The Israeli Central Bank

This book examines the local and global political and institutional processes that have led to the strengthening of the Israeli central bank within the context of the now predominant neoliberal regime. Using Israel as a case study to identify broader patterns around the world, the authors examine the strengthening of central banks as a key dimension of the institutionalisation of the global regime. Drawing on an in-depth analysis of the political economy of the Israeli central bank since the mid-1980s, the authors show how the Bank of Israel mobilized global logics in order to strengthen its position vis-à-vis competing actors, especially the Ministry of Finance, and to promote the institutionalisation of the neoliberal regime. Employing a conflict-centered theoretical perspective, the authors elucidate the character of this institutional transformation and the mechanisms that were involved. Chapters examine the different phases of the process of central bank strengthening, focusing on the actors involved, the interactions between them, and the political strategies they employed, and analyse the consequences of the process for the shift in macro-economic management and in the mode of state involvement in the economy. Addressing the political and institutional processes that have led to the fundamental transformation of Israeli political economy, this book is a valuable addition to the existing literature on the Israeli banking system, political economy and globalisation.

Volume II provides an in-depth analysis of important specific issues, detailed discussion of the independence of the Bank of Israel, and an econometric study of the central banks policies. This volume also includes a historical account of the liberalization of Israel's foreign-exchange market and various issues related to the banking system, such as concentration, competition, and especially banking supervision. In one of the articles in this volume, based on a series of interviews, the top officials of the Bank of Israel present their view on the Banks policies in the various periods.

This book, written by Israeli economists from academia, marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Bank of Israel. It consists of two volumes. Volume I presents an analytic monetary history of Israel. Volume II deals in depth with specific topics such as the independenceof the Bank of Israel.

These two volumes were written on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Bank of Israel. They recount the monetary history of Israel from 1948, when the country was established (and before) to the present day. Volume I retells Israel's monetary history, analyzes the background of the developments mentioned above, and describes the difficulties in regaining monetary control in recent years. This volume also provides an analytical framework to help understand the monetary developments in the inflationary era and in the disinflation process.

This book, written by Israeli economists from academia, marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Bank of Israel. It consists of two volumes. Volume I presents an analytic monetary history of Israel. Volume II deals in depth with specific topics such as the independenceof the Bank of Israel.

This volume is a collection of papers which were presented and discussed at a conference on "Aspects of Central Bank Policy Making" which took place in January 1990 at the Bank of Israel and Tel Aviv University. The conference marked the tenth anniversary of the passing of David Horowitz who was the first governor of the Bank of Israel. The conference was sponsored by the Bank of Israel and the David Horowitz Institute for the Research of Developing Countries at Tel Aviv University. Eitan Berglas, Zvi Eckstein and Mordechai Fraenkel served as organizing committee. The volume has three parts. The first part deals with the rules and the constraints that are fundamental for central bank policy making. It starts with a critical review of 75 years of monetary policy of the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank, followed by several studies directed at the issues concerning the establishment of a European central bank. The second part deals with the insurance, regulation and safety of commercial banks. The last part contains analysis of monetary policies in Germany and Israel. Part of the research included in this volume is the result of a two years research project on "Central Bank Policies, Disinflation and the Macroeconomy" conducted at the David Horowitz Institute. The contributors to this project were: the Bundesbank, the Bank of England, the Bank of Italy, the Bank of Israel, the Bank for International Settlements and the Bank of the Netherlands.

Israel Central Bank & Financial Policy Handbook Volume 1 Strategic Information and Important Regulations