The credit risk measures we develop in this paper are used to investigate macrofinancial linkages in the Mexican banking system. Domestic and external macro-financial variables are found to be closely associated with banking soundness. At the aggregate level, high external volatility and...

The paper assesses the effects of certain institutional factors on financial sector development in Sub- Saharan Africa (SSA). Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is applied to determine the extent to which these institutions affect the financial sector, and to suggest which institutions play a more...

This paper examines empirically the determinants of financial market development in Africa with an emphasis on banking systems and stock markets. The results show that income level, creditor rights protection, financial repression, and political risk are the main determinants of banking sector...

Intro -- Contents -- Executive Summary -- I. INTRODUCTION -- II. LONG- TERM SYSTEMIC RISKS -- III. INNOVATIONS IN RISK TRANSFER MARKETS -- IV. INCOMPLETE MARKETS -- V. POLICY CONSIDERATIONS -- VI. CONCLUSIONS -- References.

This paper presents stylized facts on financial development in the CCA countries relative to their EM and LIC peers and assesses how financial development can boost growth in the CCA. Drawing on IMF's multidimensional index of financial development, we find that CCA countries have made progress...

As in other sectors, competition in finance matters for allocative, productive and dynamic efficiency. Theory suggests, however, that unfettered competition is not first best given the special features of finance. I review these analytics and describe how to assess the degree of competition in...

Intro -- Contents -- I. INTRODUCTION -- II. MODEL SETTING AND CHARACTERISTICS -- III. UNIQUE EQUILIBRIUM CANDIDATE WITH STRATEGIC INTERMEDIATION -- IV. EXISