Estimating Canada’s Effective Lower Bound

In 2009, the Bank of Canada set its effective lower bound (ELB) at 25 basis points (bps). Given the recent experience of Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland and the euro area with negative interest rates, we examine the economics of negative interest rates and suggest that cash storage costs are the source of a negative lower bound on interest rates. European experience demonstrates that markets can adapt to challenges associated with negative interest rates. However, given uncertainty over the precise level of the lower bound, central banks should monitor both market functioning and the demand for cash in order to identify signals that policy rates are approaching their lower bound.