Central Bank Digital Currency

Question A:

The Bank for International Settlements defines a central bank digital currency as follows: ‘In simple terms, a central bank digital currency (CBDC) would be a digital banknote. It could be used by individuals to pay businesses, shops or each other (a 'retail CBDC'), or between financial institutions to settle trades in financial markets (a ‘wholesale CBDC').

For developed countries, a central bank digital currency that is available to the public at large would offer social benefits that exceed the associated costs or risks.

Responses weighted by each expert's confidence

Question B:

Central banks that do not introduce their own digital money risk losing the ability to conduct effective monetary policy.

Responses weighted by each expert's confidence

Question C:

The introduction of a central bank digital currency is unlikely to have major effects on the economy.

Responses weighted by each expert's confidence

Question A Participant Responses

Participant University Vote Confidence Bio/Vote History
Allen
Franklin Allen
Imperial College London
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
It depends on the implementation but CBDCs have the potential to provide a safe have during times of uncertainty.
-see background information here
Antras
Pol Antras
Harvard
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Bandiera
Oriana Bandiera
London School of Economics Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Blanchard
Olivier Blanchard
Peterson Institute
Disagree
8
Bio/Vote History
Risk of disintermediation of the banking sector, difficult to avoid
Bloom
Nicholas Bloom
Stanford
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Blundell
Richard William Blundell
University College London Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Carletti
Elena Carletti
Bocconi
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Danthine
Jean-Pierre Danthine
Paris School of Economics
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
I would be more positive for a wholesale CBDC
De Grauwe
Paul De Grauwe
LSE
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Eeckhout
Jan Eeckhout
UPF Barcelona
Strongly Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Fehr
Ernst Fehr
Universität Zurich
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Freixas
Xavier Freixas
Barcelona GSE
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Fuchs-Schündeln
Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Galí
Jordi Galí
Barcelona GSE
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Giavazzi
Francesco Giavazzi
Bocconi Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Griffith
Rachel Griffith
University of Manchester
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Guerrieri
Veronica Guerrieri
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
7
Bio/Vote History
Guiso
Luigi Guiso
Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Guriev
Sergei Guriev
Sciences Po
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Honohan
Patrick Honohan
Trinity College Dublin
Uncertain
8
Bio/Vote History
Central banks must ensure that payments technology is secure and low cost; this may not require them to provide retail services directly.
-see background information here
Javorcik
Beata Javorcik
University of Oxford
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Krahnen
Jan Pieter Krahnen
Goethe University Frankfurt
Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Critical issues: what role for digital currencies in competition with crypto currencies, what is impact on banking industry?
Kőszegi
Botond Kőszegi
Central European University
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
La Ferrara
Eliana La Ferrara
Harvard Kennedy Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Leuz
Christian Leuz
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
At this point we don't know. See all the CB research papers. Much hinges on design of CBDC and specific features of banking/payment system.
-see background information here
-see background information here
-see background information here
Mayer
Thierry Mayer
Sciences-Po Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Meghir
Costas Meghir
Yale
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Neary
Peter Neary
Oxford Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Pagano
Marco Pagano
Università di Napoli Federico II
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Pastor
Lubos Pastor
Chicago Booth
Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Agree, as long as measures are introduced to reduce the risk of bank runs, which increases under the CBDC.
Persson
Torsten Persson
Stockholm University Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Pissarides
Christopher Pissarides
London School of Economics and Political Science Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Portes
Richard Portes
London Business School
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Prendergast
Canice Prendergast
Chicago Booth
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Propper
Carol Propper
Imperial College London Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Rasul
Imran Rasul
University College London Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Reichlin
Lucrezia Reichlin
London Business School
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Repullo
Rafael Repullo
CEMFI
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Rey
Hélène Rey
London Business School
Uncertain
9
Bio/Vote History
It would depend the structure. Desintermediatrion of the banks or not? etc.
Schoar
Antoinette Schoar
MIT
Uncertain
10
Bio/Vote History
Storesletten
Kjetil Storesletten
University of Minnesota
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Sturm
Daniel Sturm
London School of Economics
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Reducing transaction costs for payments would be good, but these benefits could be offset by an increase in illegal activity.
Van Reenen
John Van Reenen
LSE
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Vickers
John Vickers
Oxford
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Voth
Hans-Joachim Voth
University of Zurich
Disagree
5
Bio/Vote History
Whelan
Karl Whelan
University College Dublin Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Wyplosz
Charles Wyplosz
The Graduate Institute Geneva
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Zilibotti
Fabrizio Zilibotti
Yale University Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History

