Sovereign Debt Crisis in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh: A Comparative Study

Using IMF's World Economic Outlook (WEO) data for the macroeconomic variables, this study comparatively examines the sovereign debt crises in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It identifies different macroeconomic factors related to the sovereign debt crisis, investigates their interrelations, and explores if their debt crises are similar. It shows that the general revenue to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratios of Sri Lanka degraded to converge with the upgrading status of Bangladesh during the Covid-19 period. Since 2010, Sri Lanka has maintained a well-off economic status with per capita GDP, while Bangladesh has a long way to go yet. The general expenses to GDP ratio of Sri Lanka shows stresses on its GDP, while that of Bangladesh is more relaxed. Sri Lanka has overstressed debt to GDP ratio along with Balance of Payments (BOP) deficits, while Bangladesh has continued traces of managed debt to GDP ratio along with BOP surpluses. Bangladesh has taken enough precautions in their sovereign debt management, compared to Sri Lanka. Even in 2020, Bangladesh maintained progressive investment track over the threshold limit of 30%, while Sri Lanka fell into a debt trap. Following the pandemic, Bangladesh has enjoyed a gross national savings to GDP ratio of above the threshold of 25%, while Sri Lanka is going through a critical phase. It shows governance myopia of Bangladesh regarding its imbalanced current account positions, while governance myopia of Sri Lanka exists with reference to its imbalanced current account positions, adverse gross debts, and government borrowing as well.

Two Major Economic Crises in the Early Twenty-First Century and their Impact on Central Bank Independence

Two major economic crises in the early twenty-first century have had a serious impact on monetary policy and CB independence. Disruption in financial intermediation and associated deflationary pressures caused by the global financial crisis of 2007–2009 and European financial crisis of 2010–2015 pushed central banks (CBs) in major currency areas towards adoption of unconventional monetary policy measures, including large-scale purchase of government bonds (quantitative easing). The same approach has been taken by CBs in response to the COVID-19 crisis in 2020 even if the characteristics of this crisis differ from the previous one. As a result of both crises, CBs have become major holders of government bonds and de facto – main creditors of governments. Against rapidly deteriorating fiscal balances, CBs have become hostages of fiscal policies, which compromises their independence. Risks to the CB independence also come from their additional mandates (beyond price stability) and populist political pressures.

Decoding the rise of Central Bank Digital Currency in China: designs, problems, and prospects

During the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a rapid shift in global transaction patterns from offline to online digital payment models, along with a growing interest in the development of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) in various countries. This article spotlights the unexamined issue of digital currency regulation by examining the practice and related regulatory rules of the pilot CBDC in China. Beginning with the global design choices of digital currencies, the article comparatively examines the technical design of China's CBDC, known as e-CNY. It further triggers a rethinking of conventional regulations for the protection of digital currency information by investigating the gap between the actual operation and design of e-CNY, as well as the gap between pilot policies and legal provisions such as the Cybersecurity Law, the Data Security Law, and the Personal Information Protection Law. This article argues that, on the one hand, the legislative balance between the protection of personal information and the regulation of illicit financial activities involved in the "loosely coupled account link” system of e-CNY should be reconsidered. On the other hand, the delineation of rights and responsibilities between dissemination institutions, payment service providers, and end-users needs to be further redefined and clarified.

Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Investment Behavior of DIIs and FIIs on Indian Debt and Equity Markets

This paper aims to examine the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the investment behaviours of both Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) and Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) in the Indian debt and equity markets. The study is based on the daily time-series data from January 01,2015, to June 03, 2020. The study has constructed three Structural Vector Auto Regression dynamic models to compare the investment behaviors of FIIs and DIIs in both pre-and post-pandemic periods. The results indicate that the Institutional Investors' activities do not significantly impact the equity returns in the Indian markets, which has remained so in the wake of Covid-19. The debt purchases and sales for the DIIs are relatively more inelastic to market returns and reflect the risk-averse investment attitude of DIIs because of the negligible impact of Covid-19. There is a drop in the risk appetite of the FIIs due to a rise in the share of debt holdings in their portfolio in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Reinstating fiscal policy for normal times: Public investment and Public Jobs Programmes

This paper upholds the classical Keynesian position that a laissez-faire market economy lacks a spontaneous tendency to full employment. Focusing on the UK case, it argues that monetary policy could not prevent the economic collapse of 2008-9 or achieve full recovery from the Great Recession that followed. The paper then outlines the case for fiscal policy to regain a permanent status of primacy in modern macroeconomic management, beyond the pandemic emergency. It distinguishes between public investment and automatic stabilisers, reducing discretionary actions to a minimum. It presents the case for re-empowering the State'spublic investment function and for reforming the system of automatic counter-cyclical stabilisers by means of public jobs programmes.

