Counterfeit Quality and Verification in a Monetary Exchange Staff Working Paper 2011-4 Ben Fung, Enchuan Shao Recent studies on counterfeiting in a monetary search framework show that counterfeiting does not occur in a monetary equilibrium. These findings are inconsistent with the observation that counterfeiting of bank notes has been a serious problem in some countries. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Bank notes JEL Code(s): D, D8, D82, D83, E, E4, E42, E5, E50
November 11, 2009 Making Bank Notes Accessible for Canadians Living with Blindness or Low Vision Bank of Canada Review - Winter 2009-2010 Carolyn Samuel The ability to conduct financial transactions using bank notes is crucial to independent living. Yet this can pose significant challenges for individuals who are blind or partially sighted. This article discusses the Bank of Canada's efforts over the past 30 years to meet the accessibility needs of a specific subset of the population–Canadians living with blindness or vision loss. It also reports the findings of expert and user assessments of the suite of accessibility features on the current series of bank notes and shares plans for the next series. Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Bank notes, Central bank research
The Role of Convenience and Risk in Consumers' Means of Payment Staff Discussion Paper 2009-8 Carlos Arango, Varya Taylor Using data from a 2004 survey of the Canadian public, the authors study the role of convenience and risk in consumers' use of cash relative to debit and credit cards. The authors find that consumers who perceive debit cards and credit cards to be more convenient and less risky than cash use them more frequently. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff discussion papers Topic(s): Bank notes JEL Code(s): E, E4, E41, L, L2
December 6, 2008 Beads to Bytes: Canada's National Currency Collection This volume explores money and the role it has played, and continues to play, in society, through the lens of Canada's National Currency Collection. The Collection is an extraordinary repository of coins, bank notes, and related paraphernalia from around the world. Soft cover, 124 pages (2008). Content Type(s): Publications, Books and monographs, Souvenir books Topic(s): Bank notes
November 11, 2008 Merchants' Costs of Accepting Means of Payment: Is Cash the Least Costly? Bank of Canada Review - Winter 2008-2009 Carlos Arango, Varya Taylor In a competitive sales environment, merchants are compelled to offer consumers the option of paying for goods and services using a variety of payment methods, including cash, debit card, or credit card. Each method entails different costs and benefits to merchants. To better understand the costs of accepting retail payments, the Bank of Canada surveyed over 500 Canadian merchants and found that most consider cash the least costly. This article investigated this perception by calculating the variable costs per transaction of accepting different means of payment. The findings are that costs for each payment method vary by merchant and transaction value, with debit cards the least costly payment for a broad cross-section of merchants. Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Bank notes
Merchant Acceptance, Costs, and Perceptions of Retail Payments: A Canadian Survey Staff Discussion Paper 2008-12 Carlos Arango, Varya Taylor Using the results of a survey on accepted means of payment, the authors examine merchant preferences and perceptions of retail payment reliability, risk, and costs; the share of each type of payment method over total sales; and the costs involved in accepting payments. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff discussion papers Topic(s): Bank notes JEL Code(s): E, E4, E41, L, L2
October 10, 2007 The Canadian Journey: An Odyssey into the Complex World of Bank Note Production Bank of Canada Review - Autumn 2007 Jill Moxley, Helen Meubus, Maura Brown For many years, the Bank of Canada successfully responded to occasional eruptions in counterfeiting by improving the security features on bank notes. The surge in counterfeiting that occurred while the Bank prepared to launch the Canadian Journey series, however, reflected increasingly rapid advances in computer technology that were changing the counterfeiting environment. The article describes these and other challenges that affected the new series and describes how the Bank developed a comprehensive new approach to its currency program and incorporated the valuable lessons it learned from these challenges. Designed to combat counterfeiting and meet the needs of the public, the new strategy includes increased research and development on new bank note security features, an intensified focus on retailer and public education, and a focus on law enforcement. Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Bank notes, Central bank research
December 6, 2006 The Art and Design of Canadian Bank Notes This volume offers readers a behind-the-scenes look at the demanding world of bank note design, highlighting the beauty of Canada's bank notes and celebrating the engraver's art. Soft cover, 124 pages (2006). Content Type(s): Publications, Books and monographs, Souvenir books Topic(s): Bank notes
April 14, 2006 Trends in Retail Payments and Insights from Public Survey Results Bank of Canada Review - Spring 2006 Varya Taylor While the volume and value of bank notes have continued to increase, the use of cash as a payment method has been affected by the growing use of electronic alternatives. Taylor reports on a 2004 Bank of Canada survey of consumers' payment habits and their perceptions of cash and its alternatives, including their confidence in the security of bank notes. Analysis of the survey results shows that numerous factors affect the demand for bank notes, including income, age, education, gender, the use of debit and credit cards, and the perceived convenience of cash. Taylor also includes a report on the construction of a bank note confidence index that will serve as a benchmark for future surveys. Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Bank notes
Counterfeiting: A Canadian Perspective Staff Working Paper 2004-33 John Chant Counterfeiting is a significant public policy issue, because paper money, despite rumours of its demise, remains an important part of our payments system. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Bank notes JEL Code(s): E, E5, E58