Policy Papers
2017
November 22, 2017
Use of Third-Party Indicators in Fund Reports
Description:
Fund staff use indicators developed by other organizations as input into analysis in surveillance and, to a lesser extent, in program work. While the Fund has been able to rely on data and statistics provided by member countries and compiled internally, continued efforts to foster global economic and financial stability require staff to work with indicators drawn from numerous third-party compilers. These indicators of varied qualities are used to measure concepts such as business environment, competitiveness, and quality of governance.
It is anticipated that staff will continue to draw on other institutions’ expertise and estimates. This practice is consistent with the Executive Board’s guidance in areas where internal expertise is lacking or limited. It also puts a premium on staff’s understanding of the third-party indicators (TPIs) used to add analytical value, avoid flawed conclusions and presentation, and support traction with the membership.
This paper outlines a framework to promote best practice with respect to use of TPIs in Fund reports. The framework will apply to all documents that are subject to the Fund’s Transparency Policy. Staff are encouraged to follow similar guidelines for other Fund documents. It draws on lessons from the current practice in the Fund and other selected international organizations (IOs), and insights from the application of an adapted data quality assessment framework (DQAF) to a subset of TPIs commonly used by Fund staff. Common good practices across IOs include the emphasis on staff judgment, review, and consultation with stakeholders.
October 31, 2017
Statement by the Managing Director on the Independent Evaluation Office Report on IMF Exchange Rate Policy Advice: Revisiting the 2007 IEO Evaluation
Description: I would like to thank the Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) for preparing this informative and timely report, which provides an update on the IMF’s progress in its approach to exchange rate policy advice since 2007. I am pleased with its main finding that the IMF has substantially overhauled its approach to exchange rate policy advice, and concur that some issues need our continued attention. I would like to note that management and staff remain fully committed to the role of the External Sector Report (ESR) in Fund surveillance.
October 26, 2017
Safeguards Assessments - 2017 Update
Description:
The volume of safeguards activity remained consistent with recent years. 21 assessments were completed during the update period (September 2015-April 2017) and five were in progress at the end of the period. Activity continues to average around 13 assessments per year. While the number of central banks under monitoring decreased slightly from 67 to 63, some monitoring cases required intense engagement due to safeguards challenges that emerged. These related to forensic investigations, governance reforms, and a deterioration in safeguards frameworks of central banks facing difficult external conditions.
October 12, 2017
A Window of Opportunity: The Managing Director's Global Policy Agenda
Description:
The global recovery continues. Although it is not yet complete, the more favorable conjuncture
offers an opportunity to tackle key policy challenges to stave off medium-term downside risks,
rebuild buffers, and raise potential output. Countries should undertake well-sequenced reforms to
increase productivity, improve governance, and reduce policy uncertainty and future risks. Reforms
should also aim to harness the benefits of technology and economic integration and ensure that
they are widely shared. Tackling challenges to the global economy continues to require cooperation
and joint action across the membership. The Fund will assist members through tailored policy
advice and capacity development, and stands ready to provide financial assistance to support
adjustment programs.
October 11, 2017
Provisional Agenda for the Thirty-Sixth Meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee
October 10, 2017
Progress Report to the IMFC on the Activities of the Independent Evaluation Office of the IMF
Description: Since the April 2017 report to the IMFC, the IEO has completed its evaluation on social protection, continued work on evaluations on fragile states and financial surveillance, initiated a new evaluation on advice on unconventional monetary policy, and advanced two updates.
October 2, 2017
Review of the Debt Sustainability Framework for Low Income Countries: Proposed Reforms
Description:
The Debt Sustainability Framework for Low-income Countries (LIC DSF) has been the cornerstone of assessments of risks to debt sustainability in LICs. The framework classifies countries based on their assessed debt-carrying capacity, estimates threshold levels for selected debt burden indicators, evaluates baseline projections and stress test scenarios relative to these thresholds, and then combines indicative rules and staff judgment to assign risk ratings of external debt distress.
The framework has demonstrated its operational value since the last review was conducted in 2012, but there are areas where new features can be introduced to enhance its performance in assessing risks. Against the backdrop of the evolving nature of risks facing LICs, both staff analysis and stakeholder feedback suggest gaps in the framework to be addressed. Complexity and lack of transparency have also been highlighted as causes for concern.
This paper proposes a set of reforms to enhance the value of the LIC DSF for all users. In developing these reforms, staff has been guided by two over-arching principles: a) the core architecture of the DSF—model-based results complemented by judgment—remains appropriate; and b) reforms should ensure that the DSF maintains an appropriate balance by providing countries with early warnings of potential debt distress without unnecessarily constraining their borrowing for development.
September 20, 2017
Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust―2017 Borrowing Agreements with the National Bank Of Belgium and the Swiss National Bank
Description: The Fund, as Trustee of the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT or Trust), has entered into new borrowing agreements with the National Bank of Belgium (Belgium) and the Swiss National Bank (Switzerland), effective on August 30, 2017. These new borrowing agreements with Belgium and Switzerland provide new resources equivalent to SDR 350 million and SDR 500 million, respectively, for a total amount equivalent to SDR 850 million in new PRGT lending resources.
September 15, 2017
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI)—Statistical Update
Description:
The HIPC Initiative and MDRI are nearly complete, with 36 countries having reached the completion point under the HIPC Initiative. Debt relief under the Initiative has alleviated debt burdens substantially in recipient countries and has enabled them to increase their poverty-reducing expenditure by over one and a half percentage points of GDP between 2001 and 2015.
Creditor participation in the HIPC Initiative has been strong amongst the multilateral and Paris Club creditors; however participation from other creditor groups still needs to be strengthened. The total cost of debt relief to creditors under the HIPC Initiative is currently estimated to be US$76.9 billion, while the costs to the four multilateral creditors providing relief under the MDRI is estimated at US$42.4 billion in end-2015 present value terms.