Unlike previous quantitative easing measures, this new programme of $85 billion in monthly asset purchases is open-ended and set to continue until there is a significant improvement in labour market conditions. The European Central Bank, the Bank of Japan and many other advanced economies’ central banks have also undertaken variants of QE and other forms of unconventional monetary policy. Furthermore, in early 2013, Japan outlined plans to start a monthly purchase plan of $145 billion in assets from the start of 2014 to boost growth and combat deflation.