May 5, 2022
Economic reconciliation: Supporting a return to Indigenous prosperity
Bank of Canada Deputy Governor Lawrence Schembri discusses economic reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
Bio
Lawrence Schembri served as Deputy Governor from 2013 until his retirement from the Bank of Canada in June 2022. In this capacity, he was one of two deputy governors responsible for overseeing the Bank’s analysis and activities promoting a stable and efficient financial system. From 2016, he supervised the Bank’s analysis of domestic economic developments. As a member of the Bank’s Governing Council, he shared responsibility for decisions related to monetary policy and financial system stability and for setting the Bank’s strategic direction.
Mr. Schembri joined the Bank in 1997 as a visiting Research Advisor in what is now the International Economic Analysis Department. In 2001, he was appointed Senior Research Director in the same department and became its Managing Director in 2005. In 2010 he was appointed Advisor to the Governor, with responsibilities for financial stability analysis and coordinating the Bank’s contribution to the Financial Stability Board.
While at the Bank, Mr. Schembri was an active researcher. His published works focused on exchange rate and monetary theory and policy in open economies, the international monetary system and financial stability. He was also active in university recruiting and sponsored the Governor’s Challenge undergraduate student competition. A champion of efforts to promote economic opportunity and inclusion for Indigenous Peoples, Mr. Schembri was a founding member of the Central Bank Network for Indigenous Inclusion.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, Mr. Schembri received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto in 1979, an MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1980 and a PhD in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1985. After completing his PhD, Mr. Schembri was an assistant professor and, later, associate professor of economics at Carleton University until 2001.
Speeches
November 29, 2021
The Indigenous economy in Canada: Partnering to promote
As part of a panel of central bankers, Deputy Governor Lawrence Schembri speaks about economic reconciliation and why it is “completely consistent with the Bank’s mandate.”
November 16, 2021
Labour market uncertainties and monetary policy
Deputy Governor Lawrence Schembri talks about changes to the labour market, and how the pandemic affected Canadian workers. He also discusses how the Bank is adapting labour market analysis tools to help guide monetary policy decisions that will support a more inclusive recovery.
March 11, 2021
COVID-19, savings and household spending
Deputy Governor Lawrence Schembri talks about the Bank’s latest interest rate announcement and discusses how COVID-19 has affected savings and the outlook household spending.
August 25, 2020
Perceived inflation and reality: understanding the difference
In a virtual address to the Canadian Association for Business Economics, Deputy Governor Lawrence Schembri discusses the difference between how Canadians perceive inflation and the actual measured rate. He explains why that gap may exist and what it could mean for monetary policy and the economy.
June 18, 2020
Living with limits: household behaviour in Canada in the time of COVID-19
Deputy Governor Lawrence Schembri explains how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected household spending and economic activity, and discusses what the recovery is expected to look like.
Staff research
Strengthening Inflation Targeting: Review and Renewal Processes in Canada and Other Advanced Jurisdictions
We summarize the review and renewal process at four central banks (Reserve Bank of New Zealand, Bank of England, Sveriges Riksbank and the US Federal Reserve Bank) and compare them with the process at the Bank of Canada, which has been well-established since 2001.
Credibility, Flexibility and Renewal: The Evolution of Inflation Targeting in Canada
In 1991, Canada became the second country to adopt an inflation target as a central pillar of its monetary policy framework. The regime has proven much more successful than initially expected, both in achieving price stability and in stabilizing the real economy against a wide range of shocks.
Bank publications
Bank of Canada Review articles
November 17, 2016
Reinventing the Role of Central Banks in Financial Stability
Central banks contribute importantly to the promotion of financial stability given their sys-tem-wide macro-financial perspective and existing roles as lender of last resort and overseer of systemic payment systems. Since the global financial crisis, the financial system role of central banks has expanded to place more emphasis on the prevention of financial stress and crises. Central banks work with other responsible authorities to enhance financial system resilience and to assess and mitigate financial vulnerabilities and systemic risk.
November 17, 2011
The International Monetary System: An Assessment and Avenue for Reform
The current international monetary system is in need of reform. This article first provides an assessment of the existing system, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses. It notes that the system has not facilitated the symmetric and timely adjustment in the real exchange rate necessary to accommodate the integration of China and other emerging-market economies into the global economy. This lack of adjustment contributed to the global financial crisis and recession and, because it is forestalling the required rotation of global demand, is hindering the global recovery. The article then discusses reform of the system that would see all systemically important countries and currency areas adopt market-based and convertible floating exchange rates supported by appropriate monetary, fiscal and financial sector policy frameworks. It also examines the roles of the G-20 countries and major international financial institutions in promoting and facilitating the system’s transition.
