On money, debt, trust and central banking

Claudio Borio

No 763, BIS Working Papers from Bank for International Settlements

Abstract: This essay examines in detail the properties of a well functioning monetary system - defined as money plus the mechanisms to execute payments - in both the short and long run, drawing on both theory and the lessons from history. It stresses the importance of trust and of the institutions needed to secure it. Ensuring price and financial stability is critical to nurturing and maintaining that trust. In the process, the essay addresses several related questions, such as the relationship between money and debt, the viability of cryptocurrencies as money, money neutrality, and the nexus between monetary and financial stability. While the present monetary system, with central banks and a prudential apparatus at its core, can and must be improved, it still provides the best basis to build on.

Keywords: monetary system; money; debt; payments; trust; monetary stability; financial stability; central bank (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E00 E30 E40 E50 G21 N20 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 31 pages
Date: 2019-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cba, nep-his, nep-hpe, nep-mac, nep-mon, nep-pay and nep-soc
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

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