Western Hemisphere > Belize

You are looking at 1 - 7 of 7 items for :

  • Type: Journal Issue x
  • Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit: General x
Clear All Modify Search
Mr. Tamon Asonuma
,
Mr. Marcos d Chamon
,
Aitor Erce
, and
Akira Sasahara
Sovereign debt restructurings are associated with declines in GDP, investment, bank credit, and capital flows. The transmission channels and associated output and banking sector costs depend on whether the restructuring takes place preemptively, without missing payments to creditors, or whether it takes place after a default has occurred. Post-default restructurings are associated with larger declines in bank credit, an increase in lending interest rates, and a higher likelihood of triggering a banking crisis than pre-emptive restructurings. Our local projection estimates show large declines in GDP, investment, and credit amplified by severe sudden stops and transmitted through a “capital inflow-credit channel”.
Ms. Kimberly Beaton
,
Mr. Thomas Dowling
,
Dmitriy Kovtun
,
Franz Loyola
,
Ms. Alla Myrvoda
,
Mr. Joel Chiedu Okwuokei
,
Ms. Inci Ötker
, and
Mr. Jarkko Turunen
The high level of nonperforming loans (NPLs) in the Caribbean has been, in large part, a legacy of the global financial crisis, but their persistence owes much to the weak economic recovery in the region, as well as to structural obstacles to their resolution. A comprehensive strategy is needed to address these impediments to sever the adverse feedback loops between weak economic activity and weak asset quality. This paper finds that NPLs are a drag on Caribbean growth and macro-financial links are strong: a deterioration in asset quality hinders bank lending and dampens economic activity, undermining, in turn, efforts to resolve problem loans. A multifaceted approach is needed, involving a combination of macro- economic policies to support growth and employment; strong supervisory frameworks to ensure macro-financial stability and create incentives for resolution; efforts to address informational gaps and deficiencies in insolvency and debt-enforcement frameworks; and development of markets for distressed loans. The institutional capacity constraints require coordination of reforms within the region and support from international organizations through capacity-building.
International Monetary Fund
An illegal parallel market for foreign exchange is prevalent in Belize. Its emergence and continued existence is attributed to the pervasive exchange controls, attempts to avoid banking fees, as well as the prevalence of cash transactions in the tourist sector. Overall, the financial system appears sound, the banking system is well capitalized, and the insurance sector has been able to pass most of the risks offshore through reinsurance. The supervisory and regulatory framework for commercial banks appears sound, but there is scope for improvement.
International Monetary Fund
In recent years, the IMF has released a growing number of reports and other documents covering economic and financial developments and trends in member countries. Each report, prepared by a staff team after discussions with government officials, is published at the option of the member country.
International Monetary Fund
The authorities' economic policy seeks to sustain strong economic growth mainly through low taxes, large public investment, and the provision of credit to the private sector through the state-owned Development Finance Corporation (DFC). The authorities expect the resulting high rate of economic growth to generate sufficient fiscal resources to reduce the public sector deficit and service the rapidly accumulating external public debt. Executive Directors welcomed the authorities' intention to reduce excess liquidity to help secure the sustainability of the exchange rate.
International Monetary Fund
This paper describes economic developments in Belize during the 1990s. Economic activity slackened in 1993–97, with a sharp slowdown in domestic investment and a sluggish performance of services following the withdrawal in 1994 of the United Kingdom garrison that had been stationed in Belize. Investment fell from its peak of 32 percent of GDP in 1993 to 23¾ percent of GDP in 1997 as both public and private capital formation declined, and national savings fell from 23 percent of GDP in 1993 to 18 percent of GDP in 1997.
International Monetary Fund
In recent years, the IMF has released a growing number of reports and other documents covering economic and financial developments and trends in member countries. Each report, prepared by a staff team after discussions with government officials, is published at the option of the member country.