Andreas Dombret: The future of global economic cooperation
Brexit, Basel III and beyond
Speech by Dr Andreas Dombret, Member of the Executive Board of the Deutsche Bundesbank,
at a reception to welcome Olga Wittchen, Financial Attaché, as the Bundesbank's representative
in London, London, 23 February 2017.
* * *
1. Introduction
Dear Sam Woods
Ladies and gentlemen
It is wonderful to be back in London, a city so full of British, European and international flair. I am
happy to see many familiar faces and numerous influential stakeholders from the City.
On one of my last visits to London, I heard someone say "The Germans like the British more
than the British like the Germans." I hope that is not the reason behind the Brexit vote. In any
case, it may not even be true - I have always felt there is a great deal of mutual respect between
our two nations.
Actually, I am rather convinced that the British and the Germans put an equal emphasis on the
mutual friendship and partnership. Yet, in times of Brexit and stalled international cooperation, we
have to find new grounds for continued friendship and cooperation. When politics becomes
emotional and confrontational, close personal ties and an understanding of where the other side
is coming from are more important than ever. That's why today's event is important to me.
Tonight we are celebrating the arrival of our new Bundesbank representative in London. To mark
the occasion, I would like to say a few words on how we can stabilise and improve global
cooperation, and discuss two current sets of negotiations: Brexit and Basel III.
2. What is the future of global cooperation?
When talking about global market liberalisation and economic cooperation, we hear extreme,
ideologically motivated solutions all too often: for instance, populist nationalism promises that
everything will get better if we build new walls between our societies. At the other extreme are
those who favour hyper-globalisation, that is, no borders to economic activity at all and full
harmonisation.
History has proven that both solutions are mere ideologies. The theories of both sides have
proven to be unrealistic and in considerable part, plain wrong.
So what form of international economic coordination is actually viable?
To answer that - without giving a long lecture - we can borrow a simple yet powerful analysis:
the globalisation trilemma. Dani Rodrik, a well-known economist from Harvard University, argues
that we face the following trilemma: we cannot have all three things at once: (a) full, global
market liberalisation, (b) national sovereignty, and (c) democracy. We must choose two of these
1
three, and give one up.
If we choose full economic globalisation, without any obstacles to free trade, then we must give
up either our national sovereignty or our democratic ability to oppose global rules. For example, if
we give up democracy, an autocratic ruler could decree that everyone has to accept the global
rules. If we give up national sovereignty, we could have a global democracy. I think it is fair to say
that we would rather not give up democracy or national sovereignty.
What remains is to limit market liberalisation, where our societies deem this necessary. This is
not a convenient truth, because it means we have to look for answers in less clear waters: we
need to find those areas where global cooperation and harmonisation is sensible, and how far it
can go. This strategy must then go hand in hand with more national autonomy for finding
domestic solutions to national challenges.
Given these constraints, a realistic middle ground would be focused global cooperation:
continuing to cooperate and to harmonise regulations, where possible - but also focusing and
improving our efforts. Focused global cooperation would also offer greater scope for solutions
that respect the legitimate interests of countries wanting to run their economies independently.
3. Brexit
I'd like to discuss briefly what focused cooperation would mean for Brexit negotiations and the
future relationship between the European Union and Britain.
I think it is fair to say that we are searching intently for a workable solution that ensures friendly
collaboration. Yet the scope of possible solutions is limited by the British decision for a hard
Brexit, as well as by the EU's understandable prerogative to prevent cherry-picking.
One of the possible scenarios we now have to imagine is making cooperation possible in two
legally distinct jurisdictions, with different legal frameworks. This would mean that firms would
have to comply with partially-differing rules. To continue serving their clients in the other
jurisdiction, it might be wise for banks to check if it is viable to open branches or subsidiaries in
the respective economic area.
