Global Finance Grades The World’s Central Bankers 2015

In addition, the Central Bankers of Colombia, Saudi Arabia and the United States earned “A-” grades.

The Central Banker Report Cards, published annually by Global Finance since 1994, grade the central bank governors of nearly 75 key countries (and the European Union) on an “A” to “F” scale for success in areas such as inflation control, economic growth goals, currency stability and interest rate management. (“A” represents an excellent performance down through “F” for outright failure.) Subjective criteria also apply. This year, 5 central banks are being graded for the first time (Botswana, Iceland, Namibia, Paraguay and Uganda).

Global Finance publisher and editorial director Joseph Giarraputo notes, “Global economies are starting to recover. This comes despite a number of challenges, including a strengthening US dollar and the end of the Federal Reserve’s easy money policy. Central bankers remain crucial in overcoming these hurdles. Sound monetary policies can dampen the effects of currency swings and rising interest rates—and thus spur economic growth. As our scores show, some central banks have fared better than others in devising such policies. Our grades also reflect the willingness of central bankers to stand up to political interference as well as their ability to influence government policies on spending and foreign investment.”

The full Central Banker Report Cards 2015 report will be published in the October issue of Global Finance.