Islamic Finance: Opportunities, Challenges, and Policy Options

Author/Editor:

Alfred Kammer ; Mohamed Norat ; Marco A. Piñón-Farah ; Ananthakrishnan Prasad ; Christopher M Towe ; Zeine Zeidane

Publication Date:

April 6, 2015

Electronic Access:

Free Download. Use the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this PDF file

Disclaimer: This Staff Discussion Note represents the views of the authors and does not necessarily represent IMF views or IMF policy. The views expressed herein should be attributed to the authors and not to the IMF, its Executive Board, or its management. Staff Discussion Notes are published to elicit comments and to further debate.

Summary:

The SDN discusses the main policy issues and challenges in building an inclusive and safe Islamic finance industry, with emphasis on Islamic banking and Sukuk markets. To this end, it discuses why Islamic finance matters, taking into account its recent and prospective growth; and, its potential contributions in terms of financial inclusion, support for small- and medium-sized enterprises and investment in public infrastructure and, in principle, reduced systemic risk. It then covers a range of regulatory and other challenges, and offers policy advice, to address factors that hamper the development of the industry and, more generally, the delivery of its potential benefits. The paper covers regulatory and supervisory issues, safety nets and resolution frameworks, access to finance, Sukuk markets, and macroeconomic policies.

Series:

Staff Discussion Notes No. 2015/005

Subject:

Notes:

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English

Publication Date:

April 6, 2015

ISBN/ISSN:

9781498325035/2617-6750

Stock No:

SDNEA201505

Pages:

38

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