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The Bank of Amsterdam and the Limits of Fiat Money

Author

Listed:
  • Wilko Bolt
  • Jon Frost
  • Hyun Song Shin
  • Peter Wierts

Abstract

Central banks can operate with negative equity, and many have done so in history without undermining trust in fiat money. However, there are limits. How negative can central bank equity be before fiat money loses credibility? We address this question using a global game approach motivated by the fall of the Bank of Amsterdam (1609–1820). We solve for the unique break point where negative equity and asset illiquidity render fiat money worthless. We draw lessons on the role of fiscal support and central bank capital in sustaining trust in fiat money.

Suggested Citation

  • Wilko Bolt & Jon Frost & Hyun Song Shin & Peter Wierts, 2024. "The Bank of Amsterdam and the Limits of Fiat Money," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 132(12), pages 3919-3941.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jpolec:doi:10.1086/732524
    DOI: 10.1086/732524
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    Cited by:

    1. Xu, Chenzi & Yang, He, 2024. "Real effects of supplying safe private money," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    2. Tomas Adam & Ales Michl & Michal Skoda, 2023. "Balancing Volatility and Returns in the Czech National Bank's Foreign Exchange Portfolio," Research and Policy Notes 2023/01, Czech National Bank, Research and Statistics Department.
    3. Elizabeth C. Klee & Arazi Lubis & Chase Ross & Sharon Y. Ross & Alexandros Vardoulakis, 2026. "The Fragility of Perfectly Safe Digital Money," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2026-037, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    4. Matteo Bonetti & Dirk Broeders & Damiaan Chen & Daniel Dimitrov, 2024. "Central Bank Capital and Shareholder Relationship," Working Papers 809, DNB.
    5. Bertsch, Christoph, 2023. "Stablecoins: Adoption and Fragility," Working Paper Series 423, Sveriges Riksbank (Central Bank of Sweden), revised 01 Dec 2025.
    6. Joaquín Bernal-Ramírez & Carlos A. Arango-Arango & Luis Eduardo Castellanos-Rodríguez, 2024. "Breve historia de la evolución del sistema de pagos en Colombia 1923-2023," Borradores de Economia 1290, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.
    7. Ferrari Minesso, Massimo & Siena, Daniele, 2026. "Private money and public debt. U.S. Stablecoins and the global safe asset channel," Working Paper Series 3174, European Central Bank.
    8. Bignon, Vincent & Mojon, Benoit & Ortiz Serrano, Miguel, 2026. "The Trafalgar Squeeze of Global Liquidity," CEPR Discussion Papers 21466, Centre for Economic Policy Research.
    9. Jean Barthélemy & Eric Mengus & Guillaume Plantin, 2025. "A State Theory of Price Levels," Working Papers hal-05562796, HAL.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E42 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Monetary Systems; Standards; Regimes; Government and the Monetary System
    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies
    • N13 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Europe: Pre-1913

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