Course Details

930: The Rise of Digital Money

February 3-7, 2020
1:45 PM - 3:15 PM
In-Person

Digital forms of money (Libra, AliPay, M-Pesa, Paxos, Stablecoins, Swish, WeChat Pay, Zelle) are transforming monetary systems, commerce, and banking. They are increasingly in our wallets as well as in the minds of policymakers. Consumers are beginning to benefit from greater convenience, higher speed, and lower costs in making and receiving payments. But how should we think of these new digital forms of money? Are they money at all, and does that matter? Will they really benefit from rapid adoption? If so, what might their implications be, on the banking sector to start with—where money is customarily created and managed today? And how might central banks react?

Class Type: Lecture and Discussion

Class Format: TBA

Hours of Reading: 1-2 hours/session

Study Group Leader(s):

Nolvia Saca

Nolvia N. Saca is a professor of Banking Analysis and Public Policy at the Escuela Superior de Economia y Negocios. She is an economist with strong background on financial issues, working in senior positions at the International Monetary Fund, the Pacific Investment Management Company(PIMCO), and the Central Bank of El Salvador.