The potential long-term effects of the coronavirus crisis on the
economy and on monetary policy
Speech at the Humboldt University of Berlin
16.12.2020 | Virtual Event | Jens Weidmann

1 Introduction

2 Economic consequences of the coronavirus crisis

2.1 German economy

2.2 Risk of deglobalisation

2.3 Education

2.4 Public finances

3 Monetary policy

3.1 Monetary policy during the pandemic crisis

3.2 Risk of fiscal dominance

3.3 Independence and mandate of central banks

3.3.1 Problem of time inconsistency

3.3.2 Independence in times of low inflation

3.3.3 Narrow interpretation of the mandate

4 Climate action and central banks

5 Conclusion
1 Introduction
Ladies and gentlemen,
I would have been more than delighted to have delivered this speech - as was originally planned - in
the historical Chapel of the Holy Ghost in Berlin. Unfortunately, that plan - like so many others - has
been thwarted by the pandemic. But I am glad that we can exchange views today at least in a virtual
format.
The Wirt schafts wis sen schaft li che Ge sell schaft, the society of the School of Business and Economics at
the Humboldt University, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. And I would like to heartily
congratulate its members to mark this occasion. At the beginning of the society, one founding
member was a prominent Bun des ban ker, namely Helmut Schlesinger. He was President of the Deut
sche Bun des bank from 1991 to 1993 and, before that, he had held numerous posts at the Bank and
its predecessor institution, the Bank deut scher Län der, over a period of almost four decades here in
Frankfurt.
Another distinguished person who belonged to the society and its Board of Trustees was Professor
Reinhard Selten. So far, he is the only German who has been awarded the Nobel prize in economics,
which was for his work on game theory. Reinhard Selten studied in Frankfurt and then began his first
full professorship teaching in Berlin. Four years later, I attended his lectures on game theory in Bonn
and earned a little extra money taking part in the institution's experiments.
In my speech today, I would like not only to build a bridge from Frankfurt to Berlin but also a bridge
linking game theory to monetary policy. One well-known example of game theory is the "chicken
game". Perhaps you know it from the film "Rebel Without a Cause"? Jim, played by James Dean, and
another teenager, Buzz, are racing in stolen cars towards a cliff; whoever jumps out first is chicken.
Fortunately, most economic games are less dangerous for life and limb. That is because game theory
permits insights wherever people interact, pursue different objectives and make decisions that affect
each other. That is also true of monetary policy, which stands in relationships with a large number of
economic agents - with the financial markets, say, when it's about interest rate expectations; with
firms and employees, when they form their expectations about inflation and wage growth, and also
with fiscal policy.
We shall come across interactions of this kind during the course of my speech. The economic
consequences of the coronavirus crisis will be at the forefront to begin with. Here, I would like to talk
about the long-term risk of deglobalisation as well as the possible effects of school closures
worldwide, before coming to monetary policy.
2 Economic consequences of the coronavirus crisis
2.1 German economy
In saying this, one thing is clear: the pandemic is, first and foremost, a global health crisis, which has
to be mastered as a matter of urgency. Too many people have already died, many more are seriously
ill. The pandemic has also led to an economic slump that is without parallel in our time. In spring
alone, German economic output shrank by almost one-tenth.
When infections rates were contained and the protective measures were relaxed, the economy
started to recover. In summer, German economic growth was in fact a lot stronger than originally
expected. With the second wave of infections, there is now a danger of a setback in the short term.
This makes clear how crucial it is for the economic recovery, too, that the pandemic is contained on a
sustained basis and, ultimately, overcome. The reports about vaccines give cause for optimism.
The Bun des bank's economic experts presented their forecast at the end of last week and were
therefore unable to take into account the latest stricter protective measures. This means that, over
the short term, the German economy could be put under a somewhat greater strain than estimated
in the forecast. Nevertheless, from the present perspective, it is still plausible to assume that medical
advances from spring 2021 onwards will make it possible to relax the containment measures. The
recovery is then likely to pick up speed again. In line with this, the German economy can still reach its

