Policy Papers
2007
December 3, 2007
Periodic Monitoring Report on the Status of Board-Endorsed Independent Evaluation Office Recommendations and Management Implementation Plans
Description:
IEO evaluations are an integral part of the Fund’s learning culture, helping the Fund absorb lessons that improve its work. In addition, the objectivity of IEO evaluations has bolstered the Fund’s credibility. In discussing the report of the External Evaluation of the IEO (the “Lissakers report”), Executive Directors welcomed the suggestions to strengthen follow-up to the IEO recommendations―including more Board involvement—and supported a more systematic approach for following up and monitoring the implementation of IEO recommendations approved by the Board.
This periodic monitoring report (PMR) is the first such effort under the new procedures approved by the Executive Board in January 2007. In particular, it responds to the instruction that “Management shall present to the Board a periodic monitoring report on the state of implementation of actions contained in the forward-looking implementation plans already in force and not deemed completed on the occasion of a prior periodic monitoring report. These reports shall indicate difficulties in implementing the original plan and propose remedial or substitute actions whenever appropriate. The first periodic monitoring report shall be prepared following the delivery of the 2007 IEO Annual Report. As the IEO Annual Reports cover the status of all past IEO recommendations, it is expected that the first periodic monitoring report produced by Management would also review the implementation of recommendations made to date.”
November 27, 2007
Review of Exchange Arrangements, Restrictions, and Controls
Description: This review reports on trends, developments, and issues in exchange rate arrangements and currency convertibility. This section presents a summary of the overall findings. Section II provides an overview of key trends and developments in exchange rate arrangements. Section III outlines key trends and developments in current and capital account restrictions. The present paper uses the existing methodology for the classification of exchange rate arrangements.
November 27, 2007
Thirteenth General Review of Quotas - Assessing the Adequacy of IMF Resources
Description: The Thirteenth Review provides an opportunity to take stock of the overall adequacy of IMF resources in light of developments in the world economy and the international monetary system. The Resolution concluding the Twelfth Review indicated that the Executive Board intended, during the period of the Thirteenth Review, to monitor closely and assess the adequacy of Fund resources and to consider measures to achieve a distribution of quotas that reflects developments in the world economy and to strengthen the governance of the Fund. The latter two issues have since been taken up under the work program on quota and voice reform. Accordingly, the focus of this paper is on the adequacy of Fund resources.
November 20, 2007
India - Assessment Letter for the World Bank
Notes: Assessment Letters or Statements may be prepared for member countries with Fund-supported programs; receiving Fund emergency assistance; with staff-monitored programs; or surveillance-only cases. They are typically produced for use by the country with multilateral or bilateral donors or creditors, in particular the World Bank and other International Financial Institutions.
November 16, 2007
Globalization, Financial Markets, and Fiscal Policy
Description: This paper examines how fiscal policy can contribute to realizing the benefits of two important ongoing developments, globalization and financial deepening.
November 16, 2007
Nepal - Assessment Letter for the Asian Development Bank
Notes: Assessment Letters or Statements may be prepared for member countries with Fund-supported programs; receiving Fund emergency assistance; with staff-monitored programs; or surveillance-only cases. They are typically produced for use by the country with multilateral or bilateral donors or creditors, in particular the World Bank and other International Financial Institutions.
November 7, 2007
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative-Delivery of Debt Relief by Non-Paris Club Official Bilateral Creditors
Description: The table provides information on HIPC (Heavily Indebted Poor Country) Initiative debt relief provided by each non-Paris Club official bilateral creditor to post-completion point HIPCs. It tracks the HIPC Initiative debt relief granted by these creditors so far. The table will be updated annually in the context of the "HIPC Initiative Status of Implementation Report." It will also be updated when creditors and debtors provide comprehensive information for updating the estimates of HIPC Initiative debt relief provided.
October 19, 2007
Report of the Managing Director to the International Monetary and Financial Committee on the IMF's Policy Agenda
Description: This report reviews the work of the Fund since the 2007 Spring Meetings and the priorities for the period ahead. Progress has been made in the past few months with respect to the framework for surveillance and its implementation, quota and voice, and the Fund’s income model. Other key aspects of the MTS have also advanced, including with regard to Bank-Fund collaboration and the Fund’s role in low-income countries. Future work will focus on completion of the quota and voice reform, reaching agreement on the Fund’s new income model, and delivering budgetary restraint, as well as addressing the evolving challenges facing the Fund and the world economy, notably the financial market turbulence and financial globalization. The paper reports on recent developments in the global economy (Section II) and progress in the following key areas: reshaping surveillance (Section III); emerging market economies and crisis prevention (Section IV); the role of the Fund in low-income countries (Section V); quota and voice issues (Section VI), building institutions and capacity (Section VII); and managing an effective institution (Section VIII).
October 18, 2007
Financial Soundness Indicators-Experience with the Coordinated Compilation Exercise and Next Steps
Description: Overview. This paper reports on the experience with the work program on Financial Soundness Indicators (FSIs) and offers proposals for taking forward the work on FSIs. The work program aimed at (i) increasing member countries’ FSI compilation capacity and supporting their compilation efforts; (ii) expanding reporting and analysis of FSIs in the work of the Fund; and (iii) undertaking further analytical work on FSIs. In this context, a Coordinated Compilation Exercise (CCE) for FSIs was conducted, and experience was gained with the use of FSIs in Article IV surveillance, the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP), and the interdepartmental Vulnerability Exercise (VE). The paper proposes that the Fund aintains an ongoing role in collecting and disseminating FSIs.
October 18, 2007
Financial Soundness Indicators-Experience with the Coordinated Compilation Exercise and Next Steps-Background Paper
Description: This is the companion background paper to the staff report on Financial Soundness Indicators (FSIs): Experience with the Coordinated Compilation Exercise and Next Steps. It provides detailed information on the modalities of the Coordinated Compilation Exercise (CCE), the experience with the CCE, the issues that arose in that exercise regarding the compilation methodology in the Financial Soundness Indicators: Compilation Guide (Guide), and the matters that were taken into account in considering the specific amendments to the Guide, presented in the staff report.