The interest rate channel constitutes a key part of monetary policy transmission, especially in countries like Sweden, where banks play a major role in financing. Reductions in policy rates normally translate into broadly similar movements in market rates, in particular into interest rates at shorter maturities which influence, via the expectations channel, interest rates at longer maturities. The development of money market rates is important for two reasons: first, they provide a price signal for many other interest rates in the economy and second, they constitute an important part of banks’ funding cost thus affecting lending and deposit rates offered to firms and households, with an ultimate impact on savings and investment decisions and real economic activity.
Recent studies have linked expressive suppression to impairments in interpersonal functioning, but the mechanism underlying this relationship has not been well articulated. One possibility is that the individual who engages in expressive suppression is impaired in perceiving the emotions of others, a critical ability in successful interpersonal functioning. In the current study, participants were presented with a series of photographs of facial expressions that were manipulated so that they appeared to “morph” from neutral into full emotion expressions.
As they viewed these images, participants were instructed to identify the expression as quickly as possible, by selecting one of the six emotion labels (happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, and disgust) on the screen. Prior to this task, participants were randomized to one of three groups: instructed to mimic the expressions on the screen, instructed to suppress all emotion expressions, or not given specific instructions on how to control expressions (the control group).
A strong and competitive small and medium sized enterprise (SME) sector is critical to a strong and competitive economy. Its direct contribution amounts to approximately 45 percent of the overall Canadian economy. But the SME sector’s role goes far beyond its direct contribution to GDP. SMEs employ the majority of Canadians and are a key foundation in all communities throughout Canada. SMEs are also where many of Canada’s innovative ideasare born, laying the groundwork for a more productive Canadian economy.
Essential to the future growth potential of the SME sector is a strong and competitive banking sector. Banks, credit unions and caisse populaires directly contribute 3.3 percent of GDP. Indirectly, their contribution is considerably greater. For example, the provision of financing and banking services for SMEs at competitive rates is essential to the future success of the Canadian economy.
