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Is Central Bank Currency Fundamental to the Monetary System?

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  • Hanna Armelius
  • Carl Andreas Claussen
  • Scott Hendry

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss whether the ability of individuals to convert commercial bank money (i.e., bank deposits) into central bank money is fundamentally important for the monetary system. This is a significant question since the use of cash—the only form of central bank money that the public currently has access to—is declining rapidly in many countries. The question is highly relevant to the discussion around whether central banks need to issue a retail central bank digital currency (CBDC). We conclude that depositors’ need for control could be a reason why cash or a CBDC is essential, even in countries with strong measures safeguarding commercial bank money.

Suggested Citation

  • Hanna Armelius & Carl Andreas Claussen & Scott Hendry, 2020. "Is Central Bank Currency Fundamental to the Monetary System?," Discussion Papers 2020-2, Bank of Canada.
  • Handle: RePEc:bca:bocadp:20-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Lael Brainard, 2019. "Digital Currencies, Stablecoins, and the Evolving Payments Landscape : a speech at The Future of Money in the Digital Age, Sponsored by the Peterson Institute for International Economics and Princeton," Speech 1095, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
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    5. Bullard, James & Smith, Bruce D., 2003. "The value of inside and outside money," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 389-417, March.
    6. Kocherlakota, Narayana & Wallace, Neil, 1998. "Incomplete Record-Keeping and Optimal Payment Arrangements," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 81(2), pages 272-289, August.
    7. Douglas W. Diamond & Philip H. Dybvig, 2000. "Bank runs, deposit insurance, and liquidity," Quarterly Review, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, vol. 24(Win), pages 14-23.
    8. Kiyotaki, Nobuhiro & Wright, Randall, 1989. "On Money as a Medium of Exchange," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 97(4), pages 927-954, August.
    9. Daniel Sanches, 2016. "On the Inherent Instability of Private Money," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 20, pages 198-214, April.
    10. Chao Gu & Fabrizio Mattesini & Randall Wright, 2013. "Banking: A New Monetarist Approach," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 80(2), pages 636-662.
    11. Carl E. Walsh, 2010. "Monetary Theory and Policy, Third Edition," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 3, volume 1, number 0262013770, December.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Hongyi & Siklos, Pierre L., 2022. "Central bank digital currency: A review and some macro-financial implications," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    2. Raphael A. Auer & Giulio Cornelli & Jon Frost, 2020. "Rise of the Central Bank Digital Currencies: Drivers, Approaches and Technologies," CESifo Working Paper Series 8655, CESifo.
    3. Agur, Itai & Ari, Anil & Dell’Ariccia, Giovanni, 2022. "Designing central bank digital currencies," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 62-79.
    4. Raphael Auer & Giulio Cornelli & Jon Frost, 2023. "Rise of the Central Bank Digital Currencies," International Journal of Central Banking, International Journal of Central Banking, vol. 19(4), pages 185-214, October.
    5. Ozili, Peterson K, 2023. "A Survey of Central Bank Digital Currency Adoption in African countries," MPRA Paper 118794, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bank notes; Digital Currencies and Fintech; Financial services; Payment clearing and settlement systems;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E4 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates
    • E41 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Demand for Money
    • E42 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Monetary Sytsems; Standards; Regimes; Government and the Monetary System
    • E5 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit

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