Central Banking Journal
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
DCash: motivations, challenges, and lessons from the first monetary union CBDC pilot
Having worked on its Digital Currency Management System since 2016, Bitt has launched the first synthetic CBDC in Barbados, followed by another first in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union in March this year, with more ahead
From Covid‑19 recovery to a greener economy
BNP Paribas asks, in a world challenged by the Covid‑19 pandemic and empowered by recovery from it, what’s next for the central banking sector? Also discussing how banks and central banks can collaborate to encourage sustainable growth and build a better…
Fixing market-based finance: duct tape or deep reform?
Central banks are increasingly having to act as market-makers of last resort. But deeper reforms may be needed to avoid stretching their balance sheets to breaking point
The renminbi’s rise to prominence: focus report 2021
Central Banking explores the impact the addition of the renminbi to the SDR basket has had on internationalising the Chinese currency; central bank reserve managers share their views on including the renminbi in their portfolios; and we take a look at…
Book notes: Fintech regulation in China, by Robin Hui Huang
The book includes meticulous exploration of detailed regulations across the Chinese fintech sector, but risks missing some of the bigger picture due to China’s on/off oversight
Digital revolution: perks of a global Chinese CBDC
Chinese central bank digital currency has the potential to boost the renminbi’s internationalisation further, but only if international investors have access.
Book notes: The pay off, by Gottfried Leibbrandt and Natasha de Terán
A timely introduction to and accessible survey of payment system developments
An assessment of the ECB’s strategy review
A number of aspects of the new framework raise challenges for implementation and credibility, while the inclusion of climate change may politicise the institution, writes euro architect Otmar Issing
The renminbi in focus: reserve managers see promise
Reserve managers see potential in the renminbi and expect the International Monetary Fund to increase its weighting at the next special drawing rights reassessment
The renminbi’s inclusion in the SDR adds impetus to its internationalisation
Bank of China (Hong Kong) highlights the importance of opening up the onshore renminbi (RMB) foreign exchange market and improving the development of offshore RMB FX markets