Central Banking Journal
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
How supervisors can step up the AML fight
Marcus Pleyer, president of the Financial Action Task Force, says digital tools, stronger co‑operation and risk-based methods can give supervisors an edge. But threats are still proliferating
Regulators race to curb crypto asset money laundering
Crypto assets are increasingly used as vehicles for money laundering, but regulating them is not necessarily straightforward
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
How Afghanistan’s central bank can help prevent famine
Rules could be devised to allow the New York Fed to ease the acute US dollar banknotes shortage, writes Warren Coats
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
Effective market operations in a modern central bank
Oliver Wyman’s Paul Fisher and Oliver Wünsch explain how central banks can successfully organise and manage their market operations departments with a public sector workforce, and when their objectives are not dictated by financial returns.
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
Tackling surging inflation
Central banks around the world are grappling with rapid price rises, with some taking very different routes to one another
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
Protecting international standard-setting despite the resurgence of politics
Andreas Dombret, global senior adviser, and Oliver Wünsch, partner, at Oliver Wyman, describe the importance of international standard-setting amid increasing political interference.
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?
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.