Country Reports
2017
October 5, 2017
Sweden: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Insurance Sector Regulation and Supervision
Description: This Technical Note discusses the findings and recommendations in the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) for Sweden in the areas of insurance sector regulation and supervision. The regulatory and supervisory framework has been enhanced since the 2011 FSAP. The Finansinspektionen (Financial Supervisory Authority, FI) is the principal regulatory body, with responsibility for prudential regulation, consumer protection, and macroprudential regulation. Some measures are recommended to strengthen solvency regulation further. Solvency II should be applied in full to occupational pensions insurance, unless the government decides to create a separate national regime for occupational pensions, as exists in many other countries.
October 4, 2017
Brazil: Technical Assistance Report-Supporting Implementation of the Expenditure Rule Through Public Financial Management Reforms
Description: This Technical Assistance Report discusses the recommendations for supporting implementation of the expenditure rule through public financial management reforms in Brazil. To address rigidities in the budget and to create more fiscal space, authorities need to establish processes to build flexibility and improve efficiency. These include reviewing mandatory expenditures and indexation practices. Other options include a rolling program of spending reviews for large and fast-growing programs and efficiency dividends on ministries’ operational expenses. Authorities also need to begin to develop a medium-term budget framework to support strategic decision making.
September 27, 2017
Georgia: Fiscal Transparency Evaluation
Description: This report evaluates the state of fiscal transparency in Georgia. Georgia has taken important steps to enhance its fiscal transparency practices over the past decade. Fiscal reports have become more comprehensive, with the development of a central government balance sheet and income statement. Fiscal forecasts and budgets have become more forward looking and policy oriented, with the introduction of a four-year medium-term budget framework, formal fiscal objectives, and a program budget classification. In addition, fiscal risk disclosure and analysis have improved dramatically, with the publication of a detailed statement on fiscal risks. At the same time, the evaluation highlights a number of areas where Georgia’s fiscal transparency practices could be further improved.
September 26, 2017
Arab Republic of Egypt: First Review Under the Extended Arrangement Under the Extended Fund Facility and Requests for Waivers for Nonobservance and Applicability of Performance Criteria-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Arab Republic of Egypt
Description: This paper discusses Egypt’s First Review Under the Extended Arrangement Under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and Requests for Waivers for Nonobservance and Applicability of Performance Criteria (PCs). All quantitative PCs for December 2016 were met, but a large depreciation of the pound is posing policy challenges. Because of higher costs of fuel products, the end-June targets for the fuel subsidy bill and the primary deficit are likely to have been missed. The authorities are taking corrective measures by implementing a stronger fiscal adjustment in the next two years, including through the fuel subsidy reform. The IMF staff supports the authorities’ request for the completion of the first review under the Extended Arrangement under the EFF arrangement.
September 21, 2017
France: Selected Issues
Description: This paper focuses on the corporate income tax (CIT) regime that features a high statutory rate but low revenue productivity, as well as a bias toward debt financing, ineffective size-dependent regimes, and inefficient tax incentives. Profit-insensitive taxes are comparatively high. Anti-tax-avoidance rules are strong, but risks to outbound profit shifting remain. Tax uncertainty is another concern. At the individual level, the system of taxing wealth and capital income is complex, with distortions from differential taxation across savings instruments. To address some of these issues and make the tax system more supportive of growth and job creation, the government plans to reduce the CIT rate, further cut the labor tax wedge, unify taxes on capital income, and narrow the wealth tax. Staff’s analysis suggests that complementing these reforms with measures to remove inefficient tax incentives, further reduce the debt bias, address disincentives to company growth, and streamline the taxation of long-term savings could enhance their impact on competitiveness, revenues, and growth.
September 21, 2017
France: 2017 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for France
Description: This 2017 Article IV Consultation highlights that the economic recovery is picking up in France, with real GDP growth projected to reach 1.6 percent in 2017 and 1.8 percent in 2018. Growth is primarily driven by buoyant corporate investment, a rebound in residential construction, and solid consumer demand. Net exports, by contrast, have been a drag on growth, and France’s external position is assessed to be weaker than implied by economic fundamentals. Private sector job creation has begun to accelerate moderately and the unemployment rate has begun to recede moderately from its 10 percent post-crisis mark. Medium-term prospects will critically depend on the implementation of the reform agenda.
September 19, 2017
Belize: Selected Issues
Description: This paper highlights the stock of recent developments in Belize’s financial system. The financial system remains sizable, at 157 percent of GDP in March 2017. The importance of macrofinancial linkages justifies their continuous monitoring, not only for financial stability but also for overall macroeconomic stability. Both domestic and international banks play important roles in mobilizing savings for domestic investment and in facilitating external trade, on which the small open economy of Belize strongly depends. The financial intermediation role of offshore banks has declined in recent years. Offshore banks receive deposits in foreign currency from nonresidents, and lend to foreign investors, and domestic businesses, mostly in the real estate and tourism sectors. The Central Bank of Belize (CBB) is committed to securing financial system soundness. It conducted 5 on-site examinations in 2016, including 3 full-scope examinations for two domestic banks, and one credit union.
September 19, 2017
Belize: 2017 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; Informational Annex; Statement by the Executive Director for Belize
Description: This 2017 Article IV Consultation highlights that adverse developments negatively impacted the Belizean economy in 2016, with strong expansion of tourism the only bright spot. Output is estimated to have contracted by 0.8 percent in 2016, reflecting a continued slowdown in oil production and agriculture. Fish and citrus production were hit by diseases. Growth in tourism was facilitated by improved airlift, marketing and new foreign direct investment projects. Unemployment increased to 11.1 percent in September 2016, from 10.2 percent a year earlier. Growth is projected at just under 2 percent over the medium term.
September 18, 2017
Japan: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note-Insurance Sector Regulation and Supervision
Description: This Technical Note discusses the findings and recommendations made in the Financial Sector Assessment Program for Japan in the areas of insurance sector regulation and supervision. The Japanese insurance sector is characterized by a mature market, high concentration, and the predominance of life insurance products with interest guarantees. It is recommended that the Japan Financial Services Agency (JFSA) should take further steps to implement an economic-value-based solvency regime as soon as practicable. A risk assessment methodology needs to be completed as part of the risk-based supervision framework. The risk and impact assessment will enable JFSA to determine the appropriate supervisory intensity for each insurer, and a holistic supervisory plan.
September 18, 2017
Japan: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Detailed Assessment of Observance on Basel Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision
Description: This report assesses the observance of Basel Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision in Japan. Banking regulations and supervisory processes have undergone significant improvements since the last Financial Sector Assessment Program. The Japan Financial Services Agency is in the process of reforming its supervisory practices and has been shifting its focus from assessing compliance with prudential requirements to a more sophisticated and forward-looking risk-based approach to supervising banks and bank holding companies. Although the supervisory framework is generally sound, some key priority areas need to be addressed. Corporate governance and risk management remains an area that needs further work to strengthen independence of boards.