Central Banking Journal
Digitisation: transforming the role of central banks
With the rapid pace of technological change in global financial markets, central banks are increasingly recognising that many legacy tools, methods and manual processes are inadequate, writes Sachin Somani
ESG for central banking focus report 2021
The report flags challenges for central banks themselves – as guardians of the financial system, they have a duty to lead by example. But the lack of liquidity within ESG-compliant assets is proving a problem for many
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
How to #GreentheCBs
Invesco‘s Claudia Castro and Wim Vandenhoeck explore how central banks can strike a balance between innovation and disruption with their sustainability agendas.
Reforming FX reserve and macroeconomic management for ESG
Arnab Das, global market strategist, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, at Invesco explores why central banks must play a role in ESG risk mitigation, management and prevention, as they are expected to during wars, pandemics and other major shocks.
Finding room for ESG
Central Banking speaks to four policy-makers for their thoughts on ESG principles, their respective institutions’ approaches, potential restrictions and an update on integration.
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.
Approaching green central bank balance sheets
Climate-friendly balance sheets come at a ‘greenium’, panellists argue at a roundtable at Central Banking’s Summer Meetings, in collaboration with Invesco.
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?
James Bullard on Fed policy, action and governance
St Louis president calls for tapering amid “exceptional” job market and risk of “more persistent” inflation, quantifies ‘big tent language’ for pioneering AIT move, and details Congress’s role in Fed ethics oversight
Covid-19 has accelerated paradoxical developments in cash usage
Antti Heinonen explores the unusual patterns in banknote demand in 2020 and draws lessons for the future
Larry Summers on stagflation risks, lessons from Delphi and never-ending ‘punch’
The former US Treasury secretary speaks about fiscal ‘overexpansion’, Fed/Treasury debt discord, the pitfalls of ‘unknown unknowns’ and central bankers ‘unable’ to remove the ‘punchbowl’
Agustín Carstens on BIS strategic priorities, innovation and central bank policy
The BIS general manager speaks about policy trade-offs at critical time, tackling NBFIs and the dearth of ‘green’ assets, tech collaboration, and why he favours Biden’s $3.5trn infrastructure bill
Book notes: Robert Triffin, by Ivo Maes with Ilaria Pasotti
Triffin’s story is well told by Maes, whose extensive personal and academic research shines through on page after page
Do central banks have enough resources to meet tech challenge?
Accelerating technological evolution, difficulties accessing and retaining technical staff, and limited resources will present growing challenges for central banks in the future
Strategies for change: central banks’ quest for diversity
Dedicated diversity strategies remain uncommon among central banks, despite growing recognition of the need for better minority representation
Greening the central bank balance sheet, or not?
Paul Fisher, fellow at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and senior adviser for Oliver Wyman, discusses how central banks can act to contribute to mitigating and adapting to climate change, and identifies some worthwhile interventions.
Book notes: How boards work, by Dambisa Moyo
Moyo offers insights into the skills required to be a valued board director, as well as a thought-provoking list of issues that may appear with greater frequency on future board agendas
Some philosophical questions about the future of central banking
Kenneth Rogoff weighs up the many challenges facing central banks in the years ahead, from debt and inflation to negative rates and the dangers of ‘mission creep’
Too great expectations from the ECB’s strategy review
The review process represents operational best practice, but will fail to unify the Governing Council
Is the ECB’s strategy review enough?
The reformed framework may allow greater stimulus to tackle weak inflation expectations, but the Governing Council is already divided on what to do next