Historical Evolution of Deposit Reserve System - The deposit reserve system originated in the early 18th century in the UK, evolving from spontaneous interbank clearing needs to a legal risk buffer mechanism in the early 19th century in the US [5][21] - In China, the system was officially established in 1984 when the People's Bank of China began exercising central bank functions, with significant reforms occurring in 1998 to enhance the payment and clearing functions of reserve deposits [5][10] - Since 2015, China's reserve requirements have been assessed using an average method, providing important liquidity management buffers for banks [5][10] International Comparisons and Practices - Internationally, central banks like the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank have adopted various reserve management practices, including accepting cash reserves and implementing tiered reserve requirements [13][47] - The experience of developed countries shows a trend of lower legal reserve requirements and higher excess reserves compared to China, which currently operates under a framework of structural liquidity shortage [8][13] Future Directions of Deposit Reserve System Reform - Conditions for breaking the 5% experience lower limit for reserve requirements are gradually maturing, with necessary institutional arrangements in place to support the transition [6][14] - The shift from quantity-based monetary policy to price-based policy is a prerequisite for relaxing the legal reserve requirement system, indicating a potential future direction for reform [6][14] Regulatory Functions and Macro-Prudential Management - The deposit reserve system has evolved to include differential reserve requirements and macro-prudential assessments, enhancing the ability to manage systemic financial risks [5][34] - The introduction of the macro-prudential assessment framework in 2016 marked a significant shift in focus from narrow credit growth to broader credit metrics, integrating various financial indicators into the regulatory framework [34][37] Implications for the Bond Market - If the reform of the reserve requirement system is implemented, it may lead to short-term benefits for the bond market, including increased liquidity and potential for larger fund releases during rate cuts [14] - However, the long-term impact on the bond market may be neutral, as the transition to price-based control could diminish the influence of reserve adjustments on market dynamics [14]