АНАЛІЗ ТЕНДЕНЦІЙ РОЗВИТКУ ГРОШОВО-КРЕДИТНОЇ СИСТЕМИ УКРАЇНИ

Bid устшност'1 фуищоиуваиия иацоиально!' грошово-кредитноi системи залетать ефективнсть органiзацľí в Kpami грошового обгу, девостi проведения заходв монетарного регулюваиия з боку центрального банку кроши i мотливкть задовольняти потреби спотивачв у р'вномаштиих иих ф'шансових послугах, а такот дieвiсть заход'ю щодо вдбудови иaшоiекоиомiкu у повоенний пер'юд i мотливкть нормального функцюнування в умовах военного стану. Метою статт'> е аналв теиденцй розвитку гpошово-кpедитиоi системи Украши, визначення етапв ii становления, а такот осиовиих проблем у поточний пер'юд. У робот'1 дотдтено становления та етапи розвитку грошово-кредитно!'системи в Укра'щ а саме визначено так ключов'! етапи: з 1991 р. - започаткування шституцшного становления грошово-кредитно!'системи;з 1996р. - введения иацюиальио!грошовоi одииицр з 1999 р. - подолання свтово!' фiиaисовоi кризи 1998 р. та розбудова нацонально!'грошово-кредитно!' системи;з 2009 р. - подолання наслдкв свтово!' фiиaисовоi кризи 2008 р.;з 2015 р. - подолання наслдкв росшсько-укра'шсько!' вiйии 2014 р.;з 2020 р. - подолання наслдкв свтово!' фiиaисовоi кризи 2019 р., прискореноi пандемею коpоиaвipусу;з 2022 р. - стабмвацю та подолання иаслдкв активно!' фази агресн роси проти Украши. Проаналвовано деяк ключовi показники, що характеризують грошово-кредитну систему кра'ши, а саме: дииaмiку грошово!' бази кра'ши, змии обл'шово!'ставки, щорчний прирст шдексу спотивчих цш, дииaмiку к'шькоmi дючих банюв та !'х активв, дииaмiку та структуру кредитв, що иaдaиi баиквськими установами, змiии pеитaбельиостi активв та катталу банквських установ. Проаналзовано основнi ризики та причини !'х виникнения у гpошово-кpедuтиiй системi Украши пд час вiйии. Визначено основнi поточи проблеми грошово-кредитно!' системи Украши у военний перод, а такот запропоновано деяк напрями !'х подолання. Запропоновано для оздоровления баиквського сектора вивести з ринку иедiездaтиi банки;для забезпечення шфляцшио!' стaбiльиостi иеобхдио забезпечити повернення до реалзацк полiтики iифляцiйиого таргетуваиия;для вдбудови економки, зокрема реального сектора, необхдно пом'якшити вимоги регулюваиия кредитио!'дяльиостi, впровадтувати нструменти цльового стимулювання кредитно! aктивиостi банквських установ.Alternate :The successful functioning of the national monetary system determines the efficiency of the country's money circulation, the effectiveness of monetary regulation measures taken by the country's central bank, and the ability to meet the needs of consumers for various financial services, as well as the effectiveness of measures to rebuild our economy in the post-war period and the ability to function normally under martial law. The purpose of the article is to analyze the trends in the development of the monetary system of Ukraine, to identify the stages of its formation along with the main problems in the current period. The publication examines the formation and stages of development of the monetary system in Ukraine, namely, identifying the following key stages: since 1991 - the beginning of the institutional formation of the monetary system;since 1996 - introduction of the national currency;since 1999 - overcoming the global financial crisis of 1998 and further development of the national monetary system;since 2009 - overcoming the consequences of the global financial crisis of 2008;since 2015 - overcoming the consequences of the russian-Ukrainian war of 2014;since 2020 - overcoming the consequences of the global financial crisis of 2019, accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic;since 2022 - stabilization and overcoming the consequences of the active phase of russia's aggression against Ukraine. Some key indicators characterizing the country's monetary system are analyzed, namely: the dynamics of the country's monetary base, changes in the discount rate, annual growth in the consumer price index, dynamics of the number of operating banks and their assets, dynamics and structure of loans granted by banking institutions, changes in the return on assets and capital of banking institutions. The main risks and causes of their occurrence in the monetary system of Ukraine during the wartime are analyzed. The main current problems of the monetary system of Ukraine in the wartime period are identified, and some directions for overcoming them are proposed. It is proposed that in order to sanitize the banking sector, it is necessary to withdraw insolvent banks from the market;to ensure inflationary stability, it is necessary to ensure a return to the implementation of inflation targeting policy;to restore the economy, in particular the real sector, it is necessary to ease the requirements for regulating loaning activity, to introduce instruments for targeted stimulation of loaning activity of banking institutions.

ANALYZING A MACROPRUDENTIAL INSTRUMENT DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC USING BORDER COLLISION BIFURCATION

Bank Indonesia, el banco central de Indonesia, ha realizado ajustes en un instrumento de política macroprudencial llamado índice de intermediación macroprudencial (IIM) para impulsar el crecimiento de los préstamos en el contexto de la recuperación económica nacional debido a la pandemia de COVID-19. En este artículo, se desarrolla un modelo dinámico de préstamo bancario con comportamiento procíclico, y se equipa con el instrumento predecesor del IIM denominado requerimiento de reserva basado en la relación préstamo-depósito (RR-RPD). Examinamos los efectos de los parámetros RR-RPD en la dinámica del préstamo utilizando el análisis de bifurcación de colisión de fronteras para determinar los valores umbral de los parámetros RR-RPD para que se pueda mantener la estabilidad del equilibrio del préstamo. Este modelo se aplica a los datos mensuales de los bancos comerciales de Indonesia antes y durante la pandemia de COVID-19 para evaluar la región de estabilidad de los parámetros del instrumento.Alternate :Bank Indonesia, the central bank of Indonesia, has made adjustment settings in a macroprudential policy instrument called macroprudential intermediation ratio (MIR) to boost loan growth in the context of national economic recovery due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this paper, a dynamic model of bank loan with procyclicality behavior is developed, and it is equipped with the predecessor of the MIR instrument called loan-to-deposit ratio based reserve requirement (LDR-RR). We examine the effects of LDR-RR parameters on the dynamics of loan using the border collision bifurcation analysis to determine the threshold values of the LDR-RR parameters so that the stability of loan equilibrium can be maintained. This model is applied to monthly data of Indonesian commercial banks before and during the COVID-19 pandemic to assess the stability region of the instrument parameters.

Redefining investors' goals in the post–normal world

PurposeThe purpose of the article is to show the changing behavior of investors in the post-pandemic period, the continued development of "emotional communities” in the financial market, as well as the factors contributing to their formation and the role of such communities in the elaboration of investors' decisions.Design/methodology/approachThe research includes an analysis of the popularity of various terms searched in the US segment of Google in the financial category from 2004 to 2022, their correlation with financial market indicators and theoretical observations around these data.FindingsThe results obtained by the author allow him to draw the following conclusions: (1) the change in investors' behavior indicates the formation of the new distributed community-centric model of the financial market;(2) the main distinguishing feature of the behavior of many retail investors is gamification;(3) the networking of investors contributes to a significant change in their priorities in the elaboration of investment decisions;(4) the fundamental indicators of the financial market play an ever decreasing role in the decision-making of individual investors.Originality/valueTo the best of the author's knowledge, the formation of emotional communities of investors and their role in the elaboration of mass investor decisions is not widely covered in the literature. The paper develops a framework for further studies on the role of emotional communities in the financial market and in changing behavior of retail investors.

Financial stability and monetary policy of the Central Bank of West African Countries: a Markov-Switching model

Purpose This paper aims to examine the response of monetary policy to financial instability in the West African Economic and Monetary Union.Design/methodology/approach Through annual aggregated data from 1970 to 2019, the empirical strategy is based on the Markov regime-switching model with fixed probabilities.Findings The results revealed that the monetary policy of the central bank of the West African Economic and Monetary Union is characterized by two regimes (calm and distress) with respect to the trend of financial stability. The authors also found that the occurrence of the calm regime was likely greater than that of the distress regime. In addition, the calm regime is longer than the distress regime. The authors finally revealed that the central bank reacts to financial instability risk by increasing its short-term interest rate when financial instability reaches a threshold.Research limitations/implications The limitation of this study is the unavailability of monthly or quarterly data that are more suitable for the methodological approach adopted.Originality/value This study is the one to estimate the response of the Central Bank of West African Countries to financial stress using a novel approach based on the Markov-Switching regression.

The effects of monetary policy response to the Covid-19 crisis on dynamic connectedness across financial markets in Central and Eastern Europe

This study investigates the effects of monetary policy interventions in Central and Eastern European (CEE) economies on shifts in financial market linkages during the Covid-19-induced crisis. We explore the market reaction to both standard and non-standard (e.g., quantitative easing) monetary policy announcements by central banks in Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Romania, and analyse the way they affected sovereign bond and stock market linkages. The analysis is further extended to include international spill-over effects. Research Design & Methods: We first quantify a set of time-varying asset correlations using asymmetric generalised DCC-GARCH models and daily data on financial asset returns. Going beyond the domestic stock-bond interdependencies, we explore cross-border connectedness between CEE economies, Germany, and the US. Next, we investigate the effects of detailed central bank announcements, as they unfolded during the Covid-19 crisis.

On the interdependencies between mortgage, credit card and auto loans delinquency rates: evidence from the US states plus the District of Columbia

PurposeThis study aims to explain how delinquency shocks in one type of debt contaminate the others. That is, the authors aim to shed light on the time pattern of delinquencies in different debt types.Design/methodology/approachThis study analyzes the interdependencies between mortgage, credit card and auto loans delinquency rates in the USA from 2003 to 2019, using a panel VAR-X, the panel Granger causality tests and the Geweke linear dependence measures. The authors also compute the impulse response functions of a shock to one kind of debt on the others and decompose the variance of the forecast errors.FindingsThe authors find a statistically significant bidirectional Granger causality between the delinquencies. The Geweke measures of linear dependence and the Dumitrescu and Hurlin Granger non-causality tests support that mortgage predominantly causes credit card and auto loan delinquencies. Auto loans also cause credit card delinquencies. The impulse response functions confirm this pattern. This scenario aligns with a sequence where debtors consider rational first to default on credit cards, second on auto loans and only on mortgages in the last instance. Indeed, credit card delinquencies Granger-cause delinquencies in other debts when it occurs.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to focus on the temporal pattern of delinquency rates for all the US states, using panel data. Furthermore, the results call for policymakers to design regulations to break the transmission channel from debt delinquencies.

Impact of Financial Technology on Improvement of Banks' Financial Performance

This study investigates the main financial technologies adopted by banks to improve their financial performance. The study population consists of commercial banks listed on the Amman Stock Exchange and Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, and includes financial information and data from 2012 to 2020. A total of 115 questionnaires, consisting of five questionnaires for each bank, were distributed to the study population in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. The dependent variable is financial performance, while the independent variable is financial technology (FinTech). Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to test the hypotheses. The results showed that FinTech has a positive effect on both total deposit and net profits. This study recommends that banks be encouraged to adopt inclusive strategies to attain sustainable development.

Central Bank Independence: Where Do We Stand?

Central bank independence (CBI) has long been considered a key aspect of effective monetary policy, as it allows central banks to make decisions free from political interference. However, the global financial crisis of 2007–2008 and recent events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and armed conflict in Ukraine have threatened CBI. This article aims to examine the impact of these events on CBI in OECD member countries, both on a de jure and de facto level, using a variety of indicators. The results suggest that CBI has largely remained unchanged in most countries, but there is disturbing evidence of political interference in CBI in the Republic of Türkiye.

An alternative interest-free home financing model

PurposeThis study aims to determine the relationship between the banking industry and home financing by conducting a regression analysis between the mortgage loan interest rates and the number of housing sales, and based on the results of the analysis, this paper proposes a new and alternative interest-free home financing model by directing the savings of the people in pension funds into real estate investment funds (housing fund), specifically established to provide a bank loan-free home financing solution. Diminishing Musharakah (partnership) is also integrated into the model from an interest-free and saving economy perspective. The model developed also provides opportunities to increase the size of the real estate investment funds and provide alternative investment tools to pension funds.Design/methodology/approachWhile the global financial crisis resulted from the mortgage crisis in the USA in very recent history, the world has been experiencing the evolution of a new health crisis, COVID-19, a pandemic that has been heavily affecting the global economy in the past two years. The housing sector is among one of the major industries that may be affected by this new global crisis because of the high dependency of the current home financing models on the banking industry, which is carrying the burden of the pandemic. The rapid increase in global debt volume, housing prices, inflation and interest rates are observed as bad signs that may increase the risks of the housing industry. A potential decrease in purchasing power because of high inflation rates may decrease the welfare of people and reduce the income level. While the total debt keeps increasing worldwide, and central banks are considering increasing the interest rates, any potential default in the repayment of the mortgage loans may trigger a new mortgage crisis as the bank loan-dependent financing system of the housing industry lacks alternatives. Thus, a relationship analysis between the banking and housing sectors is required to figure out the dependency of home financing on the banking industry, and a new sustainable home financing model is needed to protect the housing industry and the homebuyers from a negative effect of a new possible financial crisis.FindingsThe results of the analysis exhibit that there is a strong negative relationship between the mortgage loan interest rates and the total home sales. As a result, the new model is suggested and this new model is tested in an emerging country, Turkey, with the real housing sector and economic data where the interest rates are high and the home prices are booming. The results exhibit that the new interest-free home financing model provides a more economic financing solution compared with the high financing costs of bank loans.Research limitations/implicationsThe model proposed in this study is unique, and there is no such system that has integrated the pension funds, the real estate investment funds and diminishing partnership in one ecosystem. It is expected that the model may decrease the dependency of home financing on the banking industry and decrease the risks of the housing sector in the case a new financial crisis occurs.Social implicationsWhile providing a sustainable and alternative interest-free home financing tool, the model also provides individuals who do not prefer to use any bank loan because of religious or other concerns an opportunity to purchase their houses.Originality/valueThe model proposed in this study is a unique and original model that aims to provide a bank loan-free, sustainable home financing solution by integrating the pension funds, real estate investment funds and diminishing partnership in one ecosystem.

Guest editorial: Innovative practices in business, trade and commerce – challenges and opportunities

[...]the sixth track was on "Interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary innovations” to provide a holistic understanding of the challenges and opportunities in implementing innovative business practices (Sole, 2021). Special issue – track-wise papers Track I – innovations in financial practices Under this track many topics have been discussed, which include the impact of Covid-19 on the role of rural financial institutions in India, changing attitude towards digital payment system, Fintech, LIC IPO, perception of retail investors about cryptocurrency and the stock market and GST among others. (2023) addresses the growing research on cryptocurrency, which continue to draw significant interest from both investors and researchers despite being banned in many countries due to their perceived adverse impacts on the economy and financial system (Sousa et al., 2022). have discussed these issues in the paper titled, "Crypto-hesitancy: is regulation the answer?” with the objectives to explore and address the possible reasons for the hesitancy in accepting cryptocurrency as an asset class by the various countries governments and central banks in the World. The study found that the government of developed and developing nations and central banks hesitate to regulate and accept cryptocurrency due to various reasons, like no government control and no central bank involvement in the management of cryptocurrency.

Role of monetary policy in economic growth and development: from theory to empirical evidence

PurposeThis article examines the effects of credit to private sector on the business and trade activities. The effectiveness of rapid expansion in public and private borrowing through state's intervention after COVID-19 pandemic has been assessed in this study.Design/methodology/approachThe model to determine the role of credit expansion is based on four equations estimated through panel least square technique on 18 years data of 186 countries.FindingsIt is concluded that credit to private sector and external debt improve the investment in infrastructure, which is a significant determinant of gross domestic product growth. Empirical evidences corroborate that higher number of firms using banks to finance their investment and the volume of broad money determine the magnitude of credit to private sector.Originality/valueThis study explores some new evidences and aspects of the credit financing which have not been discussed in this way before.

The impact of COVID-19 on home value in major Texas cities

PurposeThis study aims to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on housing price within four major metropolitan areas in Texas: Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. The analysis intends to understand economic and mobility drivers behind the housing market under the inclusion of fixed and random effects.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a linear mixed effects model to assess the socioeconomic and housing and transport-related factors contributing to median home prices in four major cities in Texas and to capture unobserved factors operating at spatial and temporal level during the COVID-19 pandemic.FindingsThe regression results indicated that an increase in new COVID-19 cases resulted in an increase in housing price. Additionally, housing price had a significant and negative relationship with the following variables: business cycle index, mortgage rate, percent of single-family homes, population density and foot traffic. Interestingly, unemployment claims did not have a significant impact on housing price, contrary to previous COVID-19 housing market related literature.Originality/valuePrevious literature analyzed the housing market within the first phase of COVID-19, whereas this study analyzed the effects of the COVID-19 throughout the entirety of 2020. The mixed model includes spatial and temporal analyses as well as provides insight into how quantitative-based mobility behavior impacted housing price, rather than relying on qualitative indicators such as shutdown order implementation.

Global assessment of the COVID-19 impact on IFRS 9 loan loss provisions

PurposeThis article aims to analyze the impact of COVID-19 measures by governments and central banks on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 9 loan loss provisions (LLPs). Changes in the total amount of LLPs, distribution of outstanding loan balance among IFRS 9 stages and credit risk parameters used for calculation are investigated for each world region where banks report under IFRS.Design/methodology/approachData for a global selection of 105 banks reporting under IFRS were collected from 2019 to 2020 annual reports, financial statements, and Pillar III reports. These data provide the basis to empirically analyze the impact of COVID-19 on LLPs.FindingsIn most world regions Stage 2 balances increase while Stage 3 balances remain comparatively stable. The credit risk parameters used for computing LLPs remained stable in 2020. However, in China, the impact of COVID-19 on banks was not detected. Mean Stage 1 balances for Chinese banks increased slightly during the pandemic. Aside from the COVID-19 impact, we find that LLPs, credit risk parameters, and loss absorption capacities are significantly lower for banks in Canada, Oceania and Western Europe compared to those in the rest of the world.Originality/valueThere exists previous research examining the COVID-19 impact on financial stability, implementation of emergency rules and country-wide analyses to anticipate default rates depending on recovery scenarios. However, this is the first global study on the immediate impact of COVID-19 on LLPs. It reveals the significant differences between world regions and provides implications about their resilience against future credit shocks.

The Russian Banking System during the Covid-19 Crisis and the Central Bank's Stabilisation Measures 1

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the financial situation of the individuals and companies in the Russian Federation, as a result of the mobility restrictions and lockdowns. In this context, banking system has played an important role in financing the economy. To avoid a credit crunch and to facilitate economic recovery, the Bank of Russia has adopted a wide range of stabilization measures, as cutting the key rate, easing banking capital and liquidity regulations, providing extensive liquidity, new lending facilities to banks etc. The purpose of this article is to analyse the Central Bank's response to the pandemic and to assess the financial stability of the banking system in the Russian Federation during the COVID-19 crisis. To achieve this goal, a chronology of the main measures adopted during the pandemic by the Bank of Russia is presented. In addition, the main indicators of the banking stability are analysed, namely, the level of capitalization and liquidity, the return on capital and assets, but also the quality of bank loans.

Sustainability of the Currency Board in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Conditions of a Negative Interest Rate on the Reserve Currency

The Currency Board in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) uses the euro as a reserve currency in the conditions of a negative nominal interest rate on deposits with the ECB. In this paper, we investigated the impact of negative interest rates on deposits and negative yields on bonds denominated in euro on the general advantages of the currency board and the consequences for the functioning of the currency board in BiH. The impact of negative interest rates was measured by the currency board coverage index (IC). A negative nominal interest rate on the reserve currency creates a negative seigniorage in the country of the currency board, increases the costs of issuing domestic money and reduces the competitiveness of the economy. The monetary policy of the ECB in the conditions of the COVID-19 crisis generates negative influences on the functioning of the currency board. The COVID-19 crisis poses a threat to currency board coverage in BiH. Technically, a currency board can also function in terms of negative interest on the invested reserve currency as long as it can cover the costs of its business.