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Business and Economics > Finance: General

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Cover IMF Working Papers
Sovereign Green Bonds: A Catalyst for Sustainable Debt Market Development?
Gong Cheng
,
Torsten Ehlers
,
Frank Packer
, and
Yanzhe Xiao
In traditional bond markets, sovereign bonds provide benchmarks and serve as catalysts for the corporate bond market development. Contrary to the usual sequence of bond market development, sovereign issuers are latecomers to sustainable bond markets. Yet, our empirical study finds that sovereign green bond issuance can have quantitative and qualitative benefits for the development of private sustainable bond markets. Our results suggest that both the number and the size of corporate green bond issuance increase more in a jurisdiction after the sovereign debut. The results are more pronounced in countries with stronger climate policies. Sovereign green bond issuance also improves the quality of green verification standards in the corporate bond market more generally, consistent with the aim of fostering third-party reviews and promoting best practice in green reporting and verification. Finally, our work provides evidence that the sovereign debut increases liquidity and diminishes yield spreads of corporate green bonds in the same jurisdiction.
Keywords:
Green bonds; sustainable bonds; sovereign debt; taxonomies; green verification; bond market development; bond issuance; corporate bond bond market; issuance increase; sustainable bond markets; Climate finance; Corporate bonds; Sovereign bonds; Securities markets; Bond yields; Global; East Asia
Cover IMF Research Perspectives
IMF Research Perspectives: Spring/Summer 2021
International Monetary Fund. Research Dept.
IMF Research Perspectives: Spring/Summer 2021
Keywords:
IMF research perspective; government spending multiplier; R&D effort; IMF CSF; central bank financing; COVID-19; Bank credit; Fiscal stance; Global; Sub-Saharan Africa; Europe; Africa
Cover IMF Working Papers
Corporate Liquidity and Solvency in Europe during COVID-19: The Role of Policies
Mr. Christian H Ebeke
,
Nemanja Jovanovic
,
Ms. Laura Valderrama
, and
Jing Zhou
The spread of COVID-19, containment measures, and general uncertainty led to a sharp reduction in activity in the first half of 2020. Europe was hit particularly hard—the economic contraction in 2020 is estimated to have been among the largest in the world—with potentially severe repercussions on its nonfinancial corporations. A wave of corporate bankruptcies would generate mass unemployment, and a loss of productive capacity and firm-specific human capital. With many SMEs in Europe relying primarily on the banking sector for external finance, stress in the corporate sector could easily translate into pressures in the banking system (Aiyar et al., forthcoming).
Keywords:
corporate vulnerability; solvency risk; liquidity risk; policy effectiveness; WP; cash flow; illiquid firm; firm level; management action; insolvent firm; liquidity deficit
Cover IMF Working Papers
Trade, Productivity and (Mis)allocation
Antoine Berthou
,
John Jong-Hyun Chung
,
Kalina Manova
, and
Charlotte Sandoz
We examine the gains from globalization in the presence of firm heterogeneity and potential resource misallocation. We show theoretically that without distortions, bilateral and export liberalizations increase aggregate welfare and productivity, while import liberalization has ambiguous effects. Resource misallocation can either amplify, dampen or reverse the gains from trade. Using model-consistent measures and unique new data on 14 European countries and 20 industries in 1998-2011, we empirically establish that exogenous shocks to export demand and import competition both generate large aggregate productivity gains. Guided by theory, we provide evidence consistent with these effects operating through reallocations across firms in the presence of distortions: (i) Both export and import expansion increase average firm productivity, but the former also shifts activity towards more productive firms, while the latter acts in reverse; (ii) Both export and import exposure raise the productivity threshold for survival, but this cut-off is not a sufficient statistic for aggregate productivity; (iii) Efficient institutions, factor and product markets amplify the gains from import competition but dampen those from export access.
