DP12272 A Central Bank's Optimal Balance Sheet Size?

Author(s):	Charles A Goodhart
Publication Date:	September 2017
Keyword(s):	auction risk, central bank balance sheet, Debt Management, interest rate risk, liquidity, Monetary Policy Renormalisation, QE
JEL(s):	E50, E52, E63, H63
Programme Areas:	Monetary Economics and Fluctuations
Link to this Page:	cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=12272

Unlike other facets of monetary policy renormalisation, there has been little discussion yet of what principles should determine the optimum size of a Central Bank's balance sheet, the end-point to which on-going portfolio reductions should approach. In this note I start by addressing the arguments of those who would leave this balance sheet very large, much as now; and then continue with the counter-arguments, also stressing the nature of the relationships between monetary and fiscal policies, and between the Central Bank and the Treasury's Debt Management Office.