pre-crisis level in early 2022, as expected in the projection. [1]
In this scenario, the long-term harm to the economy would, if anything, be relatively limited, not
least thanks to the comprehensive government support measures. Having said that, the latest events
illustrate the high level of uncertainty about the evolution of the pandemic and its economic fallout.
In an unfavourable scenario, the German economy would not be returning to its pre-crisis level
before the end of 2023 and would suffer considerable long-term damage.
Added to all of that, there might be an acceleration of developments that impair the performance of
the economy beyond conventional horizons and interfere with medium-term risk assessments. This
includes the risk of an increasing market concentration and declining innovation dynamics, but also
the risk of deglobalisation.
2.2 Risk of deglobalisation
That is because border closures and other containment measures in spring interrupted many
valueadded chains; conveyor belts were standing still. In light of this experience, it would seem the
obvious thing to do for firms to shorten their international supply chains and repatriate production in
order to strengthen their resilience and the security of goods flows.
At all events, one study blames one-quarter of the economic slump brought about by the "pandemic
shock" on spillover effects through supply chains. However, the study also makes clear that anyone
trusting solely in domestic production would not necessarily have emerged from the crisis in a better

shape, but would have been hit harder by the containment measures at home instead. [2]
The economist Richard Baldwin put it in a nutshell: "Putting all your eggs in one basket does not

diversify risk - even if the basket is at home." [3] You see, global value-added chains are not
inherently risky. Rather, they provide an opportunity to reduce dependencies on individual suppliers or
locations.
That is the reason why there are more enterprises at present working on diversifying their supply
chains than on shortening them, as is shown by an international survey among more than 10,000

firms. [4] In this way, they can also use the advantages of regional specialisation and pass them on
to consumers in the form of lower prices or greater choice.
There nevertheless exists the danger of the pandemic reinforcing protectionist tendencies. Over the
past few years, there has been a strain on global trade due, in particular, to the dispute between the
United States and China. The rationale behind such a trade conflict is often to get gain an edge at the
expense of others.
The situation is similar to that of the familiar prisoner's dilemma in game theory. Imagine Chicago in
the roaring twenties. Two gangland bosses are accused of being in cahoots and having committed
very serious crimes together. They are interrogated separately. Whoever admits guilt and turns state's
evidence will be immune from prosecution, whereas the other will feel the full force of the law. If
they both confess, the penalty will be reduced somewhat. If they both remain silent, they will be
jailed for tax evasion - a much less severe punishment - as eventually happened with Al Capone. In
this situation, it pays for each one individually to confess. That is why they the two of them will be
punished severely in the end, even though it would have been better for both of them if neither of
them had said anything.
There is the threat of a similar outcome with protectionism. It is true that duties distort the structure
of production, thus reducing global trade overall. But a single large country might hope to gain an
advantage if the trading partner lowers its export prices and thus ultimately bears the customs duty.
It then pays for the trading partner, however, to reduce its losses by raising duties and preventing the

shift in trade prices. This means that everyone is worse off in the end. [5]
In actual fact, analyses suggest that there are only losers in the trade conflict between the United
States and China. They indicate that Chinese suppliers are not prepared to make major price

concessions, which is why US firms and consumers had to the bear the main burden of the duties.
[6] Nor was the reduction in bilateral trade flows offset to a significant extent by more trade with
other partners. A Bun des bank study looked in vain for who had the "last laugh" in this conflict, for

example. [7] Instead, the dispute led worldwide to greater uncertainty, and dampened the
propensity to invest and trade. And even leaving aside such uncertainty effects, Bun des bank analyses
highlight the potential harm: if the duties remain in place, the size of the US and Chinese economies
would shrink by up to 1⁄2%; the size of the global economy would shrink by 1⁄4% overall.
This shows how important it is to keep markets open or make them more open. On the other hand,
in globalisation, too, there are not just winners. It is true that, taken as a whole, world trade and the
international division of labour boost the prosperity of national economies. But not everyone benefits
alike. That is because there is a shift in relative prices and wages, jobs can be lost while new
employment opportunities arise elsewhere. It is therefore, for one thing, important to alleviate social
hardships with an appropriate transfer system. For another, education is key so that as many people
as possible are able to benefit from the opportunities afforded by open markets as well as new
technologies.
2.3 Education
At the same time, education is a further area that has been severely affected by the coronavirus crisis.
Most countries have temporarily closed schools and other educational establishments. At the peak,

