Analysis
Asset sovereignty: a problem to stump Solomon
When states have rival governments, who owns central bank assets?
The race to adopt ISO 20022 payments messaging
Some jurisdictions do not plan to adopt the protocol, while others are preparing for a disjointed implementation
BoE becomes reluctant market-maker of last resort
Gilt market turmoil has again forced the BoE to intervene. Is there a better way?
Social media: an essential tool for central bank communication
Strategies to secure popularity, comprehensibility and reputation as new media takes centre stage
How to run a world-class economics department
Benchmarking data shows central banks have myriad ways of organising their economists. So how do some of the world’s top research organisations do it?
Taking a cue from the top: governor turnover and independence
Central bank governors tend to have long tenures, but what that means can vary. High turnover remains a worrisome signal
Is the US heading for stagflation?
US academics weigh up the risks – and whether the Fed can avoid the worst outcomes
Endlessly interim? The struggle to appoint top US regulators
Two-year OCC vacancy is not that unusual in US system, but it may hamper initiative
Cash, not trash: the second lives of substrate
Central banks and their banknote providers are taking a range of approaches to recycling cash
Asian central banks deploy FX reserves to prop up currencies
Analysts remain confident in Asia’s financial stability, but recession risks are building
Sovereign green bonds: the reserve portfolio’s panacea?
German, Swedish, Danish and UK debt managers speak to Victor Mendez-Barreira about ‘twin bonds’ and other efforts to solve green bond liquidity concerns
Shadow banks: the biggest threat to US financial stability?
Non-bank risks may be the greatest problem facing the Fed’s incoming vice-chair for supervision
Tech talent: a global bottleneck for central banks?
Central banks are struggling to recruit people with the right fintech expertise. The search for talent may also create new ethical challenges in managing links to industry
Higher interest rates to challenge gold in 2022
But real rates are likely to remain low in historical terms, and gold tends to perform better with high inflation
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?
2021: The year in review
The year has seen central banks switch from recovery mode to battling inflation. Central Banking looks back at the stories that made the biggest impact in 2021
Central bank social media trends in the ‘Instagram age’
Uptake of visual social media platforms rises, as Facebook usage plateaus
The matter of minutes: Why open up private deliberations?
Many central banks publish records of MPC meetings, but far fewer publish vote tallies. Where should public scrutiny stop?
Has the SNB accepted a stronger franc?
Swiss central bank reduces FX interventions as currency breaks 1.05 ceiling against the euro
A future-proof RTGS blueprint
Operating hours, access and data standards should all be considered by central banks contemplating an RTGS overhaul
Fed and ECB officials point to different policy directions
US officials see a rate hike in 2022 as increasingly likely, while eurozone governors rule that out
‘Say what?’ Trust in central bank communications
Central banks are changing how they communicate with different audiences, but judging the success of these communication efforts is difficult
Is Powell still on track for second term?
Despite scandals and vocal criticism, support still looks likely to outweigh opposition
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?