Description

As from issue number 50, the Series of Economic Studies of the Central Bank of Chile will be called Studies in Economic Statistics.

The Central Bank balance sheet, its framework and evolution through time, shows the implementation of monetary and exchange rate policies and its relationship with the fiscal policy, so the publication of its main accounting items is a contribution to the analysis of the economic history of a country.

This paper presents the historical series of the main accounting items of Banco Central de Chile from its foundation and it also describes the methodology used. The goal of the publication of these series is to promote future research that permits deep analyses, the acquisition of knowledge and understanding of the evolution of the Chilean economy. Furthermore, a brief description of the most important stylized facts of monetary and exchange rate policies, which occurred during the history of the Bank, are made considering previous studies. The series are annual and correspond to Total assets, Total Liabilities and Equity of Banco Central de Chile and its main components. The assets are broken down in Net International Reserves and Loans to the Public Sector. The main Liabilities that are presented are Monetary Base and Bonds and Promissory Notes issued by the central bank. Additionally, annual series from the first Memoria of 1926 are made available in digital format.