UNESCO data show 90% of all school pupils being affected worldwide. [8]
Even brief school closures can impair the acquisition of knowledge and the development of cognitive

skills. [9] Furthermore, learning less can also mean a lower income later on - for an entire lifetime.
The World Bank, for example, estimates that an assumed loss of half a year of (quality adjusted)
school education could reduce the expected life income of the affected schoolchildren by 5% on a

global average. [10]
Children in developing countries are likely to be suffering most. First, even under normal
circumstances, they go to school for a considerably shorter period than in the developed nations.
Second, the facilities for remote learning are often much poorer. E-learning, in particular, is
something that can be accessed only by parts of the population in developing countries. This also
harbours the danger of economic inequality within countries becoming worse. In particular, there is a
risk of young people from poorer families no longer being able to keep up in their classes, setting

their sights lower, or even dropping out of school altogether. [11]
It is therefore vital to catch up on education worldwide and to continue motivating schoolchildren to
go on learning. That could also necessitate higher spending on education.
2.4 Public finances
Above and beyond the pressing tasks we face, I envisage Germany's fiscal policy being confronted
with three major challenges in the long term. First - and also foremost - it needs to support
sustainable growth by promoting not only education but also digital transformation and the
transition to a climate-neutral economy. Second, the financial costs of an ageing society need to be
shouldered. And third, the government needs to once again financially brace itself for future crises.
I say this because, right now, we can see how important it is for governments to be capable of taking
action. In the current crisis, it is largely fiscal policymakers who have been called upon to act, as they
are the ones who can provide financial support to people and businesses where it is needed - by
means of transfers, to give an example. It was fiscal policymakers' determined and broad intervention
that played a substantial role in averting a downward spiral in the economy.
It is clear that the provision of fiscal support on a massive scale during this crisis was, and still is, the
right decision. Without this assistance for businesses and households, the economy would probably
have experienced a far more severe downturn, which, in the end, would probably have hit
government coffers much harder than is already the case.
The coronavirus crisis is indeed taking a heavy toll on public finances. For example, according to the
European Commission's Autumn 2020 Economic Forecast, the euro area aggregate debt-to-GDP ratio
is projected to jump by 16 percentage points this year - to over 100%.
Against this backdrop, the government needs to create sufficient fiscal space once the crisis has
passed so that it is in a position to overcome these three long-term challenges. Crisis measures thus
need to be time-limited so that deficits can recede automatically in the post-crisis period.
3 Monetary policy
3.1 Monetary policy during the pandemic crisis
Whilst, on this occasion, it is fiscal policymakers who are on the frontlines tackling the economic
fallout from the crisis, central banks also have a role to play. Given that the economic downturn is
adversely affecting the inflation outlook, an accommodative monetary policy stance is crucial.
Additionally, insufficient liquidity in the financial system could further exacerbate the economic
downturn and ultimately put the objective of price stability at risk.
Such being the case, the ECB Governing Council responded decisively back in March already - with a
whole raft of monetary policy measures. These focused on the ECB's bond purchase programmes, in
particular, with the Governing Council not only increasing purchases under the asset purchase
programme (APP), which has been running since 2015, but also launching a pandemic emergency
purchase programme, or PEPP for short.
My fundamental scepticism regarding large-scale government bond purchases is nothing new. In
particular, they pose the threat of blurring the line between monetary and fiscal policy - the
allimportant boundary for the monetary union. In order to curb such risks, the ECB Governing Council
incorporated essential guarantees and safeguards into the public sector purchase programme (PSPP)
set up in 2015. Their aim is to help prevent monetary policymakers from creating misguided
incentives for government finances and steering too close to monetary financing of governments.
Nevertheless, the Eurosystem central banks have become the Member States' biggest creditors, and
that was even before the pandemic started. The interest on the government bonds that are on our
balance sheets flows to central banks and then back to our treasuries as part of our profit. This
means that, for this part of sovereign debt, the funding costs are uncoupled from the capital market.
As a result, large swaths of sovereign debt are not subject to the disciplining effect of the market.
In my opinion, the risks associated with government bond purchases are great. However, it is
generally agreed that asset purchases can be a legitimate and effective monetary policy tool. With
that in mind, monetary policymakers need to take into account and constantly weigh up the reason
for using an instrument and its desired effects versus its potential undesirable side effects.
Even - and especially - in times of crisis, monetary policy depends on three things: the appropriate
scale, the right choice of instruments and clever programme design. These are the subject of intense
debate in the ECB Governing Council, and the trade-offs can also vary.
There has certainly been a need for monetary policy action in recent times. According to our forecast,
medium-term inflation in the euro area has decreased again due to the pandemic.
However, what is important to me is that the share of outstanding government bonds held by central
banks does not become too large. Otherwise, we would be running the risk of gaining a dominant
market influence and smoothing out the differences in risk premia for government bonds, and thus
weakening market discipline still further. This problem, in particular, is being exacerbated once more
by the recent expansion of the PEPP.
When this programme was introduced, it was just as important to me that it have a time limit and be
clearly linked to the crisis. As per the Governing Council's most recent decisions, net asset purchases
under the PEPP will continue until at least the end of March 2022. We need to ensure that the
monetary policy emergency measures do not become a permanent fixture: they have to be scaled
back once the crisis ends.
One other thing also needs to be clear: monetary policy as a whole must be normalised if the
inflation outlook requires this. However, it may become increasingly difficult for central banks to exit
from their accommodative monetary policy in a timely manner, as higher interest rates are not likely
to be to everyone's taste.
3.2 Risk of fiscal dominance
Given the increased levels of debt, monetary policymakers could subsequently face growing pressure
to keep interest rates low for longer. This would give rise to the threat of fiscal dominance, as
economist Michael Woodford calls it, which he defines as pressure on the central bank to use

