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Business and Economics > Finance: General

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Cover Policy Papers
Central Bank Digital Currency: Progress And Further Considerations
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
The paper briefs the Executive Board on the further considerations on CBDC. These cover the positioning of CBDC in the payments landscape, cyber resilience of the CBDC ecosystem, CBDC adoption, CBDC data use and privacy protection, implications for monetary policy operations, and cross-border payments with retail CBDC.
Keywords:
Capacity development; CBDC; Central bank digital currencies; Adoption; Collaboration; Cross-border payments; Cyber resilience; Data use and privacy protection; Monetary operations; Payment systems; Positioning CBDC; CBDC data; CBDC system; CBDC adoption; CBDC design; data use; position CBDC vis-à-vis; Digital financial services; Monetary base; Global
Cover IMF Working Papers
Financing for the Post-pandemic Recovery: Developing Domestic Sovereign Debt Markets in Central America
Jean François Clevy
,
Mr. Guilherme Pedras
, and
Mrs. Esther Perez Ruiz
The pandemic has urged countries around the globe to mobilize financing to support the recovery. This is even more relevant in Central America, where the policy response to cushion the pandemic’s economic and social impact has accentuated pre-existing debt vulnerabilities. This paper documents the potential for local currency bond markets to diversify and expand financing for the recovery, lowering bond yields, funding volatility, and exposure to global shocks. The paper further identifies priority actions, both national and regional, to support market development.
Keywords:
Bond Markets; Fiscal Deficit; Public Debt; Global Spillovers.; financing condition; pre-existing debt vulnerability; sovereign bond bond yield; market development; LCBM development; Yield curve; Securities markets; Government debt management; Government securities; Global; Central America
Cover IMF Working Papers
Fintech and Financial Inclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean
Mr. Dmitry Gershenson
,
Frederic Lambert
,
Luis Herrera
,
Grey Ramos
,
Mrs. Marina V Rousset
, and
Mr. Jose L. Torres
Despite some improvement since 2011, Latin America and the Caribbean continue to lag behind other regions in terms of financial inclusion. There is no clear evidence that fintech developments have supported greater financial inclusion in LAC, contrary to what has been observed elsewhere in the world. Case studies by national policy experts suggest that barriers to entry in the financial sector, along with a constraining regulatory environment, may have hindered a faster adoption of fintech. However, fintech development seems to have accelerated in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and with the support of recent policy initiatives.
Keywords:
fintech development; policy initiative; financial product; cash transfer program; ACH Colombia; electronic cash; per capita income; credit card payment; Financial inclusion; Fintech; Financial sector; Caribbean; Middle East and Central Asia; Central America; South America; Asia and Pacific
Cover IMF Working Papers
Fintech Potential for Remittance Transfers: A Central America Perspective
Julia Bersch
,
Jean François Clevy
,
Naseem Muhammad
,
Mrs. Esther Perez Ruiz
, and
Mr. Yorbol Yakhshilikov
This paper analyzes the potential for fintech to facilitate cheaper and more efficient remittances, and to enhance financial inclusion in Central America. Digital remittances remain nascent in the region, primarily reflecting behavioral inertia, small cost advantages of digital over traditional channels, and inadequate financial literacy. Through expanded alliances between traditional and fintech operators, digital remittances can further reduce transaction costs and reach those remote, low-income households in a timely and secure manner. A meaningful expansion of fintech remittances necessitates an enabling regulatory environment for digital financial services, and KYC and AML/CFT requirements proportionate to the value of transfers.
Keywords:
remittances digitalization; Fintech remittance; remittances corridor; C. remittances cost; remittances' fee; Remittances; Mobile banking; Financial inclusion; Fintech; Global; Central America; Caribbean; South Asia; East Asia
Cover IMF Working Papers
Determinants of and Prospects for Market Access in Frontier Economies
Luiza Antoun de Almeida
and
Ms. Diva Singh
In recent years, we have observed an increase in low-income countries’ (LICs) access to international capital markets, especially after the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). This paper investigates what factors—country-specific macroeconomic fundamentals and/or external variables—have contributed to the surge in external bond issuance by these LICs, which we refer to in our paper as ‘frontier economies’. Using data on public and publicly guaranteed (PPG) external bond issuance, outstanding PPG bond stock, as well as sovereign spreads, we employ panel data analysis to examine factors related to the increase in issuance by these economies as well as the reduction in their spreads over time. Our empirical study shows that both country-specific fundamentals (such as public debt, current account balance, level of reserves, quality of institutions) and external variables (such as US growth and the VIX index) play a role in explaining the increased amount of issuance and the decline in spreads of frontier economies’ sovereign bonds. The impact of some of these variables on issuance appears to reflect a country’s need to issue bonds for external financing (‘the supply side’ of bond issuance), while others appear to correlate more through their impact on investors’ appetite for a country’s debt (‘the demand side’). In addition, the impact of country-specific variables can also be affected by external factors such as global risk appetite. Our analysis of key factors that have contributed to increased market access for frontier economies over the past decade provides important information to gauge the prospects for their continued market access, and for other LICs to join this group by tapping international markets for the first time.
Keywords:
frontier economy; market access; PPG bond stock; PPG issuance; data on public and publicly guaranteed; Bonds; International capital markets; Public and publicly-guaranteed external debt; Emerging and frontier financial markets; Stocks; Global
Cover Paving the Way to Sustained Growth and Prosperity in Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic
Paving the Way to Sustained Growth and Prosperity in Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic
Ms. Kimberly Beaton
,
Mr. Roberto Garcia-Saltos
, and
Mr. Lorenzo U Figliuoli

