Abstract
This paper offers a macroeconomic perspective on the "Reserves for All" (RFA) proposal to let the general public hold electronic central bank money and transact with it. I propose an equivalence result according to which a marginal substitution of outside money (e.g., RFA) for inside money (e.g., deposits) does not affect macroeconomic outcomes. I identify key conditions for equivalence and argue that these conditions likely are violated, implying that RFA would change macroeconomic outcomes. I also relate the analysis to common arguments found in discussions on RFA and point to inconsistencies and open questions.
Authors
- Dirk Niepelt
JEL codes
- E42
- E51
- E58
- E61
- E63
- H63