Central Banks’ responses to the Covid-19 pandemic: The case of the Bank of Central African States

Asongu, Simplice and Ojong, Nathanael and Soumtang, Valentine (2021): Central Banks’ responses to the Covid-19 pandemic: The case of the Bank of Central African States.

Abstract

This study explores the responses to the COVID-19 pandemic by the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), which is the central bank for countries in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), that is, Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic, and the Republic of Congo. While hitherto, BEAC had fundamentally focused on fighting inflation and promoting monetary integration and financial stability in its member states, the COVID-19 pandemic, among other factors, has motivated it to also shift its policies towards targeted credit programmes and more economic growth. This study sheds light on four core aspects: (i) the socio-economic context of the CEMAC region prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, (ii) BEAC as a lender of last resort, (iii) historical, contemporary, and future insights surrounding targeted credit programmes, and (iv), suggestions for the path forward in terms of reforms, with emphasis on inclusive growth and monitoring economic development at the regional level.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Covid-19 pandemic; monetary policy; central bank responses; CEMAC, BEAC
• Subjects: G - Financial Economics > G2 - Financial Institutions and Services; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O5 - Economywide Country Studies > O55 - Africa

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