This may require specific skills, although I would not go to the extreme of associating central bankers to artists or famous athletes, as Mervyn King did in a recent speech, in which he associated a steady-hand monetary policy to the straight line followed by Diego Armando Maradona when he scored his second goal against England in a famous 1986 World cup game (in fact, that game became famous for Maradona’s first goal).13 Maradona did it by fooling the English defence into thinking that he would move in different directions, instead of going through a straight line.
Moreover, when it comes to promotions I want every shortlist to contain as a rule at least one woman. Sticking to these three personal points of action, or policy targets, is a question of commitment. Being a central banker, I am well aware of the importance for my reputation of holding on to this commitment. But not only my reputation is at stake.