Earthquakes and Economic Outcomes: Does Central Bank Independence Matter?

Jeroen Klomp () and John Sseruyange
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Jeroen Klomp: Netherlands Defence Academy
John Sseruyange: Makerere University

Open Economies Review, 2021, vol. 32, issue 2, No 5, 335-359

Abstract: Abstract This study explores whether the degree of central bank independence influences the economic performance in the period immediately following an earthquake. Earthquakes create a classic monetary policy challenge: how to accommodate the real shock in the short run with the objective of low inflation. The ultimate outcome of this dilemma depends for a large part on the degree of delegation of the monetary powers to an independent central bank and the inflation averseness of the central bank governors. Our main empirical findings clearly indicate that the increase in the inflation rate after an earthquake is significantly smaller when monetary policy is conducted by a more independent central bank. At the same time, countries with an independent central bank are confronted with a wider output gap after an earthquake suggesting a slower economic recovery.

Keywords: Output gap; Inflation; Central Bank Independence; Earthquakes; E52; E58; E3; Q54 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11079-020-09593-4

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