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Central Bank Digital Currency, Flight-to-Quality, and Bank-Runs in an Agent-Based Model

Author

Listed:
  • Emilio Barucci

    (Politecnico di Milano)

  • Andrea Gurgone

    (University of Oxford)

  • Giulia Iori

    (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice; University of London)

  • Michele Azzone

    (Politecnico di Milano)

Abstract

We analyse financial stability and welfare impacts associated with the introduction of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in a macroeconomic agent-based model. The model considers firms, banks, and households interacting on labour, goods, credit, and interbank markets. Households move their liquidity from deposits to CBDC based on the perceived riskiness of their banks. We find that the introduction of CBDC exacerbates bank-runs and may lead to financial instability phenomena. The effect can be changed by introducing a limit on CBDC holdings. The adoption of CBDC has little effect on macroeconomic variables but the interest rate on loans to firms goes up and credit goes down in a limited way. CBDC leads to a redistribution of wealth from firms and banks to households with a higher bank default rate. CBDC may have negative welfare effects, but a bound on holding enables a welfare improvement.

Suggested Citation

  • Emilio Barucci & Andrea Gurgone & Giulia Iori & Michele Azzone, 2026. "Central Bank Digital Currency, Flight-to-Quality, and Bank-Runs in an Agent-Based Model," Working Papers 2026: 01, Department of Economics, University of Venice "Ca' Foscari".
    • Handle: RePEc:ven:wpaper:2026:01
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    JEL classification:

    • E42 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Monetary Sytsems; Standards; Regimes; Government and the Monetary System
    • E44 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy
    • E47 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Forecasting and Simulation: Models and Applications
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies
    • G01 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Financial Crises
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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