Policy Papers
2012
October 10, 2012
Guidance Note for Article IV Consultations
Description: This note provides guidance to staff on the conduct of surveillance in the context of Article IV consultations, a core activity of the Fund. Surveillance involves the continuous monitoring of members‘ economic and financial policies and their impact on their own and global stability. During Article IV consultations, staff holds pointed discussions with country authorities on the economic situation, the authorities‘ policies and how these affect the country‘s stability, the role of potential or actual spillovers where relevant, and desirable policy adjustments. These discussions are then reported to the Fund‘s Executive Board for its consideration. The goal, through thorough analysis, candid discussions, and a peer-review mechanism, is to promote the stability of members‘ economies, as well as the effective operation of the international monetary system, including through maintaining global stability.
October 10, 2012
Global Risks, Vulnerabilities, and Policy Challenges Facing Low-Income Countries
Description: The rapid recovery in many low-income countries (LICs) following the global crisis has been sustained in 2012. Softening commodity prices have led to moderating inflation pressures in most LICs. However, progress in rebuilding policy buffers has halted over the past two years, despite continued strong growth in LICs.
October 9, 2012
Arab Countries in Transition - Economic Outlook and Key Challenges - Deauville Partnership Ministerial Meeting
Description: Political uncertainty in the Arab Countries in Transition (ACT) has continued in recent months, especially as the escalation of the conflict in Syria is creating negative regional spillovers.1 While transition governments have maintained macroeconomic stability thus far, serious short-term risks continue, and the authorities have made limited progress in building consensus for needed economic reforms. With the exception of Libya, the ACTs’ growth in 2012 has remained weak in light of continued policy uncertainty, regional tensions, the deteriorating global economy, and high food and fuel commodity prices. A moderate recovery is expected in 2013. The shrinking of fiscal and reserve buffers over the past year has left very little policy space and heightened vulnerabilities. Prompt policy action and timely and adequate international support are essential to maintain macroeconomic stability and address long-running structural deficiencies, to lay the foundation for inclusive growth and job creation for a young and growing population.
October 4, 2012
Revisions to the Special Data Dissemination Standard and Establishment of the Special Data Dissemination Standard Plus—Proposed Decisions
Description:
The purpose of the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) is to guide member countries in the dissemination of comprehensive, timely, accessible, and reliable economic and financial statistical data in the context of increasing economic and financial integration. The SDDS not only prescribes that subscribers disseminate certain data categories, but also prescribes that subscribers disseminate the relevant metadata to promote public knowledge and understanding of their compilation practices with respect to the required data categories. The purpose of the Special Data Dissemination Standard Plus (SDDS Plus) is to reinforce and supplement the Fund’s Data Standards Initiatives and assist Fund members who decide to adhere to the SDDS Plus with regard to the publication of comprehensive, timely, accessible, and reliable economic and financial statistical data in a world of continuing economic and financial integration. The SDDS Plus also requires adherents to disseminate metadata to promote public knowledge and understanding of their compilation practices with respect to the required data categories. The Fund decided that the existing rules governing the SDDS are superseded by the new SDDS legal text. The Fund established the SDDS Plus, which is governed by the rules in the SDDS Plus legal text.
October 4, 2012
Update on the Financing of the Fund's Concessional Assistance and Debt Relief to Low-Income Member Countries
Description: New commitments under PRGT-supported programs are expected to increase to about SDR 2 billion in 2012, in part reflecting the large ECF commitment (SDR 0.6 billion) for Bangladesh approved in April. Commitments in the first eight months of 2012 amounted to SDR 1.4 billion and a further SDR 0.6 billion is expected to be committed by year end. This compares to total commitments of SDR 1.2 billion in each of 2010 and 2011. If all elements of the 2009 financing package are secured, the PRGT will have an annual average lending capacity of SDR 2.2 billion remaining under this package for the period 2013–14. Additional
October 3, 2012
Proposed Amendment on the Reform of the IMF Executive Board and Fourteenth General Review of Quotas - Status of Acceptances and Consents
Description: This status report reviews progress toward implementation of the 2010 Governance and Quota Reforms. It updates the status of consents to the proposed quota increases under the 14th General Review of Quotas and of acceptances of the Proposed Seventh Amendment on the Reform of the Executive Board (“Board Reform Amendment” or “Seventh Amendment”) as set out in the Board of Governors Resolution No. 66-2.
