This book presents an introduction to central banking and monetary policy. We, the public, accept the following as money (M) (that is, the means of payments / medium of exchange): notes and coins (N&C) and bank deposits (BD). Because we do, we place banks in a unique situation: the major part of their liabilities is BD; therefore they are able to create BD simply by making loans. Because banks are aggressive competitors and their creditworthiness checks on customers are therefore not always sober, they are inherently unstable. This means the public needs an entity to monitor the banks and to curb excessive money creation: a central bank. Excessive money creation causes inflation and inflation management by the public (ie hedging) diverts attention away from productive behaviour; this is not conducive for economic output and welfare. Central banking is not just about monetary policy. It is also about being banker and advisor to government and managing the money and banking system.

1. Essence of central banking
   1. Learning outcomes
   2. Introduction
   3. Milieu of the central bank: the financial system
   4. Context of central banking: financial stability
   5. Balance sheet of a central bank
   6. Money creation
   7. Functions of central banks
   8. Bibliography
2. Banker & advisor to government
   1. Learning outcomes
   2. Introduction
   3. The interbank markets
   4. Bank liquidity management
   5. Banker to government
   6. Tax and loan accounts
   7. Public debt management
   8. Administration of exchange controls
   9. Bibliography
3. Management of money & banking system
   1. Learning outcomes
   2. Introduction
   3. Banker to private sector banks
   4. Settlement of interbank claims
   5. Supervision of payments system
   6. Lender of last resort
   7. Currency (notes and coins) management
   8. Bank supervision
   9. Management of foreign assets
   10. Development of the debt market
   11. Bibliography
4. Money creation & framework of monetary policy
   1. Learning outcomes
   2. Introduction
   3. Measuring money
   4. Money identity: sources of money creation
   5. Example: government issues bonds
   6. Statutory environment
   7. Objectives of monetary policy
   8. Price stability
   9. Inflation targeting monetary policy framework
   10. Monetary policy accountability and transparency
   11. Limitations of monetary policy
   12. Instruments of monetary policy
   13. Independence of central banks
   14. Bibliography
5. Monetary policy: models & transmission
   1. Learning outcomes
   2. Introduction
   3. Models of monetary policy
   4. Path of monetary policy: from interest to inflation
   5. Bibliography
6. Endnotes