biography

Hans-Werner Sinn is President emeritus at the ifo Institute for Economic Research and Professor emeritus at the University of Munich. He founded and directed  the international CESifo research network and the Center for Economic Studies. He has received four honorary doctoral degrees,  has delivered numerous distinguished academic lectures, has taught in a number of countries, and was both President of the International Institute of Public Finance (the world organization of Public Sector economists) and the German Economic Association (Verein für Socialpolitik). In recent years, his work has focused primarily on the euro, the financial crisis, the European Central Bank, green energy, demography, migration, and Brexit. He previously conducted extensive research into German reunification, taxation, systems competition, and insurance.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Target: An obscure aspect of the Eurosystem.- Chapter 2: The Target credit.- Chapter 3: Current account, capital movements and Target balances.- Chapter 4: The cash balance.- Chapter 5: How the Target balances came about: the first phase of the crisis.- Chapter 6: The case of Greece.- Chapter 7: External crowds out internal money.- Chapter 8: The QE program and the Target balances.- Chapter 9: The rate of interest on Target balances.- Chapter 10: Interest spreads and tiering.- Chapter 11: The Corona Crisis.- Chapter 12: The risks of Target and cash balances.- Chapter 13: Conclusions and policy recommendations. 

Feature

Target balances are crucial for understanding the euro's ongoing balances of payments crisis, including the new capital flight and stress induced by the Corona crisis Target balances constitute a stealth system of internal Eurozone overdraft credit that is largely a fiscal phenomenon The author, one of Europe's foremost economists, was the first to publish on the growing Target balances and is a key expert on the topic

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