Abstract

Abstract: Accelerating economic growth in Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic (CAPDR) remains an elusive task. While the region performed relatively well in the post-global financial crisis period, over the last five years obstacles to growth have become more evident and new challenges have emerged. In response, the region has strengthened macro-financial frameworks but more progress will be required to pave the way to sustained growth and prosperity. This book considers the structural factors underlying the region’s growth outlook and assesses its macroeconomic and financial challenges to help shape the policy agenda going forward. The book first identifies the structural determinants of growth in the region related to: capital formation; employment; demographic factors, including immigration; productivity; and violence. It then highlights the importance of creating fiscal space through the design and implementation of fiscal rules and mechanisms to increase accountability (better quality of public spending, adequate policies to reduce income inequality and sustainable retirement plans). Finally, it presents recent evidence on the importance of a supportive financial sector for growth (including through financial inclusion and development).

Keywords:
BOOK; CAPDR; CAPDR country; IMF subregion Central America; Panama; and the Dominican Republic; TFP growth; employment growth; credit cycle; Credit cycles; PFM legal and regulatory frameworks; Credit gaps; Central America; Global; Caribbean; South America; Europe
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
El Salvador: 2019 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for El Salvador
International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept.
This 2019 Article IV Consultation discusses that structural reforms, strengthened policy frameworks and the ongoing smooth political transition have laid the foundations for sustained growth in El Salvador. The discussions focused on policies that build on these achievements and address fiscal vulnerabilities, boost long-term growth, and strengthen the governance, anticorruption and Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism frameworks. Continued US dollar appreciation led to a significant decline in inflation and widening of the current account deficit. The authorities agreed that debt would continue to drift upward in the absence of measures, and that weaker-than-expected global growth could have a negative impact on the domestic economy. The authorities emphasized their commitment to guarantee a smooth political transition by sharing information with the new administration and by inviting the Audit Office to oversee the handover process. It is recommended to improve the governance and anticorruption frameworks by increasing the fiscal transparency of the 2020 budget laws, strengthening audit and spending controls, and promptly implementing electronic invoicing.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; debt; IMF staff estimate; authority; dollar; financial system; liability positions vis-à-vis nonresident; public funds; interest bill; prevention effort; Public sector; Fiscal stance; Fiscal consolidation; Global; Central America
Cover Policy Papers
Financing for Development: Enhancing the Financial Safety Net for Developing Countries---Further Considerations
International Monetary Fund
PRGT-eligible members make considerable use of Fund concessional financing. Since 2010, 56 percent of Fund arrangements have involved a PRGT-facility. This paper examines a number of issues raised by Executive Directors and the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) since the issuance to the Board of the June 2015 staff paper on enhancing the financial safety net for developing countries (IMF, 2015a). This paper concludes that there is a need to clarify guidance in some areas pertaining to PRGT policies. This will be done through an early revision of the LIC Handbook, which is already underway. The paper does not propose changes to the Fund’s concessional facilities at this juncture. A comprehensive review of PRGT (Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust) resources and facilities is planned for 2018.
Keywords:
PP; PRGT resource; PRGT-eligible member; financial support; financing; fund; members to fund instrument; fund's Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust; PRGT financing; Balance of payments need; Financial safety nets; Concessional external borrowing; Development assistance; Moral hazard; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
El Salvador: Selected Issues
International Monetary Fund. Western Hemisphere Dept.
This paper focuses on policies to raise growth; underpin fiscal sustainability while enhancing social safety nets; and strengthen financial sector stability, deepening, and inclusiveness. GDP growth averaged 2 percent during 2000–14, well below the Central American regional average of 4½ percent. While the underlying causes of the low growth are complex, a key channel through which they are evident appears to be low investment. Given the need to increase growth, revenue-raising measures should be accompanied by cuts in distortionary taxation. Stress tests suggest that financial buffers are adequate to contain most risks. The financial deepening and advancing financial inclusion could have a meaningful impact on both growth and poverty.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; TFP growth; employment growth; TFP; crowding out; liquidity; productivity shortfall; labor market rigidity; TFP performance; liquidity constraint; Pension spending; Fiscal rules; Pensions; Central America; Global
Cover Policy Papers
Macroeconomic Developments in Low-Income Developing Countries: 2014 Report
International Monetary Fund
This report examines macroeconomic developments and related vulnerabilities in low-income developing countries (LIDCs)—a group of 60 countries that have markedly different economic features to higher income countries and are eligible for concessional financing from both the IMF and the World Bank. Collectively, they account for about one-fifth of the world’s Population.
Keywords:
PP; interest rate; sovereign bond; debt management; economic activity; IMF staff estimate; monetary policy; debt relief; financial crisis; Emerging and frontier financial markets; Public investment and public-private partnerships (PPP); Public investment spending; Global