monetary policy to maintain the market value of government debt. [12]
A dangerous dynamic could be introduced into the regime. If fiscal policymakers expect monetary
policymakers to ultimately jump to the rescue, they might take the sustainability of public finances for
granted and accumulate more debt. This would potentially put the central bank under even greater
pressure further down the road, and it would be even harder for it to withstand this pressure. If the
central bank then gives in to the pressure, the usual roles could be reversed: if monetary policy is
safeguarding sovereign solvency, it is ultimately fiscal policy requirements that will determine the level
of inflation
of inflation.
Meanwhile, we are already hearing the odd murmur from those who want to go far beyond what is
described in Woodford's definition, with some even going so far to say that the Eurosystem should
forgive sovereign debt. This demand will no doubt sound extreme and misguided, particularly since it
is a violation of the European treaties. However, it underscores the fact that the fundamental danger
of fiscal dominance should not be ignored.
When two parties are wrestling for the upper hand, game theory can model a variety of interactions.
For example, the interplay between monetary and fiscal policy can be modelled as unfolding like a

game of chicken, [13] as I have already mentioned.
The musical film "Footloose" (released in 1984) shows us one way in which an unfavourable outcome
can be avoided in a particular variation on this game. A young Kevin Bacon and his opponent are
driving tractors towards each other on a narrow dirt road. Kevin Bacon decides to jump from the
tractor to save himself from harm. However, his shoelace becomes tangled around the pedal. Luckily,
his opponent realises that he can no longer win and he jumps instead. Even though chance is at play
here, the shoelace still makes one thing clear: players can avoid undesirable outcomes by making a
credible commitment.
In this context, central banks need to be committed to the objective of price stability. In order to
avoid fuelling false expectations, central banks therefore need to make the following clear today: if
the inflation outlook calls for monetary policy normalisation, there can be no avoiding it out of
consideration for government borrowing costs.
Furthermore, game theory can also demonstrate that fiscal policy needs to be committed in a

credible manner. [14] This is because, for the reasons just mentioned, monetary policy is dependent
on sound fiscal policy in order to be able to safeguard price stability in the long term. This is why
credible fiscal rules are so important and an integral part of monetary union.
Monetary policy therefore requires a solid foundation that it cannot lay itself. The second cornerstone
of this foundation - in addition to sustainable public finances - is the independence and the clear
mandate of monetary policymakers.
3.3 Independence and mandate of central banks
3.3.1 Problem of time inconsistency
Whilst a government-controlled central bank could also make a pledge to safeguard price stability, it
might have an incentive to deviate from its promise at a later date and pursue other political
objectives. In particular, the influenced central bank could try to reduce unemployment by means of
unanticipated inflation.
But people and businesses cannot be deceived in the long run. They see through the
decisionmakers' incentives and adjust their inflation expectations, wages and prices upwards. As a result,
inflation rises without a fall in unemployment.
This inflation bias is just one example of the problem of time inconsistency, which was identified by

