In December 2018, the Bulletin of Political Economy changed its editorial board. We would like to thank Professor Theodore Mariolis for his work for the journal since it started in 2007 until his resignation as editor-in-chief in March 2017. We would also like to thank Moshé Machover, Sobei H. Ode, Shri Prakash, Michalis Psalidopoulos and Spyros Vassilakis who leave the editorial board. New members of the editorial board are Enrico Sergio Levrero (new editor-in-chief), Enrico Bellino (Catholic University of the Sacred Heart), Christian Gehrke (University of Graz), Stefano Lucarelli (University of Bergamo), Mario Seccareccia (University of Ottawa), Franklin Serrano (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) and Antonella Stirati (Roma Tre University). While the scope of the Bulletin of Political Economy remains the same, increasing attention will be given to contributions aimed at developing approaches that are an alternative to the neoclassical theory, both on empirical and theoretical grounds. In 2019, the Bulletin will once again be published twice a year.
For the second number of the 2019 Bulletin, a special issue on monetary policies is planned which will focus on criticising the view of the modern theory of central banking according to which monetary policy should have as its benchmark rate a natural rate of interest determined by “productivity and thrift.”
The special issue will also discuss whether a benchmark rate for Central Banks can (or should) be advanced when following an alternative approach, as in the case of the proposal by Lavoie and Seccareccia to take Pasinetti’s fair interest rate as the point of reference for monetary policy. Contributions by Enrico Bellino, Massimo Pivetti, Malcolm Sawyer and Mario Seccareccia are already planned.
Other shorter contributions on these issues (no longer than 8000 words) may be submitted by June 2019 by sending them to enricosergio.levrero@uniroma3.it. Acceptance for publication in this special issue or subsequent numbers of the Bulletin will be communicated by October 2019.