Overstrained Saviours: Central banks, Public Finances, and the End of the Money Illusion

Volume 8, Issue 5, October 2023     |     PP. 180-188      |     PDF (246 K)    |     Pub. Date: October 18, 2023
DOI: 10.54647/economics790420    79 Downloads     172481 Views  

Author(s)

Sikandar Siddiqui, Deloitte Audit Analytics GmbH, Europa-Allee 91, 60486 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Abstract
Central banks have the ability to provide commercial banks in their currency area with liquid funds at very low costs when needed. This enables them to intervene in the financial sector to stabilise it during crisis situations. However, if the liquidity shortages in the commercial banking sector are merely symptoms of a deeper, far-reaching solvency crisis in the overall economy, and if the fiscal policy capability of the public sector is already restricted due to high levels of debt, the healing powers of monetary policy reach their limits. There is evidence suggesting that many countries in the global West could soon find themselves in such a situation.

Keywords
Monetary policy, public debt, financial stability, inflation

Cite this paper
Sikandar Siddiqui, Overstrained Saviours: Central banks, Public Finances, and the End of the Money Illusion , SCIREA Journal of Economics. Volume 8, Issue 5, October 2023 | PP. 180-188. 10.54647/economics790420

References

[ 1 ] Andrews, D. M., A. McGowan und V. Millot (2017): Confronting the Zombies: Policies for Productivity Revival. OECD Economic Policy Paper No. 21, Paris. Avaliable online at https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/f14fd801-en.pdf?expires=1685082853&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=2E7505518E6E2680139E7222173E36B6 (retrieved on June 6, 2023)
[ 2 ] Baring, F. (1797): Observations on the Establishment of the Bank of England & on the Paper Circulation of the Country. London (Minerva Press)
[ 3 ] Bell, S., M. Chui, T. Gomes, P. Moser-Boehm und A. Pierres Tejada (2003): Why are central banks reporting losses? Does it matter? BIS Bulletin 68, February 7. Avaliable online at https://www.bis.org/publ/bisbull68.pdf (retrieved on June 6, 2023)
[ 4 ] Bender, C. (2023): Zeitenwende – Zeit der Verantwortung. Deutschland Archiv, May 10. Available online at https://www.bpb.de/themen/deutschlandarchiv/520279/zeitenwende-zeit-der-verantwortung/ (retrieved on June 6, 2023)
[ 5 ] Credit Suisse (2023): Zusammenschluss der Credit Suisse und UBS. Ad hoc-Mitteilung gemäss Art. 53 KR. Avaliable online at https://www.credit-suisse.com/about-us-news/de/articles/media-releases/credit-suisse-and-ubs-to-merge-202303.html (retrieved on June 6, 2023)
[ 6 ] Europäische Zentralbank (2017): Was ist Überschussliquidität und warum ist sie wichtig? Frankfurt am Main, 28. Dezember. Avaliable online at https://www.ecb.europa.eu/ecb/educational/explainers/tell-me-more/html/excess_liquidity.de.html#:~:text=Was%20k%C3%B6nnen%20Banken%20mit%20%C3%9Cberschussliquidit%C3%A4t,verbleibt%20definitionsgem%C3%A4%C3%9F%20bei%20der%20Zentralbank (retrieved on June 6, 2023).
[ 7 ] Eidgenössisches Finanzdepartement (2023): Übernahme der Credit Suisse durch die UBS. Online verfürbar unter https://www.efd.admin.ch/efd/de/home/finanzplatz/uebernahme-credit-suisse-ubs.html (retrieved on June 6, 2023).
[ 8 ] Estes, N. (2021): Bill Gates is the biggest private owner of farmland in the United States. Why? The Guardian, April 5. Avaliable online at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/05/bill-gates-climate-crisis-farmland (retrieved on June 6, 2023).
[ 9 ] Fox, M. (2018): Where the super wealthy are investing their money. CNBC Personal Finance, 15. November. Avaliable online at https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/15/wealthiest-people-are-investing-in-real-estate-private-equity.html (retrieved on June 6, 2023).
[ 10 ] Giordano, J. (2020): Federal Reserve Becomes Buyer of Last Resort. S&P Global, 27. März. Avaliable online at https://www.spglobal.com/en/research-insights/articles/federal-reserve-becomes-buyer-of-last-resort (retrieved on June 6, 2023).
[ 11 ] O’Keefe (2009): Betting the farm. Fortune Magazine, June 10. Avaliable online at https://money.cnn.com/2009/06/08/retirement/betting_the_farm.fortune/ (retrieved on June 6, 2023).
[ 12 ] Schröter, W. (2015): Der große Schulden-Bumerang. Hamburg (Murmann).
[ 13 ] Schulz, B. (2012): Schuldenquote: Debatte über Schuldenerlass durch Notenbank. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, October 15.
[ 14 ] Seckelmann, M., und S. Siddiqui (2009): Der Subprime-Kollaps: Ursachen, Auswirkungen und Implikationen für staatliches Handeln. der moderne staat 1-2009, S. 133-157.
[ 15 ] Shephard, C., und A. Jason (2023): The Reasons Why Wealthy Investors Consistently Turn to Farmland Investments. Nasdaq Articles, May 2. Avaliable online at https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/the-reasons-why-wealthy-investors-consistently-turn-to-farmland-investments (retrieved on June 6, 2023).
[ 16 ] Verma, M. (2022): Financial and Monetary Systems: Here's why so many central banks are buying gold. Avaliable online at https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/11/central-banks-gold-market-economy-global/ (retrieved on June 6, 2023)
[ 17 ] Werner, R., J. Ryan-Collins, T. Greenham und A. Jackson (2012): Where Does Money Come From? London (New Economics Foundation).