SF Fed Blog
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U.S. Currency’s Starring Role in Film
Using United States currency on camera is perfectly legal. But for studios, working with real cash is not always the easiest option.
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Talking about the Economy, 2018 Edition
From bitcoin trading behavior to opioid Rx side effects on disability claims, here’s a round-up of our most talked-about Economic Letter topics of 2018.
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Views into Asia’s Foreign Indebtedness (Part Two)
External imbalances are one factor that can compound a country’s ability to manage its foreign debts. Across Asia, current account surpluses and large stocks of foreign exchange reserves strengthen many countries’ ability to manage their external liabilities. Though several Asian economies face current account deficits or low reserve coverage, they continue to appear more resilient compared to the situations in Argentina and Turkey.
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A Concrete Solution for Cash Shred Recycling
Our Salt Lake City branch’s solution to keeping cash shreds out of landfill? Use the shred residue for fuel consumption and as a component in cement.
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Views into Asia’s Foreign Indebtedness (Part One)
Recent developments in Argentina and Turkey have sparked concerns that other emerging market economies could be sitting on simmering vulnerabilities. A direct comparison of the region’s foreign debt finds that overall risk and apparent vulnerabilities are more contained in Asia relative to Argentina and Turkey. However, there are certain exposures in a handful of Asian economies that warrant close monitoring going forward.
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Asia’s Open Banking Push
Countries around Asia are implementing laws and regulations to promote open banking to share data and enable third parties to provide products and services around a centralized platform. A move to open banking reflects the increasing digitization of Asia’s economy and the rise of technology platforms that envision a consolidated financial life for their customers. The impacts could be dramatic, increasing competition and promoting efficiency, integration, and inclusion, while also creating new risks.
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Focusing on Race in Community Development
Many well-intentioned policies meant to lift communities of color have had the opposite effect, perpetuating disparities along racial lines. Could an explicit focus on race in community development help distribute opportunity more equitably?
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What Is Racial Equity?
Find out how racial equity is different from racial equality, and why working towards a more equitable society helps improve outcomes for all people.
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Understanding the Financing Needs of Small Businesses in California
The Small Business Credit Survey (SBCS) asks small business owners to detail their current business climate, financial needs and recent credit experiences. A new report from the SF Fed summarizes data at the state level for small businesses in California.
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Asia’s Emerging Virtual Banks
Several Asian regulators are amending existing rules to allow technology firms to own and run virtual banks, which will likely result in a number of new digital lenders. This has triggered debate and discussion about licensing requirements, risk management, and consumer protection.