Insights

With expectations that the Bank of Canada might be taking another big step in December, enroute to a bit below neutral next year, the latest In Focus article lays out how to read the tea leaves in this easing cycle.

In a very special edition of Curve Your Enthusiasm, Stephen Poloz joins Ian as co-host for this week’s episode. The show begins by talking about the outcome of the U.S. presidential election, and what potential trade uncertainty means for the Canadian economy and monetary policy. Stephen spends time talking about the structural underperformance of the Canadian economy relative to other OECD countries, and provides some suggestions on how it could be fixed. The duo discuss R*, and why the actual neutral rate is not moving as fast as markets may think. In the balance of the episode, the duo discusses the impact of higher longer-term interest rates on monetary policy, the role of a flexible exchange rate and, how much the BoC can diverge from the Fed. The show finishes with a discussion on Stephen’s new mandate with Canadian pension plans.

We’ve been giving some thought to the Taylor Rule. Not John Taylor’s monetary policy guideline, but how one assesses the economic consequences of large scale events, prompted by Taylor Swift’s swing through Toronto and Vancouver in November and December.