Monetary Transmission in Germany: Lessons for the Euro Area

This study analyses the transmission of monetary policy in Germany for the EMS period in the frame-work of a structural vector error correction model (S-VECM). Three stable cointegration relationships are found: a money demand relation, an interest rate spread and a stationary real interest rate. Based on both contemporaneous and long-run restrictions, five structural shocks to the economy are identified. In contrast to analyses for the euro area, we find that output and inflation are not independent in the long run for Germany. In accordance with results previously found for Europe, we do not find strong support for monetary targeting for Germany. Our analysis indicates that uncertainties remain concerning the controllability of money and its usefulness as a leading indicator with respect to inflation. Stability of the money demand relationship does not seem to be problematic