"This paper reviews the evidence on the importance of finance for economic well-being, provides data on the degree of use of basic financial services by households and firms across a sample of countries, assesses the desirability of more universal access, and overviews the macroeconomic, legal,...

"A well developed financial system enhances competition in the industrial sector by allowing easier entry. The impact varies across industries, however. For some, small changes in financial development quickly induce entry and dissipate incumbents' rents, generating strong incentives to oppose...

This is the twelfth in the annual series assessing major development issues. Economic growth rates among the developing countries have varied considerably. The external environment has had an adverse impact on growth, but domestic policies have been more important. Countries striving to adjust...

The Comissao de Valores Mobiliarios - Brazil Securities Commission (CVM) has made substantial progress since the 2002 Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP). In 2002 the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) assessment rated 8 principles fully implemented and 22...

The regulatory framework for securities markets in Nigeria has improved markedly since the 2002 Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP), and particularly in the last five years. Since the adoption of the Investments and Securities Act 2007 (ISA) and the first set of rules and regulations of...

The responsibilities of the regulator should be clearly and objectively stated. The regulator should be operationally independent and accountable in the exercise of its functions and powers. The regulator should have adequate powers, proper resources and the capacity to perform its functions and...

This assessment finds that Argentina has made significant progress to improve its securities regulatory system within the existing legal framework. Specifically, Argentina operates a highly, even uniquely, transparent securities regulatory program. The assessment also finds that the Argentine...

The Securities Settlement Systems (SSS) in the People's Republic of China (PRC) are organized around three different types of markets, which are the bond market, the corporate securities market, and the futures market. The China Government Depositary and Clearing Corporation Limited (CCDC) is...