March 18, 2008
Canada's Experience with a Flexible Exchange Rate in the 1950s: Valuable Lessons Learned
Schembri studies Canada's post-World War II experience in introducing a floating exchange rate, including its effects on the Canadian economy and its influence on the development of macroeconomic theory. In particular, Canada's flexible exchange rate and high degree of capital mobility with the United States provided an unprecedented experiment for macroeconomic policy. The successes and difficulties encountered by Canadian authorities in managing monetary and fiscal policy under this regime drew the interest of researchers at the International Monetary Fund and elsewhere and had a significant impact on the development of the Mundell-Fleming model, the path-breaking innovation in modern open-economy macroeconomics.
April 22, 2005
Borders, Common Currencies, Trade, and Welfare: What Can We Learn from the Evidence?
Recent evidence indicates that the intensity of economic exchange within and across borders is significantly different: linkages are much tighter within, than among, nation-states. These findings, however, do not necessarily imply that borders and separate national currencies represent significant barriers to trade that should be removed, since the evidence is also consistent with the alternative hypothesis, that domestic exchange is more efficient because domestic producers are better able to satisfy the requirements of local consumers, owing to common tastes and institutions and the existence of local information and social networks. Focusing primarily on trade linkages within and between Canada and the United States, the authors review the evidence on the extent to which national borders lessen the intensity of international economic linkages, primarily trade in goods and services, and the effects on domestic welfare. They also examine the evidence on the impact of common currencies on trade and welfare. They determine that, since the empirical models employed to date in this research cannot distinguish between alternative explanations of the evidence, it is not yet possible to draw firm conclusions for policy-making.
April 20, 2005
Conference Summary: Canada in the Global Economy
The Bank of Canada's 2004 research conference examined the real and financial linkages between the Canadian economy and the economies in the rest of the world. Although Canada has profited enormously from its openness to international trade in goods, services, and financial assets, many of the most significant shocks to the Canadian economy in recent years have come from abroad. For these reasons, understanding the extent and nature of the external linkages, their implications for the Canadian economy, and the process by which the Canadian economy adjusts to external shocks is of critical importance both for monetary policy and for monitoring the financial system. This article describes the purpose of the conference—to deepen economists' understanding of these important issues—and provides highlights of the papers presented in each of the five sessions, as well as summaries of the keynote lecture and the discussion of the policy panel.
November 19, 2002
Purchasing-Power Parity: Definition, Measurement, and Interpretation
This article examines the concept of purchasing-power parity (PPP) and its implications for the equilibrium value of the Canadian exchange rate. PPP has two main applications, as a theory of exchange rate determination and as a means to compare living standards across countries. Concerning exchange rate determination, PPP is mainly useful as a reminder that monetary policy has no long-run impact on the real exchange rate, since the exchange rate can deviate persistently from its PPP value in response to real shocks.
To compare living standards across countries, PPP exchange rates constructed by comparing the prices of national consumption baskets are used to translate per capita national incomes into a common currency. These rates are useful because they offset differences in national price levels to obtain comparable measures of purchasing power, but they are not an accurate measure of the equilibrium value of the exchange rate.
The authors conclude that the current deviation of the Canadian exchange rate from the PPP rate does not imply that the exchange rate is undervalued, but that this deviation reflects the impact of persistent real factors, in particular, lower commodity prices.
The Economy, Plain and Simple
June 30, 2020
Our COVID-19 response: Navigating diverse economic impacts
The pandemic and related measures to control the spread of the virus have deeply affected Canadians and the Canadian economy. The impacts have been different across sectors and regions. The economic recovery will also vary across the country as local economies start to reopen.
