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Europe > Switzerland

You are looking at 1 - 10 of 15 items for :

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Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Switzerland: 2024 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; Informational Annex; and Statement by the Executive Director for Switzerland
International Monetary Fund. European Dept.
The 2024 Article IV Consultation discusses that growth is recovering gradually after slowing in 2023 in Switzerland. In order to counter risks of inflation moving to and settling at very low rates, the rate cut ahead of other central banks was appropriate. Going forward, monetary policy should remain responsive to incoming data, while taking into account international monetary policy developments. Banks have strong buffers, but vulnerabilities related to real estate persist. Ample capital buffers should be maintained, the macroprudential toolkit expanded, supply-side actions to stem pressure on the residential housing market advanced and data gaps closed. The authorities should continue to promote labor market and pension reforms to incentivize labor force participation of women, older workers, and immigrants and address labor shortages, skills gaps, and potential fiscal imbalances. The revised CO2 Act clarifies the policy framework for 2025–2030 but is less ambitious than initially proposed and might require acquiring more emissions-reduction credits from internationally. Advancing negotiations with the EU and enhancing cooperation with other key partners would mitigate uncertainty and strengthen resilience against geo-economic fragmentation risks.
Keywords:
SNB data portal; banking stress test model; climate policy framework; financial system stability assessment update; IMF of exchange restriction; policy stance; Inflation; Labor markets; Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT); Financial sector stability; Global
Cover Policy Papers
Review of The Fund’s Capacity Development Strategy—Background Papers
International Monetary Fund. Institute for Capacity Development
This supplement includes five background papers and provides background information on various aspects of capacity development (CD) for the main Board paper, Review of the Fund’s Capacity Development Strategy—Towards a More Flexible, Integrated, and Tailored Model. It is divided into five sections, each consisting of a different background paper. The five sections cover (1) CD Delivery Modalities; (2) Evaluation and Impact; (3) Regional Capacity Development Centers and Field Presence; (4) HR Policies; and (5) Mapping the Fund’s Position vis-à-vis Other CD Providers.
Keywords:
Capacity Development; Technical Assistance; Training; Institution; Priorities; Evaluation; Impact; Field Presence; Regional Capacity Development Training Center; CD Strategy Review; CD department; CD provider; delivery modality; CD staffing model; RCDC CD Delivery; Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT); Comparative advantage; Training and development in revenue administration; Global; South America; Asia and Pacific; Sub-Saharan Africa; Maghreb
Cover IMF Working Papers
Hidden Treasure: The Impact of Automatic Exchange of Information on Cross-Border Tax Evasion
Sebastian Beer
,
Maria Delgado Coelho
, and
Sebastien Leduc
We analyze the impact of exchange of information in tax matters in reducing international tax evasion between 1995 and 2018. Based on bilateral deposit data for 39 reporting countries and more than 200 counterparty jurisdictions, we find that recent automatic exchange of information frameworks reduced foreign-owned deposits in offshore jurisdictions by an average of 25 percent. This effect is statistically significant and, as expected, much larger than the effect of information exchange upon request, which is not significant. Furthermore, to test the sensitivity of our findings, we estimate countries’ offshore status and the impact of information exchange simultaneously using a finite mixture model. The results confirm that automatic (and not upon request) exchange of information impacts cross-border deposits in offshore jurisdictions, which are characterized by low income tax rates and strong financial secrecy.
Keywords:
WP; bank deposit; EOI agreement; tax evasion; exchange of information; cross-border deposits; treatment effect; offshore center; biases result; standard error; Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT); Offshore financial centers; Double taxation; Personal income tax; Global
Cover IMF Working Papers
Can Good Governance Lower Financial Intermediation Costs?
Mariusz Jarmuzek
and
Mr. Tonny Lybek
This paper argues that better governance practices can reduce the costs, risks and uncertainty of financial intermediation. Our sample covers high-, middle- and low-income countries before and after the global financial crisis (GFC). We find that net interest margins of banks are lower if various governance indicators are better. More cross-border lending also appears conducive to lower intermediation costs, while the level of capital market development is not significant. The GFC seems not to have had a strong impact except via credit risk. Finally, we estimate the size of potential gains from improved governance.
Keywords:
WP; intermediation cost; bank-dealership model; bank characteristic; banks capital; transaction size; financial intermediation costs; governance; corruption; bank-dealership framework; Credit risk; Global financial crisis of 2008-2009; Capital markets; Competition; Inflation; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Liechtenstein: Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism-Technical Note
International Monetary Fund. Legal Dept.
