Country Reports
2015
October 27, 2015
Slovenia: Technical Assistance Report-Bank Intervention and Resolution and the Deposit Guarantee System
Description: This Technical Assistance Report assesses the bank resolution framework and deposit guarantee system in Slovenia. There are three necessary requirements for effective bank resolution: (1) a special bank resolution regime, (2) advance preparation for bank intervention and resolution, and (3) an adequately funded Deposit Guarantee Scheme (DGS). Slovenia’s banking law provides for the first, while the recommendation to create a Resolution Unit within Bank of Slovenia has been adopted. The extant DGS, however, is an ex post funded scheme that does not fulfill the third criteria. Slovenia must implement the European Union Deposit Guarantee Scheme Directive into national law, which calls for an ex ante funded DGS.
October 26, 2015
Peru: Fiscal Transparency Evaluation
Description: This paper assesses Peru’s fiscal transparency practices in comparison with the IMF’s Fiscal Transparency Code, including the new draft pillar on resource revenue management. Peru’s practices meet most of the principles of the IMF’s Fiscal Transparency Code at good or advanced level. The country provides an extensive set of fiscal information with financial statements covering the entire public sector. There is a comprehensive budget supported by a solid fiscal framework with clear policy objectives embedded in numerical fiscal rules. The country also has a clear and comprehensive legal and fiscal regime for the management of resource revenue.
October 23, 2015
The Central African Republic: Request for the Disbursement Under the Rapid Credit Facility
Description: This paper discusses the Request of Central African Republic for Disbursement Under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF). Central African Republic is emerging slowly from a dramatic security and political crisis that started in 2013, but daunting challenges remain. Security conditions are improving and the inclusive political dialogue continues. Most of the country is now under government control after the full deployment of international forces. The authorities are implementing economic reforms and have put together an election schedule with a view to end the political transition by mid-December 2015. The IMF staff supports the authorities’ request for a third disbursement under the RCF.
October 22, 2015
Mali: Technical Assistance Report - Implementing Fiscal Decentralization
Description: This Technical Assistance Report discusses key recommendations for implementing fiscal decentralization in Mali. It proposes to set an optimal administrative organization of the territory, which should aim at building consistent and sustainable local governments that are best suited to address specific local needs. In this context, the regions deemed to be best suited to handle funds are envisaged to be decentralized and with large-scale development actions. The local government revenue should be optimized through local taxation, and an efficient system of transfers from the central government should be introduced. The report also proposes establishing good financial governance in Mali.
Notes: Also Available in French
October 22, 2015
Mali: Technical Assistance Report - Local Taxation and Decentralization
Description: This Technical Assistance Report surveys the resources of the subnational jurisdictions and proposes a tax reform strategy for Mali. In Mali, the system of local taxes generates insufficient revenue and relies on obsolete taxes, which are particularly difficult to collect. It proposes that the rental value be replaced by a value per hectare indexed on various factors such as access to property or public services; geographic location; and average and georeferenced consumption of electricity, water, cell phone minutes. A real property tax system will also require the elimination of key exemptions under the current real property tax.
Notes: Also Available in French
October 21, 2015
Ecuador: 2015 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Ecuador
Description: This 2015 Article IV Consultation highlights that since the fourth quarter of 2014, the economy of Ecuador has been hit by external shocks and is slowing down. The sharp decline in the international oil price, by about half for the Ecuadorian mix, significantly undercut oil revenues. In addition, competitiveness is being eroded by the real appreciation of the exchange rate. In the face of the economic slowdown, bank liquidity conditions have tightened, credit growth has slowed, and nonperforming loans have risen. Despite the slowdown, inflation is picking up. Owing to the shocks and expected adjustment, the economy is projected to contract somewhat in 2015, while the external position deteriorates.
October 21, 2015
Ecuador: Selected Issues
Description: This Selected Issues paper presents an assessment of macro-financial stability in Ecuador. Ecuador is being hit by external shocks that imply a downward adjustment in growth and financial intermediation. The financial system has been liquid and well-capitalized through 2014, but recently pressures on liquidity positions as well as credit and interest risks have been on the rise. Although main financial stability indicators do not show signs of stress in the first half of 2015, the developments warrant close monitoring and rapid reactions if pressures continue.
October 15, 2015
Ukraine: Technical Assistance Report - Enhancing the Powers and Independence of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission
Description: This Technical Assistance Report discusses measures to enhance the powers and independence of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC) in Ukraine. The NSSMC faces significant challenges in its role as the regulator of the Ukrainian securities market. Market activity has been shrinking over the past few years, but misconduct—such as issuance and trading of “fictitious” securities—prevails. Key changes needed relate to enhancing the NSSMC’s ability to conduct investigations of and demand information from any legal or natural person, have access to information otherwise restricted by secrecy laws, assist foreign authorities even without an apparent violation of the Ukrainian securities laws, and maintain the confidentiality of information exchanged under the Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding.
Notes: Also Available in Ukrainian
October 15, 2015
Saudi Arabia: Selected Issues
Description: This Selected Issues paper assesses the importance of oil and interest rate spillovers for Saudi Arabia. Oil prices have fallen by more than 40 percent since mid-2014 while the Federal Reserve is expected in the coming months to begin raising its policy rate at the beginning of a gradual tightening cycle. Given the importance of oil to the economy and the peg of the riyal to the U.S. dollar, these are two key developments for Saudi Arabia. Although a temporary drop in oil prices would likely have little effect on the economy and banks given the financial cushions that have been built-up, a longer-lasting period of low oil prices would have a more significant impact.
Notes: Also available in Arabic
October 15, 2015
Tunisia: 2015 Article IV Consultation, Sixth Review under the Stand-By Arrangement, and Request for Rephasing-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Tunisia
Description: This 2015 Article IV Consultation highlights that Tunisia’s economy has been resilient throughout a protracted political transition and a difficult international economic environment. The country has been facing headwinds from security threats and social tensions, which are offsetting the benefits from the successful conclusion of the political transition, lower international oil prices, and a recovering Europe. The banking system remains fragile, with the system’s capital adequacy ratio below the minimum regulatory requirement. The medium-term prospects remain favorable, with growth projected to increase to 4.7 percent by 2020.
Notes: Also available in French