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Optimal allotment policy in the Eurosystem's main refinancing operations

Author

Listed:
  • Cassola, Nuno
  • Ejerskov, Steen
  • Ewerhart, Christian
  • Valla, Natacha

Abstract

On several occasions during the period 2001-2003, the European Central Bank (ECB) decided to deviate from its "neutral" benchmark allotment rule, with the effect of not alleviating a temporary liquidity shortage in the banking system. This is remarkable because it implied the possibility of short-term interest rates raising significantly above the main policy rate. In the present paper, we show that when the monetary authority cares for both liquidity and interest rate conditions, the optimal allotment policy may entail a discontinuous reaction to initial conditions. More precisely, we prove that there is a threshold level for the accumulated aggregate liquidity position in the banking system prior to the last operation in a given maintenance period, so that the benchmark allotment is optimal whenever liquidity conditions are above the threshold, and a tight allotment is optimal whenever liquidity conditions are below the threshold. JEL Classification: E43, E52

Suggested Citation

  • Cassola, Nuno & Ejerskov, Steen & Ewerhart, Christian & Valla, Natacha, 2003. "Optimal allotment policy in the Eurosystem's main refinancing operations," Working Paper Series 295, European Central Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:ecb:ecbwps:2003295
    Note: 334845
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    9. Ejerskov, Steen & Martin Moss, Clara & Stracca, Livio, 2003. "How does the ECB allot liquidity in its weekly main refinancing operations? A look at the empirical evidence," Working Paper Series 244, European Central Bank.
    10. Ewerhart, Christian, 2002. "A model of the Eurosystem's operational framework for monetary policy implementation," Working Paper Series 197, European Central Bank.
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    Cited by:

    1. Christian Ewerhart & Nuno Cassola & Steen Ejerskov & Natacha Valla, 2009. "Optimal allotment policy in central bank open market operations," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(4), pages 405-420.
    2. Christian Ewerhart & Nuno Cassola & Steen Ejerskov & Natacha Valla, 2007. "Manipulation in Money Markets," International Journal of Central Banking, International Journal of Central Banking, vol. 3(1), pages 113-148, March.
    3. Nautz, Dieter & Oechssler, Jorg, 2006. "Overbidding in fixed rate tenders--an empirical assessment of alternative explanations," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 50(3), pages 631-646, April.
    4. Cinzia Alcidi & Francesco Corti & Daniel Gros, 2022. "A Golden Rule for Social Investments: How to Do It," Intereconomics: Review of European Economic Policy, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics;Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), vol. 57(1), pages 26-32, January.
    5. Moschitz, Julius, 2004. "The determinants of the overnight interest rate in the euro area," Working Paper Series 393, European Central Bank.
    6. Ulrike Neyer & Jürgen Wiemers, 2004. "The Influence of a Heterogeneous Banking Sector on the Interbank Market Rate in the Euro Area," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics (SJES), Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics (SSES), vol. 140(III), pages 395-428, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    euro; monetary policy instruments; operational framework; refinancing operations-;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E43 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Interest Rates: Determination, Term Structure, and Effects
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy

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