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Business and Economics > Finance: General

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Cover Policy Papers
2023 Review of The Fund's Anti-Money Laundering and Combating The Financing of Terrorism Strategy—Background Papers
International Monetary Fund. Legal Dept.
The background papers support the stocktaking analysis and the proposed way forward for the 2023 review of the IMF's AML/CFT Strategy. The five background papers provide in-depth discussions on the following key topics: (i) illicit financial flows; (ii) the impact of money laundering in financial stability; (iii) synergies between financial integrity issues and other Fund policies and work; (iv) the Fund’s collaboration with key partners in the AML/CFT global policy architecture; and (v) stakeholders’ views of the effectiveness of the Fund’s AML/CFT engagement.
Keywords:
AML/CFT; Anti-money laundering; Money laundering; Terrorism financing; Proliferation financing; Combating the Financing of Terrorism; Financial Stability; Financial Crime; Illicit financial flows; Financial Integrity; CFT issue; CFT framework; addressing IFF; FATF standard; Global AML; Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT); Financial sector stability; Civil society organizations; Global; Baltics
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Central African Republic: Request for a Three-Year Arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility-Press Release; Staff Report; Staff Supplement; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Central African Republic
International Monetary Fund. African Dept.
This paper discusses Central African Republic’s (CAR) Request for a Three-Year Arrangement Under the Extended Credit Facility. Consistent with the IMF’s Country Engagement Strategy, the IMF-supported program is expected to support the implementation of the peace agreement and of CAR’s medium-term development strategy. Its main objectives are to maintain macroeconomic stability, strengthen administrative capacity, governance, and the business climate, and address CAR’s protracted balance of payments needs. Fiscal policy will focus on revenue mobilization, spending prioritization, and strengthening public financial management, with a view to allow, over the medium term, the durable financing of CAR’s considerable security, social, and infrastructure spending needs. Structural reforms will aim at improving the government’s capacity to design and implementing policies and reforms, at enhancing governance, including through strengthening anticorruption institutions, and at removing bottlenecks and regulatory impediments to private investment. The new arrangement will also help catalysing external concessional financing from other development partners, which is critical to support CAR’s path out of fragility. The IMF will also continue its extensive capacity development on priorities that are aligned with the program objectives.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; CAR authorities; authority; fund financing to the C.A.R.; debt; financing; assessment of policy issue; ECF arrangement; C.A.R.'s request; staff's assessment; authorities of Central African Republic; Arrears; Global; Africa; C.A.R.'s program
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Iraq: Selected Issues
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.
This Selected Issues paper discusses the choice and design of rules for Iraq, guided by fiscal policy priorities and the country’s institutional capacity. A ceiling on current spending is proposed as a fiscal rule that would be simple and easy to monitor and support efforts to create space for scaling up capital expenditure, build fiscal buffers to reduce fiscal policy procyclicality, and help secure debt sustainability. A strong policy framework can help Iraq manage the challenges arising from its heavy dependence on volatile oil revenues. The procyclicality of fiscal policy has led to short-term economic volatility and hindered long term development. Important fiscal institutions such as fiscal rules, stabilization funds, and fiscal responsibility laws that exist in many resource-rich countries are lacking in Iraq. Moving to a risk- and rules-based approach can be part of the new policy framework and would be timely. The two main building blocks of this approach involve anchoring fiscal policy on maintaining adequate fiscal buffers, and introducing operational fiscal rules designed to achieve this target for buffers and protect capital expenditure.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; bank; Iraq; firm; expenditure rule; bank asset quality; bank funding; bank lending; bank Performance; bank soundness; oil price; Oil prices; Financial inclusion; Capital spending; Global; East Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Iraq: 2019 Article IV Consultation and Proposal for Post-Program Monitoring-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Iraq
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.
This 2019 Article IV Consultation and Proposal for Post-Program Monitoring highlights that Iraq’s social conditions remain harsh following the war with ISIS, with slow progress at reconstruction, weak public services and a lack of job opportunities. In the absence of policy changes, a widening budget deficit is expected to divert resources away from essential investment to rebuild the country and improve public services, while eroding reserves and posing risks to medium-term sustainability. Expenditure rigidities and limited fiscal buffers imply a significant vulnerability to oil price shocks in a context of volatile prices. The fiscal and external positions are expected to continue to deteriorate over the medium term absent policy changes—with reserves falling below adequate levels and fiscal buffers eroded. In a context of highly volatile oil prices, the major risk to the outlook is a fall in oil prices which would lower exports and budgetary revenues, leading to an even sharper decline in reserves or higher public debt. Geopolitical tensions, the potential for social unrest in a context of weak public services and lack of progress in combatting corruption pose further risks.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; government; CBI governance; price; face challenge; debt; core banking systems; government debt; price differential; government of Iraq; Oil prices; Capital spending; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Jordan: Selected Issues
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.
This paper discusses the Syrian Refugee Crisis (SRC) and conflicts in Syria and Iraq have weighed on investor sentiment, tourism, and exports but the influx of Syrians is likely to have increased aggregate demand. Labor market conditions deteriorated after the massive influx of refugees and nontradable prices accelerated. The balance of payment suffered pressures on the non-oil current account, owing to lower exports of goods and services and higher imports. The SRC has increased the direct fiscal costs persistently by above one percent of GDP, which could double after counting for quality and capital deterioration. The negative impact is decreasing as the influx of Syrian refugees slowed and the stock pushed up aggregate demand. The influx of more than 10 percent of Jordan’s original population may have certainly increased consumption, particularly, over time as the incomers settled and the likelihood of returning to their home country diminishes. Unemployment grew the most in governorates that host most of the refugees.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; Jordan; cost; price; GDP; tax; private sector institution; oil price; SSIF asset portfolio; resource restriction; IMF commodity price; Payroll tax; Financial inclusion; Employment; Labor markets; Tariffs; Global; Middle East; Central Asia; Europe; Africa
Cover Annual Report on Exchange Arrangements and Exchange Restrictions 2014
Annual Report on Exchange Arrangements and Exchange Restrictions 2014
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department

