This book examines monetary policy and central banking in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Individual chapters focus on the monetary frameworks of particular countries. Other chapters adopt a thematic approach, addressing important subjects such as exchange rate regimes, price stability and central banking.

1. Introduction David Cobham and Ghassan Dibeh Part 1: Central Banking and Monetary Policy 2. The Political Economy of Central Banking in the MENA Region with Special Reference to Lebanon Ghassan Dibeh 3. The Degree of Legal Central Bank Independence in MENA Countries: International Comparison and Macroeconomic Implications Enrico Gisolo 4. Monetary Policy Operations of Debtor Central Banks in MENA Countries Gunther Schnabl and Franziska Schober 5. Central Bank Independence in a MENA Transition Economy: The Experience of Algeria Abdallah Zouache and Mohamed-Cherif Ilmane 6. Inflation Targeting and Financial Fragility in Tunisia Adel Boughrara, Mongi Boughzala and Hassouna Moussa Part 2: Monetary Policy and Exchange Rate Regimes 7. Alternative Exchange Rate Regimes for MENA Countries: Gravity Model Estimates of the Trade Effects Christopher Adam and David Cobham 8. Exchange Rate Arrangements and Price Stability in MENA Countries Elias El-Achkar and Wassim Shahin 9. Exchange Rate Regimes for Small Countries: An Application to the Maghreb Countries Chrysost Bangaké, Jean-Baptiste Desquilbet and Nabil Jedlane 10. Estimating Central Bank Behaviour in Emerging Markets: The Case of Turkey Ozan Hatipoglu and C. Emre Alper 11. A Common Currency for Middle Eastern and North African Countries? Lessons from the European Monetary Union Sergio Rossi