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Eliminating Discount Window Stigma: What Can We Learn from Abroad?

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This article picks up from an earlier Journal of Financial Crisis policy note on discount window design to see how the experiences of other central banks can inform work to redesign the discount window to reduce stigma. As explained in that article, banks' reluctance to use the discount window is problematic for financial stability as it constrains the Fed's ability to use its liquidity provision tools to stem runs and mitigate contagion in times of stress. The stigma associated with discount window borrowing in the United States is well documented and is a multifaceted phenomenon.

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  • McLaughlin, Susan, 2025. "Eliminating Discount Window Stigma: What Can We Learn from Abroad?," Journal of Financial Crises, Yale Program on Financial Stability (YPFS), vol. 7(1), pages 690-706, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:ysm:ypfsfc:v:7:y:2025:i:1:p:690-706
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    File URL: https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1637&context=journal-of-financial-crises
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    1. Kelly, Steven, 2024. "Policy Note | Weekly Fed Report Still Drives Discount Window Stigma," Journal of Financial Crises, Yale Program on Financial Stability (YPFS), vol. 6(3), pages 597-610, March.
    2. Helene Lee & Asani Sarkar, 2016. "Is There Discount Window Stigma in the United Kingdom?," Liberty Street Economics 20160912, Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
    3. Brian Madigan & William R. Nelson, 2002. "Proposed Revision to the Federal Reserve's Discount Window Lending Programs," Federal Reserve Bulletin, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.), vol. 88(7), pages .313-319, July.
    4. Craig H. Furfine, 2004. "Standing facilities and interbank borrowing: evidence from the Federal Reserve’s new discount window," Working Paper Series WP-04-01, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
    5. Kelly, Steven & McLaughlin, Susan & Metrick, Andrew, 2024. "FHLB Dividends: Low-Hanging Fruit for Reconfiguring FHLB Lending," Journal of Financial Crises, Yale Program on Financial Stability (YPFS), vol. 6(2), pages 85-104, March.
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    JEL classification:

    • G01 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Financial Crises
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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