The European Central Bank decided to raise interest rates, in an attempt to show its determination to fight inflation. However this decision is based on shaky justifications, which are likely to cause more harm than do any good for citizens’ purchasing power.
On July 21st, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced that it is raising interest rates by 0.5 per cent, opting for an even higher hike than what was announced in June. Over the past few months, Positive Money Europe has repeatedly warned that higher interest rates are simply not the right solution to current price increases, as they will negatively affect people and jeopardise the well-being of our economies and the future of the post-pandemic green recovery. Why do we think so? In this blog, we answer a few questions about the impact that rising interest rates will have on people’s daily lives.
Despite its decision to start raising interest rates, the European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde signaled an interest in introducing a “green TLTRO” system – a reference to Positive Money Europe’s proposal which is now making a comeback in the debate.
A new study finds that ECB’s monetary policy affects the wage share of companies and thereby the distribution of income between workers and shareholders. Given that these effects differ by firm characteristics, monetary policy has uneven effects across the euro area. To tackle this, more targeted monetary policy tools should be developed.
The outcomes of the ECB’s strategic review show how much progress was made on civil society demands such as climate action and the inclusion of housing prices in inflation data. However, the ECB failed to depart from the status quo in terms of its core monetary policy tasks. Nonetheless, the ECB’s commitment to carry out periodic reviews, as soon as in 2025) are good foundations for working towards a more effective and fair monetary policy.
Positive Money Europe is calling on the European Central Bank to make debt-free payments to every eurozone resident to combat the economic crisis caused by Covid-19. In this article translated from Alternatives Economiques, our Executive Director Stanislas Jourdan explains the concept in full.
As a supporter, you’re at the heart of everything we do. We’d love to keep you updated about our exciting work and the ways you can help, including campaigns and events that you might be interested in. We promise never to sell or swap your details and you can change your preferences at any time. To do so, simply call +32 2 880 04 34 or email info@positivemoney.eu