This Technical Note evaluates the state of Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism in Liechtenstein. Liechtenstein has made significant steps and achieved considerable progress since the last mutual evaluation, particularly in bringing its legal framework more closely in line with the Financial Action Task Force recommendations, consolidating an overall robust institutional framework for combating money laundering and terrorist financing and moving toward greater transparency. Domestic cooperation is robust, and key stakeholders enjoy the trust of the financial and nonfinancial sectors. However, effective implementation is uneven and not always optimal. Liechtenstein’s proactive use of the in rem regime of confiscation of criminal proceeds has proven to be quite effective.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; beneficial owner; due diligence; audit firm; public enterprise; penal code; predicate offense; risk assessment; financial market; limited partnership; organized crime; code of criminal procedure; Legal support in revenue administration; Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT); Money laundering; Terrorism financing; Global; Europe; Africa
Cover Policy Papers
The 2017 Joint Review of the Standards and Codes Initiative
International Monetary Fund
The standards and codes (S&C) initiative was launched in the aftermath of the emerging market crises of the 1990s as part of efforts to strengthen the international financial architecture, with a focus on emerging markets. The initiative has aimed at promoting international standards and codes to improve economic and financial resilience by assisting countries in strengthening their economic institutions and informing World Bank and IMF work. The four previous reviews confirmed a fairly high appreciation of the overall initiative, while also raising questions about the initiative’s link to surveillance and capacity development efforts, weak uptake by market participants, as well as a need to improve traction with policy makers. This review reaffirms the country authorities’ appreciation for S&C work, and its focus and scope are guided by the February 2017 paper.
Keywords:
PP; policy area; policy; standards and code; data policy recommendation; area review; IMF work; country authorities; Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT); Financial sector; Fiscal risks; Financial standards; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Italy: Detailed Assessment Report on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism
International Monetary Fund. Legal Dept.
This report provides a summary of the anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) measures in place in Italy as at the date of the onsite visit. It analyzes the level of compliance with the Financial Action Task Force recommendations and the level of effectiveness of Italy's AML/CFT system, and provides recommendations on how the system could be strengthened. Italy has a mature and sophisticated AML/CFT regime, with a correspondingly well-developed legal and institutional framework. Law enforcement agencies access, use, and develop good quality financial intelligence. Financial sector supervisors have been using a risk-based approach to varying degrees, but their supervisory tools could be improved.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; TF risk; organized crime; predicate offense; financial system; bank account; extremist group; PIE auditor; risk management; beneficial owner; parent company; Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT); Legal support in revenue administration; Tax evasion; Corruption; Global; Europe
Cover Policy Papers
Framework Administered Account for Selected Fund Activities-Switzerland Subaccount for Selected Fund Activities
International Monetary Fund
The Fund, represented by the Managing Director, has reached understandings with Switzerland acting through the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) (“Switzerland”), to finance capacity building (technical assistance and training) and related activities. On the basis of these understandings, the Managing Director has established the essential terms and conditions of the Subaccount, with which Switzerland concurs, with respect to the nature, design, and implementation of the activities to be financed and the method by which the costs of the activities will be financed from the Subaccount.
Keywords:
PP; Subaccount; fund member; resources of the Subaccount; terms and conditions of the Subaccount; terms and conditions; b. Switzerland; management of the Subaccount; Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT); Central America; West Africa; East Africa
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Liechtenstein: Assessment of Financial Sector Supervision and Regulation
International Monetary Fund
The financial sector in Liechtenstein provides primarily wealth-management services, including banking, trust, other fiduciary services, investment management, and life insurance. The establishment of the Financial Market Authority (FMA) as the unified, independent regulator in January 2005 is a huge step for the financial services industry. The FMA and other authorities have been successful in implementing most of the recommendations provided in the earlier 2002 IMF assessment. The authorities and the industry continue to make significant efforts to strengthen the antimoney laundering regime, though there is still work ahead.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; Liechtenstein; FMA Act; EEA requirement; authority; asset; FMA representative; Liechtenstein regime; due diligence; EEA membership; FMA order; Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT); Asset management; Insurance; Insurance companies; Europe; Global
Cover IMF Staff Country Reports
Liechtenstein: Detailed Assessment Report on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism
International Monetary Fund
Liechtenstein’s financial sector business has created money laundering risks. The investigative powers of the law enforcement authorities are comprehensive enough to enable them to conduct serious investigations in an effective way. Money laundering is criminalized broadly in line with the international standard. Liechtenstein relies on its trust service providers to obtain, verify, and retain records of the beneficial ownership and control of legal persons. Liechtenstein should conduct a full review of its laws concerning non-profit organizations to assess their adequacy for combating the financing of terrorism.
Keywords:
ISCR; CR; due diligence; beneficial owner; predicate offense; criminal offense; terrorist group; correspondent bank; organized crime; criminal activity; Money laundering; Legal support in revenue administration; Anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT); Terrorism financing; Global; Europe