Institutional reform in emerging securities markets

In the long run, sound, efficient securities markets can contribute to economic growth; in the short run, they play an important role in financial liberalization. The author provides a guide to issues involved in institutional and regulatory reform of securities markets - and a discussion of the practical implications of different policy options and sequencing decisions. He argues that establishing sound securities markets requires institutional development that is a substantial task for many developing countries. Prerequisities for the development of securities markets include: (a) a macroeconomic and fiscal environment conducive to the supply of quality securities; (b) a legal, regulatory, and institutional infrastructure that can support efficient operation of the securities market. Essentially such an infrastructure must provide four things: (a) certainty about property rights and contracts; (b) transparent trading and other procedures and public disclosure by companies of all information relevant to the value of their securities; (c) protection against unfair practices by insiders and intermediaries; and (d) protection against the financial failure of intermediaries and market institutions such as clearinghouses. The author also provides examples of the policy conflicts and uncertainties that are routine in securities market reform and development, and suggests approaches to managing them.