I explain the meaning of an interoperable payment system and why interoperability is crucial for efficiency. I review some alternative approaches to interoperability, including central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), hybrid CBDCs, and two-ledger upgrades of bank-based payment systems

As a result of technological advancements, instant delivery of digital services has become the norm in today's society. Yet, until recently, this trend did not extend to retail payment services, which normally took one or up to a few working days from the end user's perspective. Following...

This study assesses the payment system of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps or Pantawid Pamilya) in terms of the amount, frequency, and mode of payment delivery of the cash transfers. The study is an early attempt of the Institute to examine the Pantawid Pamilya implementation and...

In this paper, we examine the determinants of the choice of payment instrument for low-value day-to-day transactions. Using Japanese household data from 2007 to 2014, we find that three payment instruments, namely, cash, electronic money, and credit cards, comprise the major payment choices for...