Books

March 17, 2008

Poverty and Social Impact Analysis by the IMF: Review of Methodology and Selected Evidence

Description: The Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) is used by the IMF to provide support for countries’ implementation of their poverty reduction and growth strategies. A key requirement in the design of PRGF programs is understanding the effects of reform program measures on vulnerable groups—particularly the poor—and how to devise measures to mitigate any negative effects. Poverty and social impact analysis (PSIA) is a critical instrument for pursuing this goal. The IMF has therefore established a small group of staff economists to facilitate the integration of PSIA into PRGF-supported programs. In this book, the group’s members review analytical techniques used in PSIA as well as several important topics to which PSIA can make valuable contributions. These reviews should prove useful and interesting to readers interested in PSIA in general and the IMF’s PSIA efforts in particular.

March 10, 2008

The IMF's Data Dissemination Initiative After Ten Years

Description: The Data Dissemination Initiative was launched in the mid-1990s as part of a broader internationally-agreed-upon initiative to strengthen transparency and promote good governance practices by establishing standards and codes. Ten years later, the initiative is viewed as an integral part of the international financial architecture, and is considered to have improved the functioning of international financial markets and contributed to global financial stability. This volume reviews certain aspects of the development of and experience with the initiative over the past decade, and concludes by reflecting on potential challenges ahead and possible enhancements.

October 19, 2007

Building Monetary and Financial Systems: Case Studies in Technical Assistance

Description: This book includes 21 case studies of technical assistance provided by the IMF's former Monetary and Financial Systems Department during 2003-06. These studies cover issues related to monetary policy and operations, financial markets, payment systems, and financial regulation and supervision, with an emphasis on both the substance of the issues and the modalities of technical support. The book illustrates that the formulation of sound monetary and financial policies needs to be complemented by proper and efficient implementation. It shows how weaknesses in institutional capacity can hinder policy implementation and how these weakenesses can be overcome to achieve a desirable level of monetary and financial stability. In addition to traditional elements of the official financial infrastructure, such as the capacity to conduct monetary and foreign exchange operations or effectively supervise banks and other financial institutions, the book also presents information on recent developments in governance arrangements.

October 18, 2007

Promoting Fiscal Discipline

Description: Fiscal discipline is essential to improve and sustain economic performance, maintain macroeconomic stability, and reduce vulnerabilities. Discipline is especially important if countries, industrial as well as developing, are to successfully meet the challenges, and reap the benefits, of economic and financial globalization. Lack of fiscal discipline generally stems from the injudicious use of policy discretion. The benefits of discretion are seen in terms of the ability of policymakers to respond to unexpected shocks and in allowing elected political representatives to fulfill their mandates. But discretion can be misused, resulting in persistent deficits and procyclical policies, rising debt levels, and, over time, a loss in policy credibility. The authors first explore the role of discretion in fiscal policy, and the extent, consequences, and causes of procyclicality, particularly in good times. They then examine how a variety of institutional approaches—fiscal rules, fiscal responsibility laws, and fiscal agencies—can help improve fiscal discipline. While each of these approaches can play a useful role, the authors suggest that a strategy combining them is likely to be particularly beneficial. Although such a strategy requires political commitment and effective fiscal management, at the same time, the strategy itself can bolster political commitment by highlighting the restraints on government and raising the costs of failing to respect them.

September 12, 2007

Integrating Europe's Financial Markets

Description: By and large, EU financial integration has been a success story. Still, the reform agenda is far from finished. What are the remaining challenges? What are the gains of closer financial market integration? This IMF book tracks the European Union's journey along the path to a single financial market and identifies the challenges and priorities that remain ahead. It pays particular attention to the most recent integration efforts in the European Union following the introduction of the euro. The study looks at the importance of financial integration, in particular for economic growth, the interplay between banks and markets, and equity market integration. It closely examines the relationship between financial integration and financial stability. This interaction presents the European Union with a challenge, but also with the opportunity to play a pioneering role in developing a regional approach to financial stability that could provide lessons for the rest of the world.

August 22, 2007

IMF HISTORY (1972-78) VOLUMES 1, 2, and 3

Description: Written by Margaret Garritsen de Vries, Volume I describes the events following the Smithsonian agreement of December 1971 that led to the collapse of the par value system in early 1973. It explains how the IMF initiated new activities increased its lending, and found ways to support this lending. Volume II describes the negotiations leading to the second Amendment to the IMF's Articles, preliminary experiences with floating rates, and developments with respect to the SDR. Volume III is a compilation of studies prepared by the staff for the Executive Board's discussions, as well as many of the most important documents published by the IMF in 1972 -78.

April 27, 2007

Financial Globalization: The Impact on Trade, Policy, Labor, and Capital Flows

Description: Assiduously tracking the trends and consequences of globalization, the IMF's quarterly magazine Finance & Development has been a major forum for discussing-and dissecting-the policy options and challenges faced by governments in an era when many national decisions transcend borders. This valuable compilation of articles published over the past eight years focuses on financial globalization, including the policy implications of the huge growth in cross-border capital flows. Articles also look at the expansion of world trade, explore the impact of globalization on jobs, taxation, and the poor, and examine the digital divide between developed and some developing countries. An extraordinary summary that distills nearly a decade of accelerated change.

Notes: Quarterly issues from 1996 onward are available for free online

March 29, 2007

Using the Balance Sheet Approach in Surveillance: Framework and Data Sources and Availability

Description: A distinguishing feature of emerging market crises in recent years has been the sudden disruption in the capital accounts of the economy. These crises have highlighted the need for closer attention to macroeconomic vulnerabilities in sectoral balance sheets. This book enhances application of the balance sheet approach to surveillance by taking advantage of new data sets that provide detailed, frequent, and timely financial statistics.

September 28, 2006

China and India Learning from Each Other: Reforms and Policies for Sustained Growth

Description: What does the future hold for these giants that are two fastest-growing emerging markets and among the three largest economies in Asia? Their economic muscle is having increasingly far-reaching effects on the global economy. This must-read book draws together analysis and insight from high-level policymakers and advisors in both countries and shows how, for many years, the two countries have cooperated and learned from each other. In addition, the book describes what has (and what has not) worked in each country and offers some concrete suggestions about how each may achieve long-term sustainable development.

September 14, 2006

The Caribbean: From Vulnerability to Sustained Growth

Description: This book sets out the economic challenges facing the island nations of the Caribbean and presents policy options to ameliorate external shocks and embark firmly on a sustained growth path. While the countries of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union that are the focus of the book have enjoyed a sustained period of price and exchange rate stability, they have been buffeted in recent years by adverse shocks, including the erosion of trade preferences, declines in official foreign assistance, and frequent natural disasters. Strengthening their growth performance will require design of a multifaceted strategy that integrates the Caribbean with the global economy, facilitates an economic transformation from agriculture to tourism, fosters greater regional cooperation, and preserves macroeconomic stability. This volume examines the critical issues that are part of that process, including fiscal and financial sector policy, management of external flows, trade integration and tourism, macroeconomic cycles and volatility, and the economic implications of natural disasters.