Financial System Review articles
Journal publications
Refereed journals
- "Current Account Dynamics, Real Exchange Rate Adjustment and the Exchange Rate Regime in Emerging-Market Economies"
(with Olivier Gervais and Lena Suchanek), Journal of Development Economics, Vol. 119, March 2016, p. 86-89. - "Building an Open, Integrated, and Resilient Global Financial System: The Road to Brisbane and Beyond"
Canadian Public Policy, 2014, 40(4): p. 408-412. - "Housing Finance in Canada: Looking Back to Move Forward"
National Institute Economic Review, 2014, 230: p. R45-R57. - "Productivity, Commodity Prices and the Real Exchange Rate: The Long-Run Behavior of the Canada-US Exchange Rate"
(with Ehsan Choudhri), International Review of Economics and Finance, 2014, 29: p. 537-551. - “Multilateral adjustment, regime switching and real exchange rate dynamics”
(with Ali Dib, Takashi Kano and Jeannine Bailliu) North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Vol. 27, January 2014, pages 68-87. - "Productivity, the Terms of Trade, and the Real Exchange Rate: The Balassa-Samuelson Hypothesis Revisited"
(with Ehsan Choudhri), Review of International Economics, 2010, 18 (5) p.924-36 - "Canada's Pioneering Experience with a Flexible Exchange Rate in the 1950s: (Hard) Lessons Learned for Monetary Policy in a Small Open Economy"
(with Michael Bordo and Ali Dib), International Journal of Central Banking, 2010, 6 (3): p.51-99 - "Canada and the IMF: Trailblazer or Prodigal Son?"
(with Michael Bordo and Tamara Gomes), Open Economies Review, 2010, 21(2): p.309-33 - "Exchange Rate Policy in Canada: Lessons from the Past: Implications for the Future"
Current Politics and Economics of Europe, 2006, 17 (1): p.99-126 (Reprinted in A. Verdun (ed.) Britain and Canada and their Large Neighbouring Monetary Unions (Nova, 2006) p.77-98) - "Revisiting the Case for Flexible Exchange Rates in North America"
(with John Murray and Pierre St-Amant), North American Journal of Economics and Finance, 2003, 14: p.207-240. (Reprinted in L. Michelis and M. Lovewell (eds) Exchange Rates, Economic Integration and the International Economy (APF Press, 2004), p.77-113). - "A Tale of Two Dollars: The Future of Canada's Currency"
(with Robert Lafrance) Management Internationale, 2003, 8: p.53-64. - "Productivity Performance and International Competitiveness: An Old Test Reconsidered"
(with Ehsan Choudhri) Canadian Journal of Economics, 2002, 35(2): p.341-62. - "Living Around the Bloc: Lessons from Canada for Small Countries"
Journal of Public Policy, 2002, 22(2): p.119-142. - "The Real Effects of Collapsing Exchange Rate Regimes: An Application to Mexico,"
(with Patrick Osakwe), Journal of International Economics, 2002, 57(2): p.299-325. - "Trade Liberalization and Sectoral Productivity Growth: Some Evidence for Canada and the United States,"
(with Richard Brecher and Ehsan Choudhri) Journal of International Economics, 1996, 40: p.299-321. - "The Role of Canadian Banks in 19th Century U.S. Banking Crises,"
(with Jennifer Hawkins) Business History, 1992, 34(3): p.122-52. - "The Construction of Establishment-Level Capital Stock Series,"
(with Eugene Beaulieu), Journal of Economic and Social Measurement, 1990, 16: p.55-70. - "Atheoretical and Structural Approaches to Modelling Canadian-American Macroeconomic Interaction,"
(with David Johnson) Empirical Economics, 1990, 15(4): p.367-82. - "Macroeconomic Stability and Policy Rules in a two sector model of an open economy,"
Canadian Journal of Economics, 1988, 21(1): p.87-96.
Other
Books
- “Credibility, Flexibility and Renewal: The Evolution of Inflation Targeting in Canada” (with T. Carter and R. Mendes) in J. Simon and M. Sutton (eds.) Central Bank Frameworks: Evolution or Revolution? Reserve Bank of Australia conference proceedings.*
- A discussion of “Is There Macroprudential Policy Without International Cooperation?” by S. Cecchetti and P. Tucker (with F. Ghironi) in the proceeding of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Asia Economic Policy Conference, Challenges in a Diverging Global Economy. 2018: 115-120.
