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    S INCE the onset of the financial crisis in 2007, there has been a dramatic expansion in the size of the balance sheets of the Bank of England (BOE), the European Central Bank (ECB), and the U.S. Federal reserve (Fed). Central banks found themselves in a policy quandary. They had difficulty further low- ering their policy interest rates to ward off the recession because the rates were already quite low. As a result, these central banks undertook unconventional policies aimed at stabilizing financial markets and fighting the recession by boosting total demand

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    S INCE the onset of the financial crisis in 2007, there has been a dramatic expansion in the size of the balance sheets of the Bank of England (BOE), the European Central Bank (ECB), and the U.S. Federal reserve (Fed). Central banks found themselves in a policy quandary. They had difficulty further low- ering their policy interest rates to ward off the recession because the rates were already quite low. As a result, these central banks undertook unconventional policies aimed at stabilizing financial markets and fighting the recession by boosting total demand

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    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    32 views1 page

    Ballooning Balance Sheets

    Uploaded by

    Economiks Panviews
    S INCE the onset of the financial crisis in 2007, there has been a dramatic expansion in the size of the balance sheets of the Bank of England (BOE), the European Central Bank (ECB), and the U.S. Federal reserve (Fed). Central banks found themselves in a policy quandary. They had difficulty further low- ering their policy interest rates to ward off the recession because the rates were already quite low. As a result, these central banks undertook unconventional policies aimed at stabilizing financial markets and fighting the recession by boosting total demand

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    DATA SPOTLIGHT

    Ballooning Balance Sheets


    Major central banks have been injecting liquidity to contain the effects of the global nancial crisis
    INCE DS1, 10/26/12

    the onset of the financial crisis in 2007, there has been a dramatic expansion in the size of the balance sheets of the Bank of England (BOE), the European Central Bank (ECB), and the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed). Central banks found themselves in a policy quandary. They had difficulty further lowering their policy interest rates to ward off the recession because the rates were already quite low. As a result, these central banks undertook unconventional policies aimed at stabilizing financial markets and fighting the recession by boosting total demand.

    DS1, 10/26/12

    quantitative easing used purchases of both government bonds and mortgage-backed securities to reduce long-term yields, especially on residential mortgage rates. Despite their somewhat different focus, a common result has been a rapid ballooning of all three central banks balance sheets. Since the onset of the subprime mortgage crisis in August 2007, the BOEs balance sheet has grown 380 percent; the Eurosystems has mushroomed by 241 percent; and the Feds has grown 221 percent.

    Central banks total assets have surged during the global financial crisis.
    (total assets, end-of-month values, national currency) 6 Eurosystem (trillions) 5 10/26/12 Bank of England (100 billions) DS3, Federal Reserve (trillions) 4 3 2 1 0 2007 08 09 10 11 12

    The Eurosystem provided more credit to banks.


    (end-of-month values, billion euros) 4,000 DS3, 10/26/12 3,000

    Claims on depository institutions

    2,000

    1,000 Claims on general government (net) 0 2007 08 09

    Claims on private sector

    10

    11

    12

    Note: The Eurosystem comprises the ECB and euro area national central banks.

    The BOE purchased government securities.


    (end-of-month values, billion pounds) 400

    The Fed bought government bonds and mortgage-backed securities.


    (end-of-month values, billion dollars) 2,000 Claims on central government (net) 1,500 Claims on private sector

    300

    Claims on central government (net)

    1,000 500

    200

    Claims on depository institutions 100 Claims on private sector 0 2007 08 09 10 11 12 0 500

    2007

    08

    09

    10

    11

    12

    Although each of the central banks had a different approach, all three acted aggressively to inject liquidity into their economies and promote growth. The BOE engaged in a targeted quantitative easing policy that focused mostly on the purchase of government securities. Since March 2009, the BOEs purchases of government securities (called gilts) have totaled 14percent of GDP. The ECB has conducted a range of measures, including long-term financing operations and a limited securities market program for sovereigns. The Feds

    About the database


    The data are derived from the International Financial Statistics database, which contains current statistics for 194 countries covering all aspects of international and domestic finance. The database is available at http:// elibrary-data.imf.org Prepared by Ricardo Davico and Brian John Goldsmith of the IMFs Statistics Department.
    Finance Finance & & Development Development December December 2012 43

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