Central banks

The poor, the rich, and the credit channel of monetary policy

05/20/2025 European Central Bank Central banks

Monetary policy can have contrasting effects on economic inequality via distinct channels. We examine the effect working via the credit channel, whereby monetary policy induces heterogeneous access to credit for business owners based on their wealth. Using unique data on business loan applications from small firms, we find that monetary expansions increase the bank’s likelihood to approve loan applications, particularly so for low-wealth entrepreneurs, translating to higher future income and wealth.

The poor, the rich, and the credit channel of monetary policy

05/20/2025 European Central Bank Central banks

Monetary policy can have contrasting effects on economic inequality via distinct channels. We examine the effect working via the credit channel, whereby monetary policy induces heterogeneous access to credit for business owners based on their wealth. Using unique data on business loan applications from small firms, we find that monetary expansions increase the bank’s likelihood to approve loan applications, particularly so for low-wealth entrepreneurs, translating to higher future income and wealth.

Risks to euro area financial stability from trade tensions

05/20/2025 European Central Bank Central banks

Trade tensions can be a threat to financial stability, with both the implementation of trade restrictions and trade policy uncertainty resulting in adverse consequences. In this special feature, we show that trade policy uncertainty can adversely affect the real economy as well as banks’ funding, asset quality, profitability and lending. Policy authorities need to identify risks stemming from trade tensions, monitor their transmission and evaluate their potential impact on financial stability.

Liquidity dependencies in the euro area

05/19/2025 European Central Bank Central banks

This study investigates to what extent the significant liquidity injections by the ECB over the past 15 years may have created a dependency by banks on central bank liquidity itself. Following Acharya et al. (2024), I examine whether the ECB's liquidity provision changed banks' incentives to increase liquid deposits, potentially heightening their susceptibility to liquidity shocks.

Liquidity dependencies in the euro area

05/19/2025 European Central Bank Central banks

This study investigates to what extent the significant liquidity injections by the ECB over the past 15 years may have created a dependency by banks on central bank liquidity itself. Following Acharya et al. (2024), I examine whether the ECB's liquidity provision changed banks' incentives to increase liquid deposits, potentially heightening their susceptibility to liquidity shocks.

From purchases to exit: central bank interventions in corporate debt markets

05/13/2025 European Central Bank Central banks

Central banks increasingly act as market-makers-of-last-resort, yet the impact and exit of such interventions remain poorly understood. Using euro-area data, we analyze the cycle of market freeze, intervention, and exit in short-term debt markets. A run on money market funds (MMFs) triggered a collapse in these markets in March 2020. Firms replaced only 27% of lost funding through credit lines. The European Central Bank intervened, fully replacing MMFs for some firms and allowing them to issue more debt at lower rates and longer maturities.

From purchases to exit: central bank interventions in corporate debt markets

05/13/2025 European Central Bank Central banks

Central banks increasingly act as market-makers-of-last-resort, yet the impact and exit of such interventions remain poorly understood. Using euro-area data, we analyze the cycle of market freeze, intervention, and exit in short-term debt markets. A run on money market funds (MMFs) triggered a collapse in these markets in March 2020. Firms replaced only 27% of lost funding through credit lines. The European Central Bank intervened, fully replacing MMFs for some firms and allowing them to issue more debt at lower rates and longer maturities.

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