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Raju Huidrom
and
Danila Smirnov
This paper analyzes Timor-Leste’s historical economic performance and structure under dollarization. It considers several dimensions that determine the benefits and costs of the regime: (i) growth and inflation performance; (ii) business and financial cycle synchronization; (iii) adjustment to external shocks; and (iv) competitiveness. Dollarization has helped Timor-Leste achieve relatively low and stable inflation in the context of post conflict fragility, but may be contributing to weakening competitiveness. Improved performance under dollarization requires reduced fiscal imbalances and advancement of reforms that address structural bottlenecks that also undermine competitiveness.
International Monetary Fund. Asia and Pacific Dept
This Selected Issues paper analyzes Timor-Leste’s historical economic performance and structure under dollarization. It considers several dimensions that determine the benefits and costs of the regime: (1) growth and inflation performance; (2) business and financial cycle synchronization; (3) adjustment to external shocks; and (4) competitiveness. Dollarization has helped Timor-Leste achieve relatively low and stable inflation in the context of post conflict fragility, but may be contributing to weakening competitiveness. The severe overvaluation of the real effective exchange rate, following a series of external shocks in the past 10 years may be a contributing factor in addition to the structural bottlenecks that constrain the development of the private sector. While the choice of currency regime lies with the authorities, progress at addressing these challenges, as well as building technical capacity at the central bank, and improving the regulatory and legal framework for the financial system, should be seen as both important reforms to strengthen the economy’s performance under dollarization as well as pre-requisites before consideration is given to the introduction of a national currency.
JaeBin Ahn
,
Euihyun Bae
, and
Jing Zhou
The U.S. economy has been exceeding expectations amid one of the most aggressive monetary policy tightening cycles. This paper provides firm-level evidence showing that abundant cash holdings enable firms to benefit from higher interest rates, thereby reducing net interest payments and mitigate the adverse impact from interest rate hikes to firms' investment and employment.
International Monetary Fund. Secretary's Department

Abstract

The experience of the global economy since the end of the pandemic has been turbulent. The 2024 IMF Annual Report highlights the IMF’s work to on global challenges, including safeguarding macroeconomic stability, returning to fiscal sustainability, bringing inflation back to targets, and embracing transformative developments. In FY 2024, the Fund continued to support its members in our three core areas: 1) Economic surveillance: 128 country health checks completed. 2) Lending: $70 billion to 30 countries, including about $15 billion to 20 low-income countries, for a total of $357 billion to 97 countries since the start of the pandemic. 3) Capacity development: $382 million for hands-on technical advice, policy-oriented training, and peer learning. The report is also available in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Note: The 2024 IMF Annual Report covers the activities of the Executive Board and IMF management and staff during the financial year May 1, 2023, through April 30, 2024, and in some cases more recently. Background: The Annual Report website includes the IMF’s financial statements for FY 2024 and other background documentation. The Annual Report and the financial statements are also available online at www.imfbookstore.org or www.elibrary.IMF.org

Marijn A. Bolhuis
,
Jakree Koosakul
, and
Neil Shenai
Since the Global Financial Crisis, fiscal policy in advanced economies has become more “active” – that is, increasingly unresponsive to rising debt levels. This paper explores tensions between active fiscal and monetary policies by introducing the concept of “fiscal r-star,” which is the real interest rate required to stabilize debt levels when the primary balance is set exogenously, output is growing at potential, and inflation is at target. It is proposed that the difference between monetary r-star and fiscal r-star—referred to as the “fiscal monetary gap”—is a proxy for fiscal-monetary policy tensions. An analysis of over 140 years of data from 16 advanced economies shows that larger fiscal-monetary gaps are associated with rising debt levels, higher inflation, financial repression, lower real returns on bonds and cash, with elevated risks of future debt, inflation, currency, housing, and systemic crises. Current estimates indicate that fiscal-monetary tensions are at historic highs. Given the tepid growth outlook, growth-enhancing reforms and fiscal consolidation, among other policy adjustments, may be needed to attenuate fiscal-monetary tensions over time.
International Monetary Fund. Middle East and Central Asia Dept.
L’économie algérienne se relevait juste de la pandémie lorsqu’elle a été frappée par les répercussions de la guerre en Ukraine et une succession de sécheresses. Ces chocs ont alimenté l’inflation, même si la hausse des cours mondiaux des hydrocarbures a aussi augmenté les recettes publiques et les exportations. L’Algérie a enregistré une croissance vigoureuse en 2023 et sa position extérieure est restée solide, avec un excédent des transactions extérieures pour la deuxième année consécutive et une nouvelle accumulation de réserves de change. L’inflation demeure élevée et pourrait s’enraciner. Les lois de finances 2023–24 visent à soutenir le pouvoir d’achat des ménages, mais risquent d’épuiser les marges de manœuvre qui protègent le budget contre la volatilité des recettes. Les réformes structurelles progressent, avec la promulgation de la loi monétaire et bancaire et la mise en œuvre de la budgétisation par programmes et du code de l’investissement de 2022. Des investissements dans la transition numérique permettraient de renforcer la gouvernance et la transparence, de réduire les risques de corruption et d’améliorer la prestation des services.
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This paper presents a technical note on systemic risk analysis in The Netherlands. The banking sector appears resilient to adverse macrofinancial shocks assuming no policy reactions, but some vulnerabilities exist. The insurance solvency stress test evidenced a broad resilience of the Dutch insurance sector, particularly for property & casualty and health insurers, while vulnerabilities exist for some life insurers. The Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) team also carried out an analysis of household and corporate sector resilience, and of the commercial real estate market. Life insurers are broadly resilient to liquidity shocks despite large interest rate swap positions. Assuming a euro interest rate increase of 100 basis points, margin calls are sizable, but the sampled entities apply heterogenous strategies and draw on a variety of different sources for their liquidity, including cash and deposits, uncommitted repo facilities, and the sale of money-market funds. The FSAP recommendations aim to address observed gaps and further strengthen the Netherlands’ systemic risk analysis framework.
International Monetary Fund. Monetary and Capital Markets Department
This paper highlights a technical note on insurance and pension fund regulation and supervision in The Netherlands. The Dutch insurance sector is undergoing further consolidation, the life sector has been steadily shrinking over the last two decades, and the non-life market is relatively saturated. Investment exposures to real estate are increasing, and Dutch insurers are large providers of mortgage loans. Solvency ratios of Dutch insurers are well above the regulatory threshold, but below the EU average and furthermore distorted by the mechanics of the ‘Long-Term Guarantee Measures’ in Solvency II. The Dutch pension system—considered to be among the best according to international comparisons—rests on three pillars. Most pension schemes are defined-benefit pensions, which have come under pressure since 2008, when low interest rates resulted in declining funding ratio and led to an overall loss in confidence in the system. The Dutch system for independent state agencies, including De Nederlandsche Bank and Autoriteit Financiële Markten, carefully balances powers and accountability. Supervision of insurers and pension funds is effective in the Netherlands.