Nobel Prize winners Finn Kydland and Edward Prescott in various economic policy decisions. [15]
This problem arises when policymakers move away from plans they have previously announced if it is
the optimal strategy for them and they have the opportunity to do so. Kydland and Prescott derived
this problem of time inconsistency theoretically over forty years ago and, in doing so, also made use

of some of the findings made by Reinhard Selten. [16] The inflation bias corresponded to the high
inflation of the 1970s, when independent central banks were still the exception. To overcome it, the
central banks were, for all practical purposes, delegated the task of safeguarding price stability, and
in return they were granted independence.
Indeed, numerous empirical studies over the past few decades have shown a negative correlation
between inflation and central bank independence - a strong indication that independent central

banks are in a better position to safeguard price stability than others. [17]
3.3.2 Independence in times of low inflation
Despite this, the independence of central banks has been called into question, particularly in recent
years. Some appear to believe it has become superfluous in a world of low inflation, as monetary and
fiscal policy are, in any case, working towards the same end. They should therefore coordinate their
efforts more closely.
However, this argument fails to take into account two factors. First, it would be dangerous to assume
that weakened independence would not affect inflation. As a recent study by the ECB highlights, the

problem of time inconsistency does not simply disappear in a low inflation setting. [18] Stanley
Fischer, former Vice-Chairman of the Federal Reserve, put it as follows: "[...] The concern over the
effects of political interference in monetary policy remains as valid in practice when inflation is too
low as when inflation is too high. That is primarily because political horizons are typically shorter than

those that need to be taken into account in making monetary policy decisions." [19]
Yet those who doubt the value of independence also overlook a second point; namely that if inflation
rises, monetary and fiscal policy objectives may diverge again. The latest edition of the magazine
"The Economist" sounds out the arguments suggesting that an era of renewed higher inflation is on
the horizon. From the journalists' perspective, these arguments are far from overwhelming, but they

are not without substance either. [20] For example, former central banker Charles Goodhart stresses
that demographic shifts could reduce the global labour supply in future, resulting in higher wages,

inflation and interest rates. [21] He warns against turning a blind eye to the potential risk of

inflation. [22]
In my view, one thing is clear: we should not fall prey to the illusion that monetary and fiscal policy
will always pull together. The independence of central banks has lost none of its significance.
3.3.3 Narrow interpretation of the mandate
Aside from doubt surrounding the benefits of independence, there is also an argument that derives

from the principle of democracy. [23] In a democracy, the independence of a state institution is, after
all, the exception. This independence has been deliberately granted to us for monetary policy so that
we can fulfil our mandate free from political influence. However, we as central banks do not set our
own mandate; rather, it is enshrined in the European treaties. As Otmar Issing succinctly put it: "The

central banks were not given independence in order to extend their own mandates." [24]
I am convinced that independence and a narrow interpretation of the mandate go hand-in-hand.
They are the two sides of the same coin. The more broadly central banks interpret their monetary
policy mandate, the more likely they are to become enmeshed in politics and be overwhelmed with
an ever-growing list of new desires and objectives. Sooner or later, their independence would be
called into question - and rightly so, in my view. This path would do a disservice to price stability.
One of the secrets of success for an independent monetary policy is recognising and respecting one's
own limitations. This also means keeping the required distance from fiscal policy. The same applies to
economic policy and climate policy.
4 Climate action and central banks
In recent times, the Eurosystem has repeatedly been called upon to play an active role in combating
climate change. One particularly frequent proposal is that we should favour "green" securities as part
of our monetary policy and no longer buy bonds issued by carbon-intensive enterprises.
However, it is not our task as a central bank to penalise or subsidise certain industries. Such decisions
significantly alter the distribution of resources and income and thus require strong democratic
legitimacy. Climate policy is therefore the task of elected governments and parliaments. They also
have the appropriate instruments at their disposal to solve the underlying economic problem, such as
taxes or emissions trading.
That decisive economic policy action is needed here is clear and has long been recognised in
economic theory, making reference to the tragedy of the commons: a resource that is freely available
but finite will end up being used too much. Overfishing is a clear example of this. If fishermen have
unrestricted access to the sea, everyone will want to net as many fish as possible without considering
the interests of other fishermen or future generations of fishermen. The risk of overfishing will then
emerge in the long run, with negative consequences for everyone - which brings to mind once again
the classic prisoner's dilemma. In such situations, it falls to the government to intervene. For instance,
a tax puts a price on the consequences of our actions and creates an incentive for us to change our
behaviour.
Winston Churchill is thought to have once said: "If you put two economists in a room, you get two
opinions, unless one of them is Lord Keynes, in which case you get three opinions." On the subject of
climate change, however, economists are largely of one accord: in order to curb it, a higher price for
carbon emissions is crucial. Monetary policy is not a suitable substitute for an ambitious carbon price
and a consistent, credible climate policy.
The imperative for monetary policy is to safeguard price stability. During an economic crisis such as
the one we are currently experiencing, this means supporting the economy as a whole through
favourable financing conditions. Our purchase programmes for private securities are broadly geared
to the market accordingly.
Studies show that these programmes serve their purpose and reduce financing costs for the economy
as a whole. They thus affect not only the prices and yields of the bonds purchased, but also those of

