Speevr logo

Digital currencies are transforming the future of money

Digital currencies are transforming the future of money | Speevr

Digital currencies like Bitcoin often make headlines for the massive swings in their value, but beyond the intrigue of skyrocketing and plummeting prices the rising popularity of cryptocurrencies poses serious questions for financial institutions and monetary policy. Eswar Prasad joins David Dollar for a conversation on the digitalization of money and what digital currencies could mean for the future of cash, international payments, and the strength of the U.S. dollar. Prasad also explains why some central banks have hesitated to introduce digital currencies while others have embraced them.

Related content: 
The Future of Money
Five myths about cryptocurrency
The Brutal Truth About Bitcoin

Eswar Prasad

Senior Fellow – Global Economy and Development

Twitter
EswarSPrasad

David Dollar

Senior Fellow – Foreign Policy, Global Economy and Development, John L. Thornton China Center

Twitter
davidrdollar

Analysis – Monetary policy and the value of the public debt

Analysis - Monetary policy and the value of the public debt | Speevr

Pressure is set to mount on governments to start to reduce their national debt Yet paradoxically US and UK post-crisis monetary policy practice stands to increase it Changes in the operating procedures of these two central banks seem likely One way could be sterilisation o…   Become a member to read the rest of this […]

Global Letter – You wouldn’t want to start from here

Global Letter - You wouldn’t want to start from here | Speevr

The policy challenges facing the advanced economies are daunting, and many will fail to deliver. No holds barred Fiscal and monetary policy were loosened rapidly and often unconventionally in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the stringent containment measures taken to bring …   Become a member to read the rest of this article

Chart of the month – Government bond yields unprecedently low – April 2020

Chart of the month - Government bond yields unprecedently low - April 2020 | Speevr

Bond yields are extraordinarily, and unprecedently, low … adding to the impetus of fiscal expansion     Bond yields across the major economies have fallen to hitherto unheard of levels. The stock of government bonds with sub-1% yields has doubled from…   Become a member to read the rest of this article

MEXICO: Discrepancy widens between monetary and fiscal stimulus

Teneo-Europe-Report

Developments this week highlight the divergence between the government led by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) and the Central Bank (Banxico). Without coordinated fiscal and monetary action, the worst-case scenarios for the economy are more likely to materialize; thes…   Become a member to read the rest of this article

Macro Series – Global Letter – Monetary Finance – Redux

Macro Series - Global Letter - Monetary Finance - Redux | Speevr

Policymakers are not quite there yet, but are edging towards outright monetary finance. Forward thinking We have long argued that what was once considered unconventional monetary policy was here to stay and, if anything, likely only to become more unconventional. This st…   Become a member to read the rest of this article

Chart of the month – UK bank rate at a 326 year low – March 2020

Chart of the month – UK bank rate at a 326 year low – March 2020 | Speevr

The UK’s Bank Rate is at a 326-year low…   … with possibly more easing to follow 1.  More than ever, the world is in an era of historically-depressed interest rates. 2.  UK Bank Rate has never been lower. −      Follo…   Become a member to read the rest of this article

EUROPE/MACRO: The politics of “bazooka” frustration

EUROPE/MACRO: The politics of “bazooka” frustration | Speevr

● Last week, the fiscal and economic measures announced by individual member states created high expectations, especially when Germany’s finance minister joined the chorus of those referring to “bazookas” lately. ● Yesterday’s Eurogroup meeting could, therefore, only disappoin…   Become a member to read the rest of this article

Macro Series – Global Letter – The day after tomorrow

Macro Series - Global Letter - The day after tomorrow | Speevr

The real challenge, for policy and more, will come after the virus recession is over. You wouldn’t choose to start from here. But the reality is that after a long, hesitant, and uneven upswing, the world economy is being tipped into recession – by a virus. The consensus – …   Become a member to […]

Macro Series – Global Letter – Easy Target

Macro Series - Global Letter - Easy Target | Speevr

The Bank of England has come under attack for cutting rates. This is unfair and misguided. Back to the bottom The Bank of England has followed the example of the Federal Reserve, and slashed its major policy rate by 50bps. UK Bank Rate is now back down at a 326-year low …   Become a […]