Green Monetary Policy Measures and Central Bank Mandates: A Comparative Political Economy Analysis

Climate change and the political pressure for urgent policy responses have stirred an intense debate as to whether central banks should adjust their monetary policy frameworks in support of the transition to a greener economy. Despite the seriousness of environmental issues and the seeming existence...

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Main Author: Susana Matos Rosa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cogitatio 2025-01-01
Series:Politics and Governance
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Online Access:https://www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandgovernance/article/view/8919
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author Susana Matos Rosa
author_facet Susana Matos Rosa
author_sort Susana Matos Rosa
collection DOAJ
description Climate change and the political pressure for urgent policy responses have stirred an intense debate as to whether central banks should adjust their monetary policy frameworks in support of the transition to a greener economy. Despite the seriousness of environmental issues and the seeming existence of monetary policy tools to address them, some economists and central bank officials argue that monetary authorities cannot, or should not, be responsible for making policies that act upon the source of those problems. Among other reasons, the adoption of green monetary policy measures can conflict with the primary monetary policy goals, compromise the political independence of central banks, and raise questions about the legitimacy and increased power of some of these banks. Yet, evidence shows that a number of monetary authorities have already adopted environmental criteria in their policymaking, resulting in an expansion of monetary policy toolkits and areas of responsibility. This article undertakes a comparative political economy analysis of the green monetary policy measures and legal mandates of 20 central banks, covering the period between January 2010 and January 2024. This article then examines the monetary policy decisions of two case study central banks, whose green strategies appear not to be fully aligned with their mandates. The empirical findings aim to contribute to the growing political economy literature and international debate on how central banks address pressures related to environmental concerns which, although vital to society and the planet, may pose challenges to conventional goals and established mandates.
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spelling doaj-art-c5c823c2f0864c87abcddecee9edc8492025-01-30T10:39:25ZengCogitatioPolitics and Governance2183-24632025-01-0113010.17645/pag.89193867Green Monetary Policy Measures and Central Bank Mandates: A Comparative Political Economy AnalysisSusana Matos Rosa0Department of Social Sciences, University of Luxembourg, LuxembourgClimate change and the political pressure for urgent policy responses have stirred an intense debate as to whether central banks should adjust their monetary policy frameworks in support of the transition to a greener economy. Despite the seriousness of environmental issues and the seeming existence of monetary policy tools to address them, some economists and central bank officials argue that monetary authorities cannot, or should not, be responsible for making policies that act upon the source of those problems. Among other reasons, the adoption of green monetary policy measures can conflict with the primary monetary policy goals, compromise the political independence of central banks, and raise questions about the legitimacy and increased power of some of these banks. Yet, evidence shows that a number of monetary authorities have already adopted environmental criteria in their policymaking, resulting in an expansion of monetary policy toolkits and areas of responsibility. This article undertakes a comparative political economy analysis of the green monetary policy measures and legal mandates of 20 central banks, covering the period between January 2010 and January 2024. This article then examines the monetary policy decisions of two case study central banks, whose green strategies appear not to be fully aligned with their mandates. The empirical findings aim to contribute to the growing political economy literature and international debate on how central banks address pressures related to environmental concerns which, although vital to society and the planet, may pose challenges to conventional goals and established mandates.https://www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandgovernance/article/view/8919central bank mandatesclimate changegreen central bankinghistorical institutionalismsustainable financeunconventional monetary policy
spellingShingle Susana Matos Rosa
Green Monetary Policy Measures and Central Bank Mandates: A Comparative Political Economy Analysis
Politics and Governance
central bank mandates
climate change
green central banking
historical institutionalism
sustainable finance
unconventional monetary policy
title Green Monetary Policy Measures and Central Bank Mandates: A Comparative Political Economy Analysis
title_full Green Monetary Policy Measures and Central Bank Mandates: A Comparative Political Economy Analysis
title_fullStr Green Monetary Policy Measures and Central Bank Mandates: A Comparative Political Economy Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Green Monetary Policy Measures and Central Bank Mandates: A Comparative Political Economy Analysis
title_short Green Monetary Policy Measures and Central Bank Mandates: A Comparative Political Economy Analysis
title_sort green monetary policy measures and central bank mandates a comparative political economy analysis
topic central bank mandates
climate change
green central banking
historical institutionalism
sustainable finance
unconventional monetary policy
url https://www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandgovernance/article/view/8919
work_keys_str_mv AT susanamatosrosa greenmonetarypolicymeasuresandcentralbankmandatesacomparativepoliticaleconomyanalysis