The introduction of inflation-targeting frameworks around the world prompts the question whether Central Banks focus solely on inflation. The paper uses the Taylor rule to characterize the Namibian Monetary Policy and to see whether the Bank of Namibia considers the economy in setting the Bank rate. Based on this rule, the Bank rate follows the Taylor rule over the sample period but there are several deviations. My results point to the following: Firstly, the Bank increases the policy rate to counter rising inflation but keeps the rate constant when inflation declines. Secondly, the Bank tends to smooth their rate adjustments. Using the lags of right hand side variables, hints at the fact that past inflation is important for the Bank to adjust the policy rate. Thirdly, the Bank of Namibia seems to focus more on inflation compared to the output gap. This is confirmed by the weight allocation which seems to be larger for inflation. Finally, the inclusion of additional variables that are deemed important in setting the Bank rate, improves the overall fit. Therefore, the model could be utilized to indicate where the policy rate should be.

This thessis determines return of investments for energetic improvements. Theoretical chapter introduces term definitions for investments, assessing and energetic improvements domains. Practical part compares several possibilities of energetic improvements applied on real estate. Comparsion that is based on amount of initial investment, effectivity and return time determines optimal solution for particular estate.

This dissertation studies the role of sterling during the Bretton Woods period (1944-1971). The Bretton Woods system has often been described as a dollar system with sterling having lost its relevance as reserve currency. However, despite being a secondary reserve currency and having lost importance, sterling was the 'first line of defence for the dollar' as contemporaries put it. They frequently stressed the fact that a sterling crisis would have consequences on the stability of the Bretton Woods system but economic historians have never tested this empirically. This dissertation argues that sterling played an important role in the stability of the international monetary system. Foreign exchange market participants globally monitored sterling and US policymaker stepped in to avoid devaluation of the British currency. US support to sterling was mainly due to the fear of a British devaluation, which could trigger a run on the dollar. When the UK finally devalued the pound in 1967, it marked the beginning of an instable period for the international monetary system. The Gold Pool, a syndicate to defend the US gold parity, collapsed in 1968 and this prefigured the end of the Bretton Woods system. This dissertation presents new data along with novel archival material from seven archives across continents to demonstrate how contagion from sterling to the dollar occurred. Modern econometric methods are used to analyse a new dataset with over 80,000 observations of offshore exchange rates, central bank intervention and reserves. This evidence shows that a secondary reserve currency can still play a key role in the stability of the international monetary system.