Looking back at the topics and discussions at the conference, the publication illustrates how the monetary policy strategy of the European Central Bank (ECB) changed over time, which key issues dominated in central bank communication and what kind of impulse the ECB watchers gave at the annual conference. Moreover, the macroeconomic development of the euro area is captured in a series of charts.
"The ECB and Its Watchers" was initiated in 1999 by UBS chairman Axel Weber during his time as Director of the Center for Financial Studies (CFS) in cooperation with Otmar Issing, then member of the ECB Executive Board in charge of DG Economics and DG Research. Volker Wieland has organized the conference since 2004. Every year, about 400 ECB watchers - central bankers, financial market participants and academics - attend the conference to gain first-hand information and exchange ideas with ECB Governing Council members.
Booklet: 20 years of "The ECB and Its Watchers" (PDF)