non-eligible securities, [25] because our purchases cause investors to turn to other, more risky
investments. Therefore, when purchase programmes are specifically used to manage certain market
yields, the effect of this should not be overstated.
And here, too, we should not turn a blind eye to potential conflicts of interest. The Eurosystem will
have to reduce its asset purchases or holdings if this is necessary for price stability. However, progress
must then also continue to be made in the transition to a climate-neutral economy.
In my view, there is no question that climate protection poses one of the greatest challenges of our
time, and that action cannot be delayed. All of us can and should do more, including central banks.
Above all, we need to better understand the implications climate change may have for monetary
policy, because we have to be able to maintain price stability in the future, too.
Central banks are also required to take action if climate change or climate policy engenders financial
risk. In banking supervision and when monitoring financial stability, we must ensure that credit
institutions take sufficient account of such risks in their risk management.
However, climate-related financial risks can also affect central banks' financial assets, which is why
we should also incorporate them into our risk management. This is particularly true with regard to
the monetary policy portfolios. Here, it is legitimate to provide climate-relevant information from
securities issuers and rating agencies. I feel that in the context of monetary policy, the Eurosystem
should consider the approach of purchasing or accepting as collateral only those securities whose
issuers meet certain climate-related reporting requirements. In addition, we could consider using only
the ratings of agencies that adequately take account of climate-related financial risks.
This would mean that, above and beyond their own risk management, central banks could improve
the level of information available and act as a catalyst for change in the financial system. At the same
time, the Eurosystem would then be able to support climate policies in the EU with no potential
conflict between this and its own tasks.
5 Conclusion
Ladies and gentlemen,
ad es a d ge t e e ,
Economist John McMillan said that "Experience teaches you to see the trees; game theory helps you

to see the forest." [26] I'll sum up my remarks now, while you can still see the forest for the trees.
Game theory enhances our awareness of the interplay between different expectations and strategies
in the economy - between individual policymakers as well as between policymakers and private
agents.
The coronavirus crisis is, without a doubt, making almost unprecedented demands on fiscal,
economic and monetary policy. These crisis efforts should not ignore the fact that different policy
areas have a primary commitment to different objectives. In order to ensure that this interplay
ultimately serves the common good, it is, above all, important not to blur the boundaries between
the responsibilities of individual policy areas and not to overburden monetary policy.
Paul Volcker, who, as the Chairman of the Fed at that time, brought the Great Inflation of the 1970s
under control in the United States, summed it up thus: "Asked to do too much - for example, to
accommodate misguided fiscal policies, to deal with structural imbalances, or to square continuously
the hypothetical circles of stability, growth, and full employment - [the central bank] will inevitably
fall short. If in the process of trying it loses sight of its basic responsibility for price stability, [...] then

those other goals will be beyond reach." [27]
Thank you very much for your attention.
Fußnoten:
1. Deut sche Bun des bank (2020), Outlook for the German economy for 2021 to 2023, Monthly
Report, December 2020, pp. (pages)
2. Bonadio, B., Z. H