Dovish

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The term dovish refers to a moderate, conciliatory and accommodating attitude or approach to monetary policy, generally adopted by a central bank. Policymakers described as dovish (doves) favor policies aimed at sustaining economic growth, often by keeping interest rates low and implementing stimulus measures, such as quantitative easing programs. Their main objective is to stimulate the economy, particularly when growth is weak or unemployment is high, even if this means tolerating higher inflation in the short term.

The term dovish is opposed to hawkish, which denotes a stricter, more conservative approach to monetary policy, where the authorities seek to combat inflation by raising interest rates, often to the detriment of economic growth.

Central banks, such as the US Federal Reserve (Fed), the European Central Bank (ECB), or the Bank of England, generally alternate between dovish and hawkish postures depending on economic conditions. When central bankers are dovish, they are more inclined to cut interest rates or keep them low, which makes credit cheaper, thus encouraging borrowing and investment. This can support economic recovery in periods of recession or slow growth.

A recent example of dovish posturing occurred after the 2008 financial crisis and during the COVID-19 pandemic. To support the economies hit by these crises, the main central banks implemented ultra-accommodating policies, such as reducing interest rates to near-zero levels and massive asset purchase programs. These measures were aimed at boosting demand and avoiding deflation, despite the risk of creating inflationary pressures in the long term.

However, the dovish approach is not without its critics. Some economists believe that by tolerating higher inflation, these policies can ultimately destabilize the economy by reducing household purchasing power and triggering asset bubbles. But in times of low inflation and sluggish growth, the dovish approach is often favored to boost the economy and boost employment.

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