CB In Depth
Book notes: Mission economy, by Mariana Mazzucato
Although worth reading, the book doesn’t offer as many answers as it could when it comes to reimagining the capitalist system
Central Banking Awards 2022: the winners in full
Recipients of the 2022 awards include Stanley Fischer, the Bank of Korea, Mario Marcel and many more
ECB supervision and the state of the eurozone’s banks
ECB banking supervision has passed the first stage of the Covid-19 test. But many challenges remain, including banks’ internal governance and data processing, excessive leveraged lending in some segments, and a lack of progress towards a more competitive…
Book notes: Shutdown, by Adam Tooze
A useful, wide-ranging overview, showing how health and economic policies are intimately intertwined with geopolitics
Digital money and central banks
Central banks must reflect on the monetary policy, regulatory and financial stability implications from crypto assets, stablecoins and CBDCs to stay relevant in the digital age of money
Markus Brunnermeier on the need for CBDCs
The Princeton academic co-authored a paper for the European Parliament exploring the potential pitfalls of CBDCs. But they are still needed, he says
Diego Labat on policy normalisation, capital flows and tech challenges
The Central Bank of Uruguay governor speaks with Christopher Jeffery and Ben Margulies about governance, financialisation, flexible rates versus capital controls, payment upgrades and CBDCs
Book notes: Imagining the Fed, by Nicolas Thompson
A worthwhile perspective on the evolution of such an important institution, but a shame that it isn’t a longer and broader examination
Change at the Bundesbank: from Weidmann to Nagel?
Joachim Nagel’s appointment highlights the importance of politics at the apex of German central banking. Veteran central bank watcher Klaus C Engelen looks at the media reaction and asks if Buba/ECB discord is set to continue
Navigating the digital transformation at Deutsche Bundesbank – an update
Joachim Wuermeling explains how the Covid-19 pandemic and other developments have affected the German central bank’s digital transformation during the past two years
Pierre Wunsch on inflation, forward guidance and policy tightening
The National Bank of Belgium governor speaks about over-reliance on central bank models and forward guidance, the impact of energy costs and inflation expectations, and the need to unwind unconventional monetary policies
Material world: the enduring appeal of paper banknotes
Central banks have used space-age polymers to make banknotes for decades. So why does paper remain predominant in banknote production?
Book notes: The cost of free money, by Paola Subacchi
A book worth reading, as it facilitates further discussion on substantial issues, but doesn’t fully address some of the problems it takes aim at
Masaaki Shirakawa on lessons from crisis and how to reform central banks
The former governor reflects on a turbulent 40 years at the Bank of Japan, and considers how central banks might face up to the challenges of the future
Book notes: Shades of sovereignty, by Paul Wilson
An essential and stimulating read for central bankers thinking about the monetary history of their state in relation to its historical perspective and broad international trends
Book notes: Empire of silver, by Jin Xu
A useful introduction to China’s monetary history, focusing on the last 1,000 years, but not the easiest of reads throughout
How Turkey’s president created chaos in economic policy-making
Observers allege presidential domination of the central bank, unauthorised FX transactions and untrustworthy statistics
Book notes: Monetary policy in times of crisis, by Massimo Rostagno et al
A mass of intellectual effort gives rare insights into the ECB’s inner working, but fails to fully address questions about who really controls inflation
Final frontier? Japan after the Kuroda experiment
The Bank of Japan has pushed monetary easing close to its limit, yet inflation is barely above zero. What happens now?
Should ESG reporting be made mandatory?
As concern around the impact of climate change on businesses grows, many regulators have announced their intentions to include ESG requirements in reporting frameworks
A future-proof RTGS blueprint
Operating hours, access and data standards should all be considered by central banks contemplating an RTGS overhaul
BCB independence and Brazil’s inflation battle
Formal autonomy should help shield central bank from political pressure linked to 2022 elections, but challenges remain
ESG reserves adoption challenged by reliance on sovereign bonds
Higher issuance of government-compliant bonds is insufficient to offer investable alternatives to central banks.
Central bank communications ‘after’ Covid
From crisis responses to coping with sudden digitisation, Covid-19 forced central bank comms teams to innovate fast. How much of it will stick?