In such a scenario, close coordination between supervisors becomes crucial. When regulations
differ, it is our responsibility as supervisors to facilitate cross-border activity without imposing
undue operational burdens. The fact that Sam Woods and I are both here tonight may serve as
proof that we both take this very seriously.
Let me give you a concrete example: when EU supervisors investigate a bank's internal model to
calculate regulatory capital requirements, they could build - for the time being - on the findings of
the Prudential Regulatory Authority; likewise, the PRA could build on the verdict of the EU's
Single Supervisory Mechanism. For that to be viable, both the PRA and the ECB or the
Bundesbank would need detailed information on each other's decisions. We would need a close,
responsible cooperation between supervisors.
4. Basel III
Now for something completely different: the finalisation of Basel III - that is the final piece to
complete global regulatory reforms after the financial crisis. A globally harmonised standard for
all banks would be the welcome result.
Yet one obstacle remains in the way: that of regionally balanced capital requirements.
Harmonisation is important, but so is a regionally balanced outcome. However, I am confident
that we can find a solution that is acceptable to all Basel Committee members. I just hope that
recent opposition to the Basel reforms, voiced by members of the US Congress, are simply
political rhetoric, and that the US remains committed to harmonised standards for global banks.
Please rest assured that we remain dedicated to making Basel III a success.
5. Racing to the bottom?
But let me make one thing very clear: focused cooperation and more national autonomy must not
be abused as a scapegoat for special interest policies. It must not result in a race to the bottom.
I am deeply troubled by recent efforts to water down post-crisis reforms of financial regulation,
whether it is the US presidential decree to cut back Dodd-Frank, the UK's "financial centre
strategy", or the European Commission's sometimes overzealous approach to reducing burdens
on European banks.
Such policies may seem to be in the best national interest, but ultimately they are special interest
politics - the very kind of policies which strengthened populists in the first place. We must
expose these policies for what they really are: threats to financial stability.
6. Fostering cooperation
A few years down the road, I very much hope that we will be living in a world in which the close
friendships between Britain and Germany, between the European Union and Britain and between
the United States and Europe still form the bedrock of international cooperation.
In such a world, we would still be close trading partners and our financial centres would retain
their close ties - our supervisors would work together to ensure high regulatory standards,
without imposing undue burdens on firms.
Let's not be unrealistic: achieving such cooperation is highly challenging. We need to define the
areas in which we want to cooperate, and to what degree we want to cooperate - this will be
difficult politics. But it is worth trying to save the post-war order - by developing it further.
We can all further that cause: by finding solutions that respect the legitimate interests of
countries wanting increased national autonomy and the need to continue global economic
cooperation.
The Bundesbank's representative in London furthers that cause. Ms Julia Becker has done an
excellent job over the past two and a half years: she played a vital role in the exchange between
the Bundesbank and the Bank of England, and she was instrumental in shaping our Brexit
analysis. I am pleased that after a short family break, she will continue to perform an essential
role at our Frankfurt headquarters.
I am also confident that Ms Olga Wittchen will continue this successful track record. Coming
from our Directorate General for Banking and Financial Supervision, she is an expert in
international banking regulation. I have worked with her on several projects on the Financial
Stability Board - and I am convinced that she will put her skills towards fostering cooperation
between Britain and Germany.
7. Conclusion
Ladies and gentlemen
Henry L Mencken, an influential American writer of the early twentieth century, once said: "For
every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong."
Let's search for answers that are right - and let's expose oversimplified, misleading ideologies -
neither nationalist populism nor hyper-globalisation will lead to prosperity and security.
Global economic cooperation has helped us to build a more prosperous society. However, it
does have side effects. Only by reducing and managing these side effects can we foster global
cooperation in the long term.
Focused global cooperation promises a way forward. We should all put our minds together to
decide how this can be best achieved.
Thank you for your attention. Sam: the floor is now yours.
1
D Rodrik (2000), How far will international economic integration go? in Journal of Economic Perspectives: 14(1):
pp 177-186.