Working Papers
2001
September 1, 2001
Asset Securitization and Structured Financing: Future Prospects and Challenges for Countries in Emerging Markets
Description: This article examines the issues and challenges involved for institutions, policy makers, and law-makers in less developed countries in their efforts to implement asset securitization techniques in their financial markets. Challenges and issues in the areas of market development, legislation, accounting, regulation and structuring are examined in the light of recent developments in securitization techniques.
September 1, 2001
Real Convergence to EU Income Levels: Central Europe From 1990 to the Long Term
Description: The paper discusses factors likely to shape the nature and pace of economic growth of five Central European transition countries now engaged in accession to the European Union. It is organized around the standard growth accounting framework. The paper reviews the growth of these countries since 1990 and draws lessons from the growth experiences of other regions since the 1950s, shedding light on long-term growth prospects for these countries. It discusses a set of growth calculations and highlights the key uncertainties in them.
September 1, 2001
IMF Conditionality and Country Ownership of Programs
Description: The paper uses finance and agency theory to establish two main propositions: First, that the conditionality attached to adjustment programs supported by the IMF is justified. Second, that ownership of programs by the borrowing country is crucial for their success. Hence, since both IMF conditionality and country ownership are necessary, the task is one of designing conditionality to maximize program ownership, subject to providing adequate safeguards for IMF lending. The paper discusses some recent proposals for enhancing ownership, and in particular, makes a case for incorporating floating tranches and outcomes-based conditionality in IMF-supported adjustment programs.
September 1, 2001
Bank Reform and Bank Efficiency in Pakistan
Description: Pakistan undertook major financial sector reforms starting in the late 1980s. The effects of these reforms on the profitability and cost and revenue efficiency of the banking sector are evaluated. The revenue performance of all banks, and especially the privatized banks, improved significantly, although costs also rose and relative performance across banks did not converge.
September 1, 2001
International Financial Contagion and the IMF: A Theoretical Framework
Description: We provide a model of contagion where countries borrow or lend for consumption smoothing at the market interest rate or a lower IMF rate. Highly indebted countries hit by large negative shocks to output will default. The resulting reduction in loanable funds raises interest rates, increases the vulnerability of other indebted countries, and can generate further rounds of defaults. In this environment the IMF can limit default and internalize the externality generated by contagion through its lending with conditionality. We characterize the IMF's optimal lending decision in mitigating the loss in world consumption.
September 1, 2001
Macroeconomic Policies and Poverty Reduction: Stylized Facts and an Overview of Research
Description: This paper provides a brief and selective overview of research on the links between macroeconomic policies and poverty reduction. Using the Human Development Index as a measure of well-being, the progress made by 100 countries during 1975–98 is presented, and its association with macroeconomic factors is explored. Several potential avenues for future research are also outlined.
September 1, 2001
Real Estate Market Developments and Financal Sector Soundness
Description: This paper analyses the characteristics and functioning of real estate markets. It focuses on the relationship between developments in these markets and the financial sector to determine under what circumstances real estate booms and busts can develop and how they can affect the health and stability of the financial system. It concludes that unbalanced real estate price developments often contribute to financial sector distress and that trends in real estate markets should be monitored closely in the context of financial sector assessments.
September 1, 2001
Migration, Human Capital, and Poverty in a Dual-Economy Model of a Developing Country
Description: The coexistence of urban and rural poverty and migration to cities is studied in a dual economy model where the acquisition of skills is costly and involves migration to urban areas. In this model, both the distribution of innate abilities and the distribution of wealth matter for the migration decision, and costs of backmigration may produce an urban poverty trap if unemployment lowers household wealth below the cost of skills acquisition.
September 1, 2001
Pension Reform in India
Description: This paper reviews the current state of the pension system in India, as well as plans to reform it. Problems with the current system are identified, and, within this context, the appropriate role of the government in retirement saving is discussed. Finally, the OASIS reform proposal is evaluated and additional reform options are presented.
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