Central banks can shape economic growth, influence a country's foreign policy relations, and determine the extent of its democracy. This book presents a study focused on central banking in emerging market countries. Surveying worldwide trends towards increased central bank independence in the 1990s, the book argues that global forces must be at work. It goes beyond an explanation of central bank independence, and posits a general framework for analyzing the impact of different types of international capital flows on the politics of economic policymaking in developing countries. The book suggests that central bank independence in emerging market countries does not spring from law, but rather from politics. As long as politicians value them, central banks will enjoy independence.