Journal Article

Legal structure, financial structure, and the monetary policy transmission mechanism

Abstract: Among the many challenges facing the new Eurosystem - the European Central Bank and the central banks of the eleven members of the European Monetary Union - is the possibility that participating countries will respond differently to interest rate changes. This paper provides evidence that differences in financial structure are the proximate cause for these national asymmetries in monetary policy transmission and that these differences in financial structure are a result of differences in legal structure. The author concludes that unless legal structures are harmonized across Europe, the financial structures and monetary transmission mechanisms of the European Union countries will remain diverse

Keywords: Monetary policy - Europe; European Monetary System (Organization); Europe; European Central Bank;

Bibliographic Information

Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of New York

Part of Series: Economic Policy Review

Publication Date: 1999

Volume: 5

Issue: Jul

Pages: 9-28