At a conference in Singapore, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde has argued that [w]hile the case for digital currency is not universal, we should investigate it further, seriously, carefully and creatively. In her speech she emphasizes potential benefits related to financial inclusion; security and consumer protection; and privacy. (Privacy would be limited however.) She sees risks as well, including to innovation. But she de-emphasizes the notion of increased run risk which...
Read More »IMF’s Lagarde Open to CBDC
At a conference in Singapore, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde has argued that [w]hile the case for digital currency is not universal, we should investigate it further, seriously, carefully and creatively. In her speech she emphasizes potential benefits related to financial inclusion; security and consumer protection; and privacy. (Privacy would be limited however.) She sees risks as well, including to innovation. But she de-emphasizes the notion of increased run risk which...
Read More »The e-Krona Project Progresses
The Riksbank has published the second e-krona project report (website). In a special issue of the Riksbank’s Economic Review, several authors discuss related issues. I will participate in a Riksbank panel in early December to discuss CBDC and the e-krona project.
Read More »The e-Krona Project Progresses
The Riksbank has published the second e-krona project report (website). In a special issue of the Riksbank’s Economic Review, several authors discuss related issues. I will participate in a Riksbank panel in early December to discuss CBDC and the e-krona project.
Read More »“Reserves For All? …” on Several SSRN Top Ten Lists
My July 2018 CEPR working paper “Reserves For All? Central Bank Digital Currency, Deposits, and their (Non)-Equivalence” has made it on several SSRN top ten lists. PDF. (Personal copy.) Abstract: I offer a macroeconomic perspective on the “Reserves for All” (RFA) proposal to let the general public use electronic central bank money. After distinguishing RFA from cryptocurrencies and relating the proposal to discussions about narrow banking and the abolition of cash I propose an equivalence...
Read More »“Reserves For All? …” on Several SSRN Top Ten Lists
My July 2018 CEPR working paper “Reserves For All? Central Bank Digital Currency, Deposits, and their (Non)-Equivalence” has made it on several SSRN top ten lists. PDF. (Personal copy.) Abstract: I offer a macroeconomic perspective on the “Reserves for All” (RFA) proposal to let the general public use electronic central bank money. After distinguishing RFA from cryptocurrencies and relating the proposal to discussions about narrow banking and the abolition of cash I propose an equivalence...
Read More »“Kosten und Nutzen eines Vollgeldsystems (Costs and Benefits of `Sovereign Money’),” ifoSD, 2018
ifo Schnelldienst 16/2018, August 23, 2018. PDF.
Read More »“Kosten und Nutzen eines Vollgeldsystems (Costs and Benefits of `Sovereign Money’),” ifoSD, 2018
ifo Schnelldienst 16/2018, August 23, 2018. PDF.
Read More »“Central Bank Digital Currency: Why It Matters and Why Not,” VoxEU, 2018
VoxEU, August 20, 2018. HTML. To a first approximation, inside and outside money are substitutes—the introduction of CBDC does not change the equilibrium allocation. Bank incentives and central bank incentives might be affected though. CBDC could increase the incentive to extend credit but might undermine the political support for implicit financial assistance to banks.
Read More »“Central Bank Digital Currency: Why It Matters and Why Not,” VoxEU, 2018
VoxEU, August 20, 2018. HTML. To a first approximation, inside and outside money are substitutes—the introduction of CBDC does not change the equilibrium allocation. Bank incentives and central bank incentives might be affected though. CBDC could increase the incentive to extend credit but might undermine the political support for implicit financial assistance to banks.
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