Ireland as an International Financial Centre

The CSO has put out its latest report on the international portfolio allocations of Irish-resident investors – see here.

At 1.4 trillion euro, the total foreign portfolio assets are nearly ten times Irish GDP, illustrating the overwhelming role played by international financial intermediaries (mutual funds, hedge funds, etc) in the foreign assets and foreign liabilities of Ireland.  Little can be inferred from these data about the international financial positions of Irish households (direct holdings and indirect holdings via pension funds, insurance firms and mutual funds).

Why a collapse of the Eurozone must be avoided

Anders Aslund tries to find a ‘middle way’ between Sinn and Whelan on Target2 imbalances in this VOX article.

The use of the Eurosystem’s monetary policy instruments and operational framework since 2009

The ECB has released a new occasional paper on these topics – available here.

Call for Papers: Central Bank Conference “How to fix distressed property markets?”

Details here.

Economic Letters from Central Bank

Economic Letter – Vol 2012, No. 7
Fiscal Consolidation – Does it deliver? – Laura Weymes

Economic Letter – Vol 2012, No. 6
Housing equity withdrawal in Ireland: 2000 – 2011 – Reamonn Lydon & Niall O’Hanlon