The corporate sector purchase programme (CSPP): Effectiveness and challenges ahead

Abstract

In March 2016 the ECB announced the launching of the Corporate Sector Purchase Programme (CSPP), enabling the direct purchase by the ECB of investment grade euro-denominated bonds issued by non-bank corporations based in the Euro area in the primary and secondary markets. Although a new monetary policy instrument in the Eurosystem, the CSPP is not a global innovation, since other central banks have resorted to similar initiatives since the onset of the Great Recession in 2008. While undoubtedly contributing to the smooth functioning of the transmission mechanism for monetary policy, CSPP also present challenges, like other aspects of the ECB’s Asset Purchase Programme. This note discusses the effectiveness of the programme and some options available to the ECB.