- "The Future of the IMS: The New ‘Holy Trinity’ of External, Monetary, and Financial Stability"
(with Eric Santor) in M Uzan (ed.), Bretton Woods: The Next 70 Years (Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee, 2015) p. 335-342. - "A Tale of Two Countries and Two Booms – Canada and the United States in the 1920s and the 2000s: The Roles of Monetary and Financial Stability Policies"
(with Ehsan Choudhri) in O. Humpage (ed.), Current Federal Reserve Policy Under the Lens of Economic History: Essays to Commemorate the Federal Reserve System's Centennial, (Cambridge, 2015) p. 267-295. - "Success Under Pressure: The Bank of Canada and the Global Financial Crisis – Actions and Lessons"
(with Eric Santor), in R. Medhora and D. Rowlands (eds.), Crisis and Reform: Canada and the International Financial System (Centre for International Governance Innovation, 2014) p.103-118. - A discussion of « Terms of Trade Shocks and Fiscal Cycles »
by Graciela Kaminsky (in R. Fry, C. Jones and C. Kent (eds.) Inflation in an Era of Relative Price Shocks (Reserve Bank of Australia, 2010) p.251-257 - "The Case for Financial Liberalization"
(with Eric Santor) in H. Bougrine and M. Seccareccia, (eds.), Introducing Macroeconomic Analysis: Issues, Questions, and Competing Views (Emond Montgomery Publications, 2010) p.271-282 - "Macroeconomic Stability and Economic Resilience in Small States: The Role of Macroeconomic Policies"
in L. Briguglio, G. Cordina, N. Farrugia and C. Vigilance (eds.) Small States and the Pillars of Economic Resilience (University of Malta and Commonwealth Secretariat, 2008), p. 37-58. - A discussion of « Monetary Policy in East Asia: Common Concerns »
by Marvin Goodfriend, in Growth, Integration, and Monetary Policy in East Asia, (Bank of Japan, 2007), p. 226-232. - "External Adjustment and Debt Sustainability"
(with Douglas Hostland) in R. Driver, P. Sinclair and C. Thoenissen (eds.), Exchanges Rates, Capital Flows and Policy, (Routledge, 2005) p. 261-300. - "Productivity and Trade in North America: A Sectoral Analysis"
(with Mykyta Vesselovsky) in R. Harris (ed.), North American Linkages: Opportunities and Challenges for Canada, (Industry Canada & University of Calgary Press, 2004), p.89-116. - "International Financial Architecture Reform: Just Tinkering Around the Edges"
(with Malcolm Knight and James Powell) in C. L. Gilbert, J. Rollo and D. Vines (eds.), The IMF and Its Critics: Reforming of the Global Financial Architecture, (Cambridge University Press, 2004), p. 124-157. - "Measuring the Barriers to Trade in Services: Literature and Methodologies"
(with Zhiqi Chen) in J. Curtis and D Ciuriak (eds.) Trade Policy Research 2002, (Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, 2002). - "Productivity Growth and International Competitiveness: The Experience of Canada and Implications for India,"
(with Ehsan Choudhri) in Trade, Innovation and Industrial Performance. (Conference Board of Canada, 1997) p. 21-28. - "Canadian Exports of Business and Education Services to the Asia-Pacific region,"
in R. Harris (ed.), The Asia-Pacific Region in the Global Economy: A Canadian Perspective. (University of Calgary Press, 1996) p. 165-196. - "Canada and International Trade: Policies for the 1990s,"
in F. Hampson and C. Maule (eds.), Canada Among Nations: 1990-1991 (Lorimer Press, 1991) p. 41-64. - "Exchange Rates and Export Prices: An Industry Approach,"
in R. Feenstra (ed.), Trade Policy and International Competitiveness (University of Chicago Press, 1989) p. 185-210. - A discussion of "Per-Capita Income as a Basis for Trade,"
by Linda Hunter and James Markusen, in R. Feenstra (ed.), Empirical Methods in International Trade, (MIT Press, 1988) p. 110-113. - "Industrial Adjustment in Canada: Causes and Effects,"
(with Jeffrey Bernstein) in B. Tomlin and M. Molot (eds.), Canada Among Nations: 1986-1987 (Lorimer Press, 1987) p. 87-105.
Publications from working groups
- Financial Stability Board Regional Consultative Group for the Americas (L. Schembri co-chair of Working Group on Shadow Banking). 2015. “Second Report on Shadow Banking in the Americas”
- Financial Stability Board Standing Committee on Standards Implementation (L. Schembri co-chair of Peer Review). 2014. “Peer Review of the Netherlands”
- Financial Stability Board Regional Consultative Group for the Americas (L. Schembri co-chair of Working Group on Shadow Banking). 2014. “Report on Shadow Banking in the Americas”
- Financial Stability Board (L. Schembri co-chair of report committee). 2012. “Identifying the Effects of Regulatory Reforms on Emerging Market and Developing Economies: A Review of Potential Unintended Consequences”