September 24, 2012
Fifth Periodic Monitoring Report on the Status of Implementation Plans in Response to Board-Endorsed IEO Recommendations
Description: Periodic Monitoring Reports update the status on Management Implementation Plans (MIPs) in response to Executive Board-endorsed IEO recommendations. The last Periodic Monitoring Report (PMR) was discussed by the Board Evaluation Committee (EVC) and then agreed by the Board in August 2011. That report concluded that all key performance benchmarks related to the MIPs covered in that report had either been met or were on track for timely completion, that no new remedial actions were proposed, and that there were no outstanding performance benchmarks to be reviewed in the next PMR. In their assessment to the Executive Board, the EVC did, however, note that further work was needed on three other issues—staff mobility, enhanced coverage of previous implementation plans, and the process for following up on IEO recommendations. This fifth report therefore updates work on these three issues, including a consolidated picture of recent progress on all Board-endorsed recommendations made since the first PMR in 2007. This PMR also presents progress on the Implementation Plan in response to Board-endorsed recommendations arising from the IEO Evaluation of IMF Interactions with Member Countries (hereafter, Interactions Evaluation).
September 17, 2012
Proposal to Distribute Remaining Windfall Gold Sales Profits and Strategy to Make the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust Sustainable
Description:
This paper revisits the use of the remaining gold sales windfall profits (SDR 1.75 billion). Directors previously considered three main options: using them as part of a strategy to boost the capacity of the PRGT; counting them towards precautionary balances; or investing them in the Investment Account’s endowment. In past discussions, Directors expressed a wide range of views on these options, and the resources have continued to be held in the Investment Account pending a decision by the Executive Board.
This paper proposes a decision that the remaining gold sales windfall profits be distributed to the membership as part of a strategy to facilitate subsidy resources to ensure the longer-term sustainability of the PRGT. This would involve the same indirect approach that has been used for the partial distribution of SDR 0.7 billion, approved in February 2012. The distribution proposed in this paper will be effected only after members have provided satisfactory assurances that new amounts equivalent to at least 90 percent of the amount distributed—i.e., SDR 1.575 billion—will be transferred, or otherwise provided, to the PRGT.
September 11, 2012
Bhutan - Assessment Letter for the World Bank
Description:
Bhutan's growth has remained robust, but the current account deficit has widened.
• Bhutan's economy has expanded at a robust pace driven by the hydropower sector developments. GDP growth is estimated at nearly 8 percent in 2011/12 (from 8.5 percent in 2010/11), and is projected to reach 12.5 percent in 2012/13 due to the acceleration in hydropower-related construction. Inflation has risen, reaching 13.5 percent in 2012Q2, with both food and nonfood components accelerating. Bhutan’s medium-term outlook is favorable, as growth should remain strong at around 8-9 percent over the medium term, driven by developments in the hydropower sector, manufacturing, and domestic services.
September 10, 2012
Proposed Amendment on the Reform of the IMF Executive Board and Fourteenth General Review of Quotas - Status of Acceptances and Consents
Description: This status report reviews progress toward implementation of the 2010 Governance and Quota Reforms. It updates the status of consents to the proposed quota increases under the 14th General Review of Quotas and of acceptances of the Proposed Seventh Amendment on the Reform of the Executive Board (“Board Reform Amendment” or “Seventh Amendment”) as set out in the Board of Governors Resolution No. 66-2.