Seminar Volumes

September 1, 2005

Dollars, Debt, and Deficits: Sixty Years After Bretton Woods

Description: This book examines the challenges facing the international monetary and financial system, as well as the future role of the Bretton Woods institutions in addressing those challenges. The volume is based on the proceedings of a 2004 conference cosponsored by the Banco de Espana and the International Monetary Fund to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Bretton Woods meetings in July 1944. The chapters look at global imbalances, exchange rate issues, debt in emerging economies, and innovations in private and multilateral lending.

May 18, 2005

Real Estate Indicators and Financial Stability

Description: Real Estate Indicators and Financial Stability

April 29, 2005

Current Developments in Monetary and Financial Law, Vol. 3

Description: The Legal Department and the Institute of the IMF held their eighth biennial seminar for legal advisers of central banks of member countries on May 7-17,2000. The papers presented in this volume are based on presentations made by the seminar participants. The seminar covered a broad range of topics, including activities of the IMF and other international financial institutions, sovereign debt restructuring, the architecture of the international financial system, and money laundering and the financing of terrorism. In addition, participants addressed the role of central banks, payment systems, securities, technology in the financial sector, and monetary arrangements.

Notes: See Volume 1, Volume 2 and Seminar on Current Developments in Monetary and Financial Law, May 2002

April 18, 2005

Euro Adoption in Central and Eastern Europe: Opportunities and Challenges

Description: Eight central and eastern European countries--the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovak Republic, and Slovenia--officially joined the European Union (EU) in May 2004. This auspicious milestone marked the beginning of the next major step for these countries in their move toward full integration with the EU-adoption of the euro. Seeking to consider the opportunities and challenges of euro adoption, the papers in this volume--by a noted group of country officials, academics, representatives of international institutions, and market participants-offer insight on the various dimensions of euro adoption in these eight new EU members--how they should prepare, whether an early move is optimal, and what pitfalls may occur along the way.

March 24, 2005

Regulatory Frameworks for Hawala and Other Remittance Systems

Description: Hawala and other remittance systems have gained attention in recent years with the substantial growth of remittance flows from countries with large migrant labor forces and with increased focus on combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The IMF and the World Bank have been researching these systems since 2002 to better understand the interplay of historical, cultural, and economic factors that promote such systems. This book is a survey of regulatory practices and an overview of experiences in different countries, and includes articles on regulatory frameworks in remitting and receiving countries and on the problems that can arise when regulating remittance systems.

December 1, 2004

Rules-Based Fiscal Policy in Emerging Markets: Background, Analysis, and Prospects

Description: Inspired by the experience of some advanced economies and to enhance creditworthiness, recently a number of emerging market economies adopted rules limiting government deficits, expenditures, or indebtedness. This volume consists of 15 chapters—written by distinguished policy analysts and academics—that focus on the potential usefulness of fiscal rules for these economies, and highlight their brief experience with rules.

September 14, 2004

New Partnership for Africa's Development: Macroeconomics, Institutions, and Poverty

Description: Adopted in 2001, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) represents a new vision to place African countries on a path toward poverty reduction, sustainable growth, and full integration in the world economy. This conference volume includes papers selected from a high-level seminar in December 2002 held in Dakar, Senegal, organized by the IMF Institute in the context of the program of the Joint Africa Institute (JAI). The papers focus on the challenges confronting NEPAD in reducing poverty, promoting trade, attracting capital flows, and effecting institutional reforms.

April 22, 2004

The Low-Income Countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States: Progress and Challenges in Transition

Description: The CIS-7 Initiative was launched in 2002 and endorsed by ministers from the CIS-7 and donor countries, with the objective of promoting poverty reduction, economic growth, and debt sustainability among the seven poorest countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). This volume draws from the follow-up conference held in Lucerne, Switzerland, in January 2003. The objective of this conference was to achieve an understanding of the development agenda in the seven countries and the key policy measures to be taken by the governments and donors to improve future prospects for the countries’ populations.

March 2, 2004

Challenges to Central Banking from Globalized Financial Systems

Description: Increasing global financial market integration is presenting new challenges to central banks as they seek to attain low inflation and financial stability. This volume is based on a conference hosted by the IMF in September 2002. It examines key issues such as the choice of nominal anchor for countries susceptible to shifts in capital flows, what can be done to prevent and deal decisively with financial crises, and how central bankers should think about the difficult choices when monetary objectives and financial stability objectives come into conflict.

October 20, 2003

Current Developments in Monetary and Financial Law, Volume 2

Description: The papers published in this volume are based on an IMF seminar held in 2000 that covered a broad range of topics on monetary and financial law, such as the liberalization of capital movements, data dissemination, responsibilities of central banks, and the IMF’s goals in financial surveillance and architecture. Participants addressed recent issues in the financial sector, including those related to payment systems and supervision of financial institutions. Updates dealt with Internet banking, bank secrecy, and currency arrangements-including dollarization. Participants discussed the recent activities of the other international financial institutions, which included the European Central Bank and the International Finance Corporation. Prevention of financial crises was also discussed, with reference to the distinct roles of the IMF and the private sector.