This paper studies the potential for the export sector to play a more important role in promoting growth in Central America, Panama, and the Dominican Republic (CAPDR) through deeper intra-regional and global trade integration. CAPDR countries have enacted many free trade agreements and other...

The government of President Hernandez inherited a difficult macroeconomic situation upon taking office in January 2014. Economic growth decelerated significantly in 2013, driven mainly by lower private demand from policy uncertainty and by weaker trade-partner growth. The fiscal accounts...

This paper examines the financial strength of central banks in Central America and the Dominican Republic (CADR). Some central banks are working off the effects of intervention in distressed financial institutions during the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Their net income has improved...

The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is faced with the task of stabilizing and reviving a devastated economy after years of military conflicts, sanctions, and economic mismanagement. A weakened institutional capacity and the still evolving political situation is a cause for concern. A short-term...

In recent years, the IMF has released a growing number of reports and other documents covering economic and financial developments and trends in member countries. Each report, prepared by a staff team after discussions with government officials, is published at the option of the member country.

This note summarizes the stress tests undertaken for the German banking system as part of the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) update. Solvency tests for the German banking system assessed medium-term vulnerabilities under two adverse macroeconomic scenarios. The tests considered a...

In recent years, the IMF has released a growing number of reports and other documents covering economic and financial developments and trends in member countries. Each report, prepared by a staff team after discussions with government officials, is published at the option of the member country.

In this study, the role of the financial sector and Islamic finance in the development of Iran’s economic strategy is discussed. The structure and governance aspects of Iran’s financial system are explained by means of equity finance and the banking sector. The role of Iron...

This Technical Note focuses on banking sector structure in Germany. Germany’s banking system comprises three “pillarsâ€â€”private commercial banks, public sector banks, and cooperative banks—distinguished by the ownership structure and business orientation. The German...