Abstract

This is the 65th issue of the AREAER. It provides a description of the foreign exchange arrangements, exchange and trade systems, and capital controls of all IMF member countries. It also provides information on the operation of foreign exchange markets and controls on international trade. It describes controls on capital transactions and measures implemented in the financial sector, including prudential measures. In addition, it reports on exchange measures imposed by member countries for security reasons. A single table provides a snapshot of the exchange and trade systems of all IMF member countries. The Overview describes in detail how the general trend toward foreign exchange liberalization continued during 2013, alongside a strengthening of the financial sector regulatory framework. A Special Topic essay examines the dynamics and evolution of capital flows. The AREAER is available in several formats. The Overview in print and online, and the detailed information for each of the 191 member countries and territories is included on a CD that accompanies the printed Overview and in an online database, AREAER Online. In addition to the information on the exchange and trade system of IMF member countries in 2013, AREAER Online contains historical data published in previous issues of the AREAER. It is searchable by year, country, and category of measure and allows cross country comparisons for time series.

Keywords:
AREAER; economy; exchange rate; capital; foreign exchange market
Cover Annual Report on Exchange Arrangements and Exchange Restrictions 2013
Annual Report on Exchange Arrangements and Exchange Restrictions 2013
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department

Abstract

This is the 64th issue of the AREAER. It provides a description of the foreign exchange arrangements, exchange and trade systems, and capital controls of all IMF member countries. It also provides information on the operation of foreign exchange markets and controls on international trade. It describes controls on capital transactions and measures implemented in the financial sector, including prudential measures. In addition, it reports on exchange measures imposed by member countries for security reasons. A single table provides a snapshot of the exchange and trade systems of all IMF member countries. The Overview describes in detail how the general trend toward foreign exchange liberalization continued during 2012, alongside a strengthening of the financial sector regulatory framework. The AREAER is available in several formats. The Overview in print and online, and the detailed information for each of the 191 member countries and territories is included on a CD that accompanies the printed Overview and in an online database, AREAER Online. In addition to the information on the exchange and trade system of IMF member countries in 2012, AREAER Online contains historical data published in previous issues of the AREAER. It is searchable by year, country, and category of measure and allows cross country comparisons for time series.

Keywords:
AREAER; foreign currency; policy; U.S. dollar; central bank; economy; IMF review
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Kuwait: 2009 Article IV Consultation: Staff Report; Staff Statement; and Public Information Notice on the Executive Board Discussion
International Monetary Fund
Kuwait’s economy continued to perform strongly in 2008, although signs of weakness emerged in the second half of the year. The authorities’ key challenge in the near term is to preserve financial stability and cushion the impact of the global slowdown. Executive Directors have commended the Kuwaiti authorities’ prudent macroeconomic policies, which have contributed to robust economic growth, strong fiscal and external positions. Directors have also called for strengthening oversight of risk management practices by ensuring adequate policies and procedures for identifying, monitoring, and controlling systemic risk in the financial system.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; investment company; spending cutback; capital injection; price; staff appraisal; budgetary allocation; asset price deflation; a number of investment companies; Oil prices; Financial sector stability; Oil; Credit; Global
Cover Regional Economic Outlook, May 2008, Middle East and Central Asia
Regional Economic Outlook, May 2008, Middle East and Central Asia
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.

Abstract

The Middle East and Central Asia region grew at 6.5 percent in 2007, marking its best five-year performance over the past 30 years. So far, the turmoil in international financial markets has had a limited impact on the region, and the short-term outlook remains very favorable. The report reviews recent economic developments, assesses the outlook for the coming year, and discusses key policy challenges. In addition, it takes a closer look at both regional topics--such as the rise in inflation in the GCC countries, intraregional capital flows, developments in oil markets, developments in real estate prices, and sovereign wealth funds--and country reviews for Algeria, Georgia, Iraq, and West Bank and Gaza.

Keywords:
REO; price; oil price; country; government; housing price correction; GCC country; price subsidy; wage-price spiral; Oil prices; Inflation; Oil; Real estate prices; Emerging and frontier financial markets; Global; Middle East and Central Asia
Cover International Monetary Fund Annual Report 2006
International Monetary Fund Annual Report 2006
Making the Global Economy Work for All
International Monetary Fund

Abstract

The Annual Report 2006 to the Board of Governors reviews the IMF’s activities and policies during the financial year (May 1, 2005, through April 30, 2006). The main sections cover the Fund’s Medium-Term Strategy; country, global, and regional surveillance; strengthening surveillance and crisis prevention; IMF program support and crisis resolution; the Fund’s role in low-income countries; technical assistance and training; financial operations and policies; and governance and management of the IMF. Besides the full financial statements for the year, appendixes cover international reserves, financial operations and transactions, principal policy decisions, press communiqués of advisory committees, Executive Directors and their voting power, and changes in the Executive Board’s membership.

Keywords:
AR; AREA; country; total vote; votes of Somalia; reserve; Liberia's voting rights; executive director by Antigua and Barbuda; Lao people; Currencies; Financial statements; Personal income; Poverty reduction strategy; Loans; Global; Africa; Asia and Pacific; Middle East; Central America; fund staff; fund surveillance; IMF-World Bank; bond issuance; IMF quota; IMF program support; surveillance work; Debt relief; Emerging and frontier financial markets; Financial sector; Europe