The Americas
Central banks fear CBDC will heighten cyber threats
European jurisdictions less likely to be deterred by security concerns
Improving domestic payments efficiency drives retail CBDC research
Barriers to adoption include concerns around privacy, disintermediation and operational risk
Wholesale CBDC work remains less popular than retail
Like retail, central banks say domestic payments efficiency is key driver
One in four central banks exploring blockchain, DLT and tokenisation
No respondents say they are researching or collaborating on quantum computing
Legal mandates for CBDC issuance remain rare among central banks
Some await parliamentary approval as framework examination commences in their jurisdictions
More than half of central banks have a fintech strategy
Implementation challenged by poor regulation and talent scarcity
ISO 31000 and COSO–ERM remain central banks’ leading standards
Central banks from high income countries less likely to use COSO–ERM
Mean risk management salary greater in high income countries
Salaries average $72,738 in rich countries but $33,464 in upper-middle income nations
Wage growth ‘has not impacted US inflation’, says Boston Fed
Study finds pay still has some way to go before reaching a level that would affect consumer prices
Lower immigration affecting US household spending power
Low immigration has contributed to increased prices of consumer goods, argues Atlanta Fed
Most central banks have difficulty hiring skilled cyber security staff
Respondents highlight pay disparity, skills gap and technological advancements as factors
Monetary policy is tight enough, says head of Atlanta Fed
Raphael Bostic said he expects rate cuts in Q3, but could advocate for them sooner
Reasons for refusing mortgages ‘do not explain racial disparity’
Minneapolis Fed’s study challenges explanations given for why people of colour are treated differently
Exit rate of risk management staff averages over 10%
Workers in middle income institutions tend to leave at a higher rate
Operational and financial risk units have largest staff
Upper-middle income institutions have largest average total number of risk employees
Local preferences affect US bank lending to minorities – research
Ethnic minorities’ credit access is affected by stakeholders, NY Fed paper finds
Enterprise-wide risk management widespread among central banks
Few institutions maintain use of department-level and damage limitation approaches
Fed paper presents new way to measure consumer welfare
Consumer preferences change in line with incomes, researcher argues
Most central banks lack climate risk units
Just under half of institutions say they have difficulty hiring staff with matching skills
Cyber and fintech risk policies rejigged in a few central banks
Departmental structure varies across jurisdictions
Central banks should co-ordinate policy – Minneapolis Fed paper
Policy-makers should consider decisions’ effects on world real rate, authors say
Extreme temperature harms household finances, warns paper
Payday loan delinquency and defaults increase during extreme weather
Minority of central banks altered risk functions in past two years
Amendments emanate from factors including technology and climate change
Communicating uncertainty helps curb expectations – BoC paper
But conveying uncertainty about inflation weakens link between inflation and spending plans