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Private money and money market integration: the role of payments infrastructure in 19th century Switzerland

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  • Daniel Kaufmann
  • Rebecca Stuart

Abstract

Using newly collected discount rate data for six Swiss cities, we find no evidence of increasing integration during a 30-year period of lightly regulated free banking. We attribute this to two structural issues: banks had incentives to protect their local monopolies, and the inherent instability of free banking meant that there was always a risk (which varied across banks) of a bank run. We use a novel counterfactual to show that these risks increased discount rate dispersion, and argue that as a result, public regulation of payments infrastructure was necessary for money market integration.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Kaufmann & Rebecca Stuart, 2024. "Private money and money market integration: the role of payments infrastructure in 19th century Switzerland," IRENE Working Papers 24-05, IRENE Institute of Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:irn:wpaper:24-05
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Davis, Lance E., 1965. "The Investment Market, 1870–1914: The Evolution of a National Market," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 25(3), pages 355-399, September.
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    4. Alexander Fink, 2014. "Free banking as an evolving system: The case of Switzerland reconsidered," The Review of Austrian Economics, Springer;Society for the Development of Austrian Economics, vol. 27(1), pages 57-69, March.
    5. Kyongwook Choi & Brandon Dupont, 2007. "Revisiting structural change and market integration in late 19th century American capital markets," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(21), pages 2733-2741.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Switzerland; discount rates; money market; financial integration; monetary union; 19th century;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E43 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Interest Rates: Determination, Term Structure, and Effects
    • E44 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy
    • F33 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - International Monetary Arrangements and Institutions
    • F45 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Macroeconomic Issues of Monetary Unions
    • N13 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Europe: Pre-1913
    • N23 - Economic History - - Financial Markets and Institutions - - - Europe: Pre-1913

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