Central Banking at a Time of Crisis and Beyond: A Practitioner’s Perspective

monetary policy, inflation targeting

Central bank perspectives on stabilization policy

For some time, the use of monetary and fiscal policies to smooth business cycle fluctuations has taken a back seat to longer term objectives of restoring price stability and fiscal balance. More recently, however, weaker economic performance in some of the world’s economies, most notably in Japan and the United States, has led to renewed interest in the use of short-run stabilization policy. ; This year the bank’s economic policy symposium, “Rethinking Stabilization Policy,” explored the potential scope for stabilization policy in this new environment. The papers presented at the symposium and the ensuing discussion focused on a number of key issues including: reasons for the renewed interest in stabilization policy, the effectiveness and limitations of stabilization policy, and whether the use of short-run stabilization policy conflicts with the pursuit of longer term macroeconomic objectives. ; The articles included in this special issue of the Economic Review provide perspectives on stabilization policy from five prominent central bank officials: Alan Greenspan, Otmar Issing, Guillermo Ortiz, Yukata Yamaguchi, and David Dodge. As these articles suggest, policymakers in different countries clearly share a common set of core values that guide policy. At the same time, monetary policy decisions must also be tailored to the unique circumstances of individual countries. Viewed individually, each of these presentations is highly interesting and informative. Taken together, they provide a broad perspective on the challenges facing policymakers in a changing economic environment.Monetary policy ; Fiscal policy

Chronic Healthcare Spending Disease: A Macro Diagnosis and Prognosis

The amount Canadians spend on healthcare is set to rise rapidly over the next two decades and Canadians need to face up to tough choices to deal with this “spending disease.” The study examines the trajectory of total healthcare spending – public and private – in Canada and the policy choices Canadians must make in response. The authors estimate the extent to which healthcare spending is going to absorb a greater fraction of income than Canadians have experienced to date under two scenarios: a baseline scenario drawn from historical experience, and an optimistic scenario, which assumes an unprecedented improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of the healthcare system and large improvement in potential economic growth. Canadians must choose some combination of: 1) a sharp reduction in public services, other than health care; 2) increased taxes to finance the public share of healthcare spending; 3) increased individual spending on healthcare services currently insured by provinces, through some form of co-payment or through delisting of services that are currently publicly financed; 4) or a degradation of publicly insured healthcare standards – longer queues, and services of poorer quality.The Health Papers, healthcare spending, Canada

The Piggy Bank Index: Matching Canadians’ Savings Rates to Their Retirement Dreams

As Canada’s babyboom generation approaches retirement age, public concern about the adequacy of retirement income is mounting, note the authors. Most of the public debate has been about potential reform of the tax and fiduciary rules governing corporate pension plans, the possibility of expanding contributory public pension plans such as the CPP/QPP, about how much tax-deferred saving the Income Tax Act should allow, and for how long. To date, say the authors, there has been little focus on the fraction of annual earnings that must be saved by Canadians – either through employer plans, private saving, or expanded contributions to a public plan – to provide adequate and reasonably assured retirement incomes.Pension Papers, retirement income, Registered Retirement Savings (RRSPs), Canada Pension Plan (CPP/QPP), Income Tax Act

CL 553 United Methodist Polity and Discipline

1. To examine the development of United Methodist polity from a historical and theological perspective: a. To understand the implicit and explicit structural expressions of ecclesiology. b. To become familiar with the nature and implications of connectionalism and itinerancy for ministry. c. To understand the annual conference as the basic unit of The United Methodist Church. d. To study and understand the covenantal relationship between ministers (lay, diaconal and ordained) in The United Methodist Church. 2. To use the Discipline and the Book of Resolutions as working handbooks for mission and ministry. a. To understand the process by which leaders and selected. b. To gain a knowledge of the selection, deployment, evaluation and termination of clergy. c. To become familiar with the decision-making process at all levels of the church. d. To become aware of the required structure and alternative organization of the local church. e. To examine connectionalism in relationship to church property. f. To understand the judicial structures, the appeal and review process. g. To gain an awareness of the role and functioning of the general boards and agencies. h. To understand the role of caucuses and special groups. i. To perceive the nature of ecumenical relationships.https://place.asburyseminary.edu/syllabi/2159/thumbnail.jp

CL 553 United Methodist Polity and Discipline

REQUIRED TEXTS The Book of Discipline, 2004 United Methodist Publishing House The Book of Resolutions, 2004 United Methodist Publishing House Polity, Practice and Mission of The United Methodist Church, 2nd Edition, Thomas E. Frank, Abingdon, 2001https://place.asburyseminary.edu/syllabi/3871/thumbnail.jp

CL 553 United Methodist Polity and Discipline

REQUIRED TEXTS The Book of Discipline, 2004 United Methodist Publishing House The Book of Resolutions, 2004 United Methodist Publishing House Polity, Practice and Mission of The United Methodist Church, 2nd Edition, Thomas E. Frank, Abingdon, 2001https://place.asburyseminary.edu/syllabi/3871/thumbnail.jp

CL 553 United Methodist Policy and Discipline

The Book of Discipline, 2000 United Methodist Publishing House The Book of Resolutions, 2000 United Methodist Publishing House Polity, Practice and Mission of The United Methodist Church, Thomas E. Frank, Abingdon, 1997 The Organization of The United Methodist Church, 2002 Edition, Jack Tuell, Abingdon, 2002 Calling and Character: Virtues of the Ordained Life, Will Willimon, Abingdon, 2001https://place.asburyseminary.edu/syllabi/3159/thumbnail.jp