The October 2017 Monthly Report analyses emerging market economies’ global liquidity, foreign reserves and exchange rates and contains an article on developments in the natural interest rate. In addition, the Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process for smaller institutions and proportionality considerations are described, and the initial results of the new money market statistics as well as the new insurance statistics are presented.

Money, whether in the form of banknotes, coins, or digital credits in our bank accounts, is at the heart of nearly everything we do in modern life. But we rarely give it any sustained thought. What, after all, is money, really? How does it work? Where does it come from? Who controls the banks? How does monetary policy work, and what roles do central banks play in its use?