Search

This paper investigates nominal interest and inflation behavior in the EMS between March 1979 and September 1989 using a modified version of principal components analysis. Neither over the whole period, nor after March 1983 has the EMS functioned as a Dmark-zone: deviating movements in inflation and interest rates between EMS countries still persist. Most important is the division between Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom on the one hand, and Belgium, France and Italy on the other. Differences in deflationary policies between countries inside and outside the EMS appear to be the most important determinants of this result.