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This paper examines the financial strength of central banks in Central America and the Dominican Republic (CADR). Some central banks are working off the effects of intervention in distressed financial institutions during the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Their net income has improved since then owing to lower interest rates, a reduction in interest bearing debt, and recapitalization transfers. Claims on the government have fallen, but remain high and are typically reimbursed at below-market rates, and capital is negative when adjusting for this. Capital is sufficient to back a low inflation target given that the income position is supported by unremunerated reserve requirements. Capital is likely to increase over time, but only gradually, leaving countries vulnerable to macroeconomic risks. The capacity of CADR central banks to engage in macroeconomic stabilization would benefit from increased emphasis on low inflation as the primary objective of monetary policy and a stronger commitment by governments to recapitalization.

Banks and banking, Central --- Banker's banks --- Banks, Central --- Central banking --- Central banks --- Banks and banking --- E-books --- Accounting --- Banks and Banking --- Money and Monetary Policy --- Institutions and the Macroeconomy --- Monetary Systems --- Standards --- Regimes --- Government and the Monetary System --- Payment Systems --- Monetary Policy --- Central Banks and Their Policies --- Banks --- Depository Institutions --- Micro Finance Institutions --- Mortgages --- Public Administration --- Public Sector Accounting and Audits --- Banking --- Financial reporting, financial statements --- Monetary economics --- International reserves --- Financial statements --- Central bank balance sheet --- Currencies --- Money --- Public financial management (PFM) --- Central bank bills --- Foreign exchange reserves --- Finance, Public --- Dominican Republic

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Several Central American (CADR) central banks with independent monetary policies have adopted policy interest rates as their main instrument to signal their monetary policy stances, often in the context of adopting or transitioning to inflation targeting regimes. This paper finds that the interest-rate transmission mechanism, or the pass-through of the policy rate to market rates, is generally weaker and slower in CADR than in the LA6, the countries selected as benchmarks. A variety of potential factors behind this finding are examined, including the degrees of financial dollarization, exchange rate flexibility, bank concentration, financial sector development, and fiscal dominance. Through panel data analysis, the study suggests that the transmission mechanism can be strengthened by increasing exchange rate flexibility, and, over time, by adopting measures towards reducing financial dollarization, developing the financial sector, and reducing bank concentration.

Central America --- Economic conditions. --- Banks and Banking --- Foreign Exchange --- Money and Monetary Policy --- Monetary Systems --- Standards --- Regimes --- Government and the Monetary System --- Payment Systems --- Interest Rates: Determination, Term Structure, and Effects --- Monetary Policy --- Banks --- Depository Institutions --- Micro Finance Institutions --- Mortgages --- Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit: General --- Banking --- Currency --- Foreign exchange --- Finance --- Monetary economics --- Central bank policy rate --- Exchange rate flexibility --- Deposit rates --- Bank credit --- Financial services --- Inflation targeting --- Monetary policy --- Monetary policy frameworks --- Interest rates --- Banks and banking --- Credit --- Costa Rica