Keywords:
WP; math display; total factor productivity; International trade; export demand; import competition; productivity; allocative efficiency; misallocation; aggregate productivity; resource misallocation; employment share; real value; productivity gain; firm productivity; Exports; Imports; Trade liberalization; Competition; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Austria: Publication of Financial Sector Assessment Program Documentation-Technical Note on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT)
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This Technical Note sets out the findings and recommendations made in the context of the 2019 Financial Sector Assessment Program for Austria in the areas of Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism. It provides a targeted review of Austria’s progress in addressing the Money Laundering/Terrorism Financing vulnerabilities. Several initiatives, the amendments introduced to the Financial Markets Anti-Money Laundering Act, the Beneficial Owners Register Act, and other sectoral laws have led to significant enhancements of the legal and regulatory framework which resulted in a number of upgrades on technical compliance ratings by the Financial Action Task Force in the context of the two follow-up reports. The authorities took steps to transpose the Fourth and the Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directives into national legislation. Steps have been taken to improve the legal and regulatory framework that applies to lawyers, notaries and tax advisors, and other Designated Non-Financial Business and Professions, but there is room for enhancing implementation. The authorities have recently adopted a comprehensive set of reforms to enhance entity transparency, including through the establishment of a Register of Beneficial Ownership.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; TF risk; authority; company; AMLC; country; customer; CFT supervision; CFT obligation; CFT framework; CFT regime; risk profile; TF scandal; Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT); Legal support in revenue administration; Virtual currencies; Commercial banks; Financial Sector Assessment Program; Eastern Europe; Southern Europe; Europe
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Austria: Publication of Financial Sector Assessment Program Documentation-Technical Note on Insurance Sector—Regulation, Supervision, Recovery, and Resolution Regime Prospects
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This review provides an update on the Austrian insurance sector and an analysis of certain key aspects of the regulatory and supervisory regime. The note analyzes regulation and supervision in relation to key issues identified in previous Financial Sector Assessment Programs (FSAP), as well as material changes since the last FSAP. This note also covers the current situation and potential changes in the crisis management and early intervention framework of the insurance sector. It focuses on issues relevant to a long-standing policyholder protection mechanism, early intervention powers—existing and under discussion—and crisis management and resolution arrangements for insurance companies and groups. The analysis recommends that proper implementation of Solvency II needs ongoing validation and scrutiny by regulators, which could be at risk if supervisory resources with skills and expertise are not retained. Higher legal, reputational, and conduct risks are posing additional pressures to the life insurance sector. Market conduct supervision should be enhanced, with active use of enforcement powers in addition to the insights that studies launched by the government will provide.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; risk assessment; coverage ratio; FMA resource; enforcement case; FMA discussion; FMA staff; FMA supervisor; information exchange template; insurance assets; FMA stress test; FMA contribution; FMA calculation; FMA enforcement case; FMA official; conduct risk; Insurance companies; Insurance; Solvency; Stress testing; Bank resolution framework; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Austria: Publication of Financial Sector Assessment Program Documentation-Technical Note on Macroprudential Policy Framework and Tools
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This technical note assesses strengths and weaknesses of the macroprudential policy framework in Austria and provides policy recommendations. Financial sector resilience in Austria has improved significantly since the global financial crisis, and the macroprudential policy framework has been formalized. The institutional framework is appropriate for conducting macroprudential policy effectively, but it could be strengthened in some areas. However, some structural vulnerabilities to financial stability remain and cyclical risks are on the rise. Banks’ low efficiency and the resulting low profitability of domestic operations continues to be a key concern, especially given the fact that the Central Europe and South Eastern Europe region accounts for over 40 percent of Austrian banks' consolidated profits. The framework contains a clear mandate, well-defined objectives, and provides enough powers to the Financial Market Stability Board. Broad-based vulnerabilities remain contained but build-up of risks in the real estate sector warrants further action. The framework for addressing structural vulnerabilities is sophisticated, however, further improvements could be considered.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; CESEE region; FMSB meeting; CESEE exposure; FMSB secretariat; FMA regulation; FMSB recommendation; investment funds; Macroprudential policy; Housing prices; Financial sector risk; Financial sector stability; Loans; Europe; Global; Central and Eastern Europe; Eastern Europe; North America
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Austria: Publication of Financial Sector Assessment Program Documentation-Technical Note on Financial Stability Analysis, Stress Testing, and Interconnectedness
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This technical note on Austria presents the Financial Stability analysis, stress testing, and interconnectedness. Austria’s banking sector presents unique structural vulnerabilities. Private credit growth has supported the cyclical boom without jeopardizing household and corporate indebtedness. Profits of Austrian subsidiaries in Central, Eastern, and South-eastern Europe have increased recently; however, the cycle is turning and the ability of the sector to maintain a solid net interest margin may be further challenged. The Austrian authorities have targeted vulnerabilities related to interconnectedness by imposing Other Systemically Important Institution buffers also at the unconsolidated level. Institutional cooperation arrangements are shown to act as a shock absorber for idiosyncratic shocks, but holdings among participating members of respective IPSs may lead to substantial inward stability risks in a systemic event. Under favorable economic conditions inverse ownership contributes strongly to their capital generation by allowing partial redistribution of profits higher tier banks in the Raiffeisen sector earn on their more profitable international business.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; cash flow; OSII bank; equity stake; balance sheet; bank default; funding rollover; interest rate; sensitivity analysis; credit risk; financial system; liquidity profile; cash-flow liquidity analysis toolkit; fair value; banks' liquidity profile; Stress testing; Commercial banks; Liquidity; Solvency stress testing; Financial Sector Assessment Program; Europe; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Austria: Publication of Financial Sector Assessment Program Documentation-Technical Note on Banking Oversight
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This paper on Austria includes a targeted review of banking regulation and supervision, with a focus on topics related to the supervision of less significant institutions. The national transposition and implementation of EU directives and regulations has significantly closed some of the gaps identified in 2013. Oversight of bank loan portfolios was strengthened by guidance from the European Central Bank and European Banking Authority (EBA) concerning nonperforming loans and forborne exposures, and by EU regulation. As noted in the previous Basel Core Principles assessment, the Austrian Banking Act (BWG) and regulations do not establish an adequate framework for monitoring and addressing transactions with related parties; and the BWG does not require ex-ante approval for acquiring qualifying holdings in undertakings outside the financial sector. Although the BWG amendments strengthened the duties and responsibilities of credit institutions’ supervisory boards, operationally the role may be made more robust by increasing interaction between the supervisory board and banking supervisors.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; OeNB; bank; FMA regulation; FMA governance; FMA issues circular; FMA power; FMA place; FMA's view; Bank supervision; Financial Sector Assessment Program; External balance assessment (EBA); Credit risk; Credit; Eastern Europe; Global; Nonperforming loans
Cover Departmental Papers
Stress Testing at the IMF
Mr. Tobias Adrian
,
Mr. James Morsink
, and
Miss Liliana B Schumacher
This paper explains specifics of stress testing at the IMF. After a brief section on the evolution of stress tests at the IMF, the paper presents the key steps of an IMF staff stress test. They are followed by a discussion on how IMF staff uses stress tests results for policy advice. The paper concludes by identifying remaining challenges to make stress tests more useful for the monitoring of financial stability and an overview of IMF staff work program in that direction. Stress tests help assess the resilience of financial systems in IMF member countries and underpin policy advice to preserve or restore financial stability. This assessment and advice are mainly provided through the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP). IMF staff also provide technical assistance in stress testing to many its member countries. An IMF macroprudential stress test is a methodology to assess financial vulnerabilities that can trigger systemic risk and the need of systemwide mitigating measures. The definition of systemic risk as used by the IMF is relevant to understanding the role of its stress tests as tools for financial surveillance and the IMF’s current work program. IMF stress tests primarily apply to depository intermediaries, and, systemically important banks.
Keywords:
DPPP; DP; bank; IMF staff; stress tests; bank exposure; cash flow; funding cost; share price; defaults affect bank asset value; IMF solvency stress tests; optimization process; bank capital; IMF team; counterbalancing capacity; Stress testing; Financial Sector Assessment Program; Systemic risk; Solvency; Solvency stress testing; Global; Financial sector stability; risk amplification mechanism; IMF stress tests; solvency factor; IMF Library