South Africa is a small open economy characterised by increasing trade and financial integration since the advent of democracy in 1994. The country's business cycle has been strongly synchronised with the rest of world, with large common shocks accounting for much of the increased...

Emerging market economies (EMEs) have increased their reserves holdings primarily for self-insurance. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has accumulated its foreign exchange (FX) reserves for the same reason, recognising the need to reduce external vulnerability. Both debt issuance and the...

This note outlines the South African Reserve Bank's proposed framework for achieving its new financial stability mandate. It sets out the institutional structure, the focus and objectives of macroprudential policy and the decision-making process to be applied. It identifies and describes three...