Country Reports
2023
July 28, 2023
Iceland: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Pension Fund Regulation and Supervision
Description: Iceland’s mandatory occupational pension fund sector is large, and risks are mostly borne by pension fund members and beneficiaries. The mandatory part of the second pillar is provided by 21 autonomous pension funds, and the large majority of schemes can be categorized as defined ambition, a regime aimed at fully-funded liabilities where risks are borne collectively by the members. Defined-benefit schemes which cover the public sector were closed for new members already in the late 1990s. While defined-ambition schemes do not guarantee any pre-determined pension payment, the system has a targeted minimum replacement rate of 72 percent—the effective replacement rate, however, is determined by the performance of pension funds. Total assets of the pension fund sector1 amount to almost twice the GDP (176 percent at end-2022), making it one of the worldwide largest.
July 28, 2023
Iceland: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Detailed Assessment on Basel Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision
Description: Much progress has been achieved in strengthening Iceland’s banking regulatory and supervisory framework since the IMF’s prior BCP assessment was undertaken in 2014. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (Iceland) (MoFEA) together with the Central Bank of Iceland (CBI) undertook a thorough legislative reform agenda which included the transposition of the EU legislative framework and EBA guidelines into Icelandic banking law, enacted a new law for banking resolution as well as established the Resolution Authority within CBI, and adopted new liquidity requirements (Basel III). Further, CBI fully implemented its risk based supervisory framework, adopting supervisory methodology that focuses on high-impact financial institutions, ensuring deep analysis by off-site supervisors on capital, liquidity, business model analysis, as well as governance and internal controls. CBI, together with other relevant agencies, also developed and implemented a new AML/CFT legislative and supervisory framework for banks (applicable to all regulatory institutions that CBI now regulates since the merger with the FSA).
July 28, 2023
Iceland: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Stress Testing and Systemic Risk Analysis
Description: The FSAP took place against the background of a strengthened financial sector in Iceland amid heightened uncertainty in the global economy. The Icelandic financial landscape has undergone significant structural transformation since the global financial crisis with a contracted banking sector. The banking sector has deleveraged swiftly and curtailed cross-border exposure since the GFC with asset reduced from ten times of GDP to 410 percent of GDP from 2007 to 2022Q3, while pension funds have gained systemic importance with assets at 176 percent of GDP2 as of end-2022 with large holdings of public debt and close ties with the banking system. The financial system has also weathered the global pandemic on the back of strong fundamentals, while leaving uneven sectoral impact across the economy. Nonetheless, the intensified fragmentation of the global economy coupled with continued tightening of financial condition and volatile market sentiment has amplified the downside risks which may prompt knock-on effects on the Icelandic economy and financial sector going forward.
July 28, 2023
Iceland: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Management and Supervision of Climate-Related Financial Risks in the Banking Sector
Description: The Icelandic authorities are committed to addressing climate change issues and reaching ambitious objectives to reduce GHG emissions. Iceland is naturally exposed to significant natural hazards, such as volcanic eruptions and extreme weather conditions. The country is also exposed to physical risks resulting from climate change, such as sea acidification and melting glaciers (a long-term risk), as well as climate change transition risks, for instance, concerning the fisheries and transportation sectors. Still, Iceland can leverage its unique assets to overcome challenges of adapting to climate change. One asset is Iceland’s abundant domestically produced renewable energies that cover nearly all the country’s heat and electricity production needs. The 2020 Climate Action Plan and the 2021 Iceland’s Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change include ambitious objectives toward GHG emissions’ neutrality.
July 28, 2023
Iceland: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Macroprudential Policy
Description: Macroprudential policy in Iceland recently has centered on the property market, given the importance of this market for households’ balance sheets, banks’ loan portfolios, and the potential systemic risks. The authorities have proactively used property-related macroprudential tools to safeguard the stability of the financial system and to ensure financial prudence among borrowers. The Central Bank of Iceland (CBI) is the authority, with the macroprudential policy mandate.
July 28, 2023
Iceland: Financial Sector Assessment Program-Technical Note on Financial Safety Net Crisis Management
Description: This Note assesses and makes recommendations regarding the different elements of the financial safety net in Iceland. The scope of the assessment includes the institutional arrangements for recovery, resolution, and crisis management; the oversight of banks’ recovery plans; the legal regime for bank bankruptcy and resolution; resolution planning by the authorities; the funding mechanism to support resolution; the deposit guarantee scheme; and the government authorities’ collective preparedness to deal with financial crises.
July 27, 2023
Canada: 2023 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report
Description: Growth is slowing and headline inflation falling rapidly, but, as in other countries, core inflation has been stickier and short-term expectations elevated in the context of still-tight labor markets. The financial system appears broadly resilient despite global banking stresses and ongoing mortgage resets at higher interest rates. With the world moving from one crisis to the next, risks to a highly open economy like Canada are substantial and compound domestic vulnerabilities related to inflation expectations, the housing market, and household leverage. The outlook thus remains uncertain, and shocks could push the economy into a mild recession.
July 27, 2023
Kingdom of the Netherlands—Aruba: 2023 Article IV Consultation Discussions-Press Release; and Staff Report
Description: The Aruban economy recovered to the pre-pandemic level of real GDP by 2022, supported by a robust rebound in tourism. The fiscal position has been improving but the debt-to-GDP ratio remains above the pre-pandemic level. The banking sector is well capitalized, liquid, and profitable. Restoring macroeconomic balance and bolstering medium-term growth are the principal policy tasks facing the authorities.
July 26, 2023
Norway: 2023 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; and Staff Report
Description: After strong performance in 2022, some deceleration in growth is expected, given geopolitical headwinds and tightening of financial conditions, including globally. Risks are balanced, and there is ample policy space in the short term to accommodate downside surprises. However, leveraging its strong fundamentals, Norway is encouraged to focus on the longer-term structural agenda, given soon-to-be-pressing issues with demographics.