COVID-19 and the Response of Central Banks

COVID-19 and the Response of Central Banks analyses the reactions of central banks to the COVID-19 crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa. It focuses on how the pandemic has affected the economic performance of Sub-Saharan African countries, many of which were already struggling with growth and sustainability.

The first part of the book covers countries within monetary unions such as Cameroon, Congo, Senegal, and Cote d''Ivoire. In the second half, countries with their own independent central banks such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Ghana, and Sierra Leone, are discussed. Chapters highlight the differences between monetary union membership and independent central banks during health crises and explore the role of central banking in minimizing the deleterious effects.

This theoretical and empirical analysis of central bank reactions and monetary regimes in these Sub-Saharan African countries is important, useful information for central bankers and policymakers responsible for making decisions before, during, and post crises. Among others, graduate students interested in development analysis and how monetary policy works in Africa will also benefit from the insight in COVID-19 and the Response of Central Banks.