Social trust and central-bank independence

Niclas Berggren, Sven-Olov Daunfeldt and Jörgen Hellström
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Jörgen Hellström: Umea School of Business and Economics, Postal: Umea University

No 66, HUI Working Papers from HUI Research

Abstract: Central banks have been made more independent in many countries. A common rationale has been the existence of a credibility (or lack-of-trust) problem for monetary policy. This indicates a possible and until now unexplored link between social trust and central-bank independence. Our empirical findings, based on data from 149 countries, confirm that there is such a link, in the form of a u-shaped relationship. We suggest that two factors help explain this finding: the need for this kind of reform and the ability with which it can be implemented. At low trust levels, the need for central-bank independence is strong enough to dominate the low ability; at high trust levels the ability for reform is high and dominates the low need; at intermediate trust levels there is neither need nor ability strong enough to generate very independent central banks.

Keywords: Social trust; central-bank independence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E52 E58 P48 Z13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 23 pages
Date: 2012-05-22
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Social trust and central-bank independence (2014)
Working Paper: Social Trust and Central-Bank Independence (2012)
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