Question B Participant Responses

Participant University Vote Confidence Bio/Vote History
Allen
Franklin Allen
Imperial College London
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
The recent listing of Coinbase with a value greater than the one of the NYSE or Nasdaq shows that cryptocurrencies may start being important
-see background information here
Antras
Pol Antras
Harvard
Uncertain
6
Bio/Vote History
Presumably they can use regulation (targeted to private companies offering digital currency) to keep control over monetary policy
Bandiera
Oriana Bandiera
London School of Economics Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Blanchard
Olivier Blanchard
Peterson Institute
Disagree
8
Bio/Vote History
I have never understood this argument. Either private currencies float, or they sell at par. Neither case makes m policy irrelevant.
Bloom
Nicholas Bloom
Stanford
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Blundell
Richard William Blundell
University College London Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Carletti
Elena Carletti
Bocconi
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Danthine
Jean-Pierre Danthine
Paris School of Economics
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
De Grauwe
Paul De Grauwe
LSE
Disagree
6
Bio/Vote History
Eeckhout
Jan Eeckhout
UPF Barcelona
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Fehr
Ernst Fehr
Universität Zurich
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Freixas
Xavier Freixas
Barcelona GSE
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Fuchs-Schündeln
Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Galí
Jordi Galí
Barcelona GSE
Uncertain
7
Bio/Vote History
Giavazzi
Francesco Giavazzi
Bocconi Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Griffith
Rachel Griffith
University of Manchester
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Guerrieri
Veronica Guerrieri
Chicago Booth
Disagree
7
Bio/Vote History
Guiso
Luigi Guiso
Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Guriev
Sergei Guriev
Sciences Po
Disagree
6
Bio/Vote History
Honohan
Patrick Honohan
Trinity College Dublin
Disagree
8
Bio/Vote History
Prudential and conduct regulation of private providers would suffice.
Javorcik
Beata Javorcik
University of Oxford
Disagree
8
Bio/Vote History
Krahnen
Jan Pieter Krahnen
Goethe University Frankfurt
Uncertain
6
Bio/Vote History
The answer depends on whether or not digitalization of a currency is a necessary condition to maintain the role of government-backed monies.
Kőszegi
Botond Kőszegi
Central European University
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
La Ferrara
Eliana La Ferrara
Harvard Kennedy Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Leuz
Christian Leuz
Chicago Booth
Disagree
2
Bio/Vote History
Not if central banks retain oversight and regulate any private sector DC in the way they regulate banks.
Mayer
Thierry Mayer
Sciences-Po Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Meghir
Costas Meghir
Yale
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Neary
Peter Neary
Oxford Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Pagano
Marco Pagano
Università di Napoli Federico II
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Pastor
Lubos Pastor
Chicago Booth
Disagree
9
Bio/Vote History
Central banks without CBDCs lose the ability to make interest rates deeply negative, but monetary policy can be effective without it.
Persson
Torsten Persson
Stockholm University Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Pissarides
Christopher Pissarides
London School of Economics and Political Science Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Portes
Richard Portes
London Business School
Disagree
7
Bio/Vote History
Prendergast
Canice Prendergast
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
7
Bio/Vote History
Propper
Carol Propper
Imperial College London Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Rasul
Imran Rasul
University College London Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Reichlin
Lucrezia Reichlin
London Business School
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Repullo
Rafael Repullo
CEMFI
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Rey
Hélène Rey
London Business School
Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Ability to avoid currency substitution depends to some degree on international regulatory cooperation, which is uncertain.
Schoar
Antoinette Schoar
MIT
Uncertain
10
Bio/Vote History
it depends strongly on how countries regulate the use of privately provided stable coins and crypto currencies
Storesletten
Kjetil Storesletten
University of Minnesota
Disagree
6
Bio/Vote History
Sturm
Daniel Sturm
London School of Economics
Disagree
1
Bio/Vote History
Van Reenen
John Van Reenen
LSE
Disagree
6
Bio/Vote History
Vickers
John Vickers
Oxford
Disagree
5
Bio/Vote History
Voth
Hans-Joachim Voth
University of Zurich
Disagree
7
Bio/Vote History
Whelan
Karl Whelan
University College Dublin Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Wyplosz
Charles Wyplosz
The Graduate Institute Geneva
Strongly Disagree
6
Bio/Vote History
I don't see a deep difference between electronic money (current situation) and CBDC as far as the conduct of monetary policy is concerned.
Zilibotti
Fabrizio Zilibotti
Yale University Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History

Question C Participant Responses

Participant University Vote Confidence Bio/Vote History
Allen
Franklin Allen
Imperial College London
Disagree
5
Bio/Vote History
I think they have the potential to reshape the financial system and hence have a significant effect on the economy.
-see background information here
Antras
Pol Antras
Harvard
Disagree
5
Bio/Vote History
I certainly see some potential benefits. That's not inconsistent with current valuations of private digital currencies looking like a bubble
Bandiera
Oriana Bandiera
London School of Economics Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Blanchard
Olivier Blanchard
Peterson Institute
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
I may miss the vision thing. It may improve plumbing. But to me, it seems like much ado about not much.
Bloom
Nicholas Bloom
Stanford
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Blundell
Richard William Blundell
University College London Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Carletti
Elena Carletti
Bocconi
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Danthine
Jean-Pierre Danthine
Paris School of Economics
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
De Grauwe
Paul De Grauwe
LSE
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Eeckhout
Jan Eeckhout
UPF Barcelona
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Fehr
Ernst Fehr
Universität Zurich
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Freixas
Xavier Freixas
Barcelona GSE
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Fuchs-Schündeln
Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Galí
Jordi Galí
Barcelona GSE
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Giavazzi
Francesco Giavazzi
Bocconi Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Griffith
Rachel Griffith
University of Manchester
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Guerrieri
Veronica Guerrieri
Chicago Booth
Disagree
7
Bio/Vote History
Guiso
Luigi Guiso
Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Guriev
Sergei Guriev
Sciences Po
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Honohan
Patrick Honohan
Trinity College Dublin
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Javorcik
Beata Javorcik
University of Oxford
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Krahnen
Jan Pieter Krahnen
Goethe University Frankfurt
Uncertain
6
Bio/Vote History
As before, it will have an effect if it turns the table in the competition between state and private (crypto) monies.
Kőszegi
Botond Kőszegi
Central European University
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
La Ferrara
Eliana La Ferrara
Harvard Kennedy Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Leuz
Christian Leuz
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
2
Bio/Vote History
Some analyses support statement others say exact opposite. Could affect bank competition, depositor behavior, transmission, but by how much?
-see background information here
-see background information here
-see background information here
Mayer
Thierry Mayer
Sciences-Po Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Meghir
Costas Meghir
Yale
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Neary
Peter Neary
Oxford Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Pagano
Marco Pagano
Università di Napoli Federico II
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Pastor
Lubos Pastor
Chicago Booth
Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Persson
Torsten Persson
Stockholm University Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Pissarides
Christopher Pissarides
London School of Economics and Political Science Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Portes
Richard Portes
London Business School
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Prendergast
Canice Prendergast
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
7
Bio/Vote History
Propper
Carol Propper
Imperial College London Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Rasul
Imran Rasul
University College London Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Reichlin
Lucrezia Reichlin
London Business School
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Repullo
Rafael Repullo
CEMFI
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Rey
Hélène Rey
London Business School
Uncertain
9
Bio/Vote History
depends how its is structured
Schoar
Antoinette Schoar
MIT
Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
If regulated poorly it can lead to big instability in the financial system. if regulated well it will not make a big impact on productivity
Storesletten
Kjetil Storesletten
University of Minnesota
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Sturm
Daniel Sturm
London School of Economics
Agree
1
Bio/Vote History
Van Reenen
John Van Reenen
LSE
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Vickers
John Vickers
Oxford
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Efficiency gains from CBDC could have big effects on bank business models, further strengthening the case for them to be better-capitalised.
Voth
Hans-Joachim Voth
University of Zurich
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Whelan
Karl Whelan
University College Dublin Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Wyplosz
Charles Wyplosz
The Graduate Institute Geneva
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Zilibotti
Fabrizio Zilibotti
Yale University Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History