Books

December 15, 1994

Frameworks for Monetary Stability: Policy Issues and Country Experiences

Description: This book, edited by Tomás J.T. Baliño and Carlo Cottarelli, addresses some of the strategic issues faced by policymakers in the choice of a monetary regime. Following an overview of some of these issues, the book considers the various theoretical or practical frameworks for the implementation of monetary policy. It then focuses on how monetary policy should be implemented.

Notes: Papers presented at the sixth seminar on central banking organized by the International Monetary Fund and held in Washington, D.C. March 1-10, 1994.

December 15, 1994

The Payment System: Design, Management, and Supervision

Description: This book makes a practical contribution to increased understanding of payment system design and management and of the relationship between the payment system and monetary policy. The authors of the twelve papers included in the book are central banking experts from around the world who draw on their experiences in providing technical assistance to the central banks of the countries of the former U.S.S.R.

December 1, 1994

Debt Stocks, Debt Flows and the Balance of Payments

Description: This report focuses on the ways in which stock data enter into the analysis of the flow of external resources between creditor and debtor countries. It describes key terms and the various debt classification systems; outlines methodologies for reconciling differences in debt stocks and debt flows; compares and contrasts the debt and debt-related data systems of the IMF, the OECD, and the World Bank; provides two case studies on data analysis problems and examples of debt restructuring; and outlines the conclusions of the International Working Group on External Debt Statistics.

Notes: This report extends the discussion of stocks of external debt contained in a 1988 report by the International Working Group on External Debt Statistics. Copies of that report entitled External Debt: Definition, Statistical Coverage and Methodology may be obtained from OECD publications, 2 rue Andre-Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex 16, France.

September 15, 1994

Financial Policies and Capital Markets in Arab Countries

Description: Recent developments at both the international and national levels - including the globalization of financial markets and the wave of liberalization, deregulation, and privatization- have pushed the issue of financial markets to the forefront of the development agenda. This book, edited by Said El-Naggar, comprises the proceedings of a seminar held in Abu Dhabi in January 1994. It provides a comprehensive analysis of various aspects of capital markets in general and particularly in the Arab countries.

Notes: Papers presented at a Seminar held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, January 25-26, 1994.

September 15, 1994

Coordinating Stabilization and Structural Reform: Proceedings of the Seminar Coordination of Structural Reform and Macroeconomic Stabilization, Washington, D.C., June 17-26, 1993

Description: This seminar volume, edited by Richard C. Barth, Alan R. Roe, and Chorng-Huey Wong, presents an overview of the links between structural and macroeconomic policies that were addressed in an IMF Institute seminar held in Washington, D.C., in 1993. The most important areas of structural reform are covered: the price system, tax and expenditure policy, exchange rate management, external trade, public enterprises, the financial sector, and social safety nets. Four case studies are presented: China, Poland, Argentina, and the Gambia.

June 15, 1994

Building Sound Finance in Emerging Market Economies: Proceedings of a Conference held in Washington, D.C., June 10-11, 1993

Description: The 12 papers in this book, edited by Gerard Caprio, David Folkerts-Landau, and Timothy D. Lane, explore issues in building a financial structure suitable for economies in transition. They cover for main topics: the problem of old and new debts; the development of a sound and efficient payment system; the establishment of an appropriate financial structure; and the importance of credit in the development of the the real economy.

Notes: The Conference was sponsored jointly by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and held at IMF Headquerters in Washington, D.C. Published jointly with the World Bank.

June 1, 1994

Approaches to Exchange Rate Policy

Description: External sector policies and exchange rate policy are central to a country's economic performance and to the IMF's surveillance functions. The papers in this book, edited by Richard Barth and Chorng-Huey Wong, were presented at a seminar on Exchange Rate Policy in Developing and Transition Economies held by the IMF Institute. They analyze choices of exchange rate regimes, issues affecting management of exchange regimes, and specific types of regimes, including case studies from the former Soviet Union, Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Notes: Papers presented at the seminar on exchange rate policies in developing and transition economies, December 3-11, 1992.

June 1, 1994

Current Legal Issues Affecting Central Banks, Volume II.

Description: Volume II, edited by Robert C. Effros, contains the collected views of banking and legal experts, gathered at the second IMF-sponsored seminar of central banks general counsels. Matters of both international and domestic concern are addressed. The contributors analyze topics ranging from concepts of international monetary law to aspects of the debt crisis and the role of the international financial institutions; banking development in the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and elsewhere; developments in the payments systems; and measures to counter money laundering.

June 15, 1993

Transition to Market: Studies in Fiscal Reform

Description: The IMF has been a major participant in the challenge of transforming many African, Asian, and European countries from centrally planned to market economies. The authors of this book, mainly staff members of the IMF, have distilled their firsthand experience with fiscal reform in transition economies into 15 case studies of these countries. In doing so they analyze issues of privatization, fiscal federalism, social safety nets, and the net worth of the Soviet Union. The editor of the volume is Vito Tanzi, Director of the IMF's Fiscal Affairs Department.

May 15, 1993

Economic Development of the Arab Countries: Selected Issues

Description: This volume, edited by Said El-Naggar, is the fifth in a series of seminars dealing with economic issues of particular importance to the Arab countries. Held in Manama, Bahrain, in February 1993, it covered topics pertaining to economic development of the Arab countries in the nineties. The seven papers that were presented comprised economic reform in the Arab countries, including particularly structural issues; investment policies and capital flows; inter-Arab labor movements; environment and development; development of human resources; and European economic integration. An overview of the topics is presented by the seminar moderator, Said El-Naggar.

Notes: Papers presented at a seminar held in Bahrain, February 1-3, 1993.