Bank of Canada Review Article

• June 17, 2007

  Trend Labour Supply in Canada: Implications of Demographic Shifts and the Increasing Labour Force Attachment of Women

  Bank of Canada Review - Summer 2007 Russell Barnett

  While demographic change has been an ongoing process in Canada, labour market implications of an aging population will become more acute in coming years. This article discusses the anticipated slowing in the growth of trend labour input over the coming decades with the aging of the baby boomers, declining fertility rates, and the stabilization of the labour force attachment of women. As the pool of labour shrinks, employers and governments will be looking for ways to address barriers to continued labour force participation and firms will have a greater incentive to find ways of improving labour productivity.

  Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Economic models, Labour markets, Potential output
• June 15, 2007

  Interpreting Canada's Productivity Performance in the Past Decade: Lessons from Recent Research

  Bank of Canada Review - Summer 2007 Richard Dion

  Dion examines the evolution of Canadian productivity since the mid-1990s, using the United States as a benchmark. During this period, trend productivity growth in Canada remained modest, whereas the U.S. witnessed a strong resurgence. Among the factors identified as potential root causes of Canada's lower productivity performance are a lower investment in information and communications technology, reallocation and adjustment costs associated with large relative price movements, and a weak demand for innovation.

  Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Productivity, Recent economic and financial developments
• June 14, 2007

  Efficiency and Competition in Canadian Banking

  Bank of Canada Review - Summer 2007 Jason Allen, Walter Engert

  Allen and Engert report on recent research at the Bank of Canada on various aspects of efficiency in the Canadian banking industry. This research suggests that, overall, Canadian banks appear to be relatively efficient producers of financial services and they do not exercise monopoly or collusive-oligopoly power. The authors note the value of continuing to investigate opportunities to improve efficiency and competition in financial services in Canada.

  Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Central bank research, Financial institutions, Financial system regulation and policies
• April 15, 2007

  Renewing the International Monetary Fund: A Review of the Issues

  Bank of Canada Review - Spring 2007 Danielle Lecavalier, Eric Santor

  Given the rapid and ongoing integration of the global economy, the International Monetary Fund needs to renew its role, governance structure, and functions if it is to maintain its relevance as the institution charged with promoting global financial stability. Lecavalier and Santor examine the areas of possible reform, including quota, voice, and representation; internal governance; surveillance; lending instruments; finances; and the Fund's role in low-income countries. They also review current Bank of Canada research that supports these reform efforts, including an integrated framework for IMF surveillance recently developed at the Bank.

  Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): International topics
• April 14, 2007

  The Canadian Overnight Market: Recent Evolution and Structural Changes

  Bank of Canada Review - Spring 2007 Christopher Reid

  Since 1997 when the Bank of Canada last published a review of the Canadian overnight market, several important changes have affected the market's structure and dynamics. Reid provides a current overview of the market, examining the financial instruments, market transparency and flows, and the collateralized overnight rate as it has evolved since the introduction of the Large Value Transfer System and the fixed announcement dates. Other significant influences include changes in market practices regarding risk management, the rise of securities lending, the increased demand for collateral, and the Bank of Canada's measures to reinforce the target for the overnight rate.

  Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Market structure and pricing, Monetary policy framework, Monetary policy implementation
• April 13, 2007

  The Large-Value Payments System: Insights from Selected Bank of Canada Research

  Bank of Canada Review - Spring 2007 Neville Arjani, Walter Engert

  Given the Bank of Canada's strong interest in the safe and efficient operation of major clearing and settlement systems, the Bank maintains a rigorous research agenda as a means of informing payments system policy and oversight. In this article, Arjani and Engert review recent research undertaken by Bank staff concerning the risk and efficiency of the Large Value Transfer System (LVTS). Based on the findings from this research, the authors conclude that the design of the LVTS strikes an effective balance between risk and efficiency. The article also demonstrates the increased use of simulation analysis as a tool for conducting payments system research. A brief summary of the Bank's oversight strategy for systemically important payments systems is also provided. Goals for future research are noted as well, including modelling of participant behaviour and continued external collaboration with other researchers.

  Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Financial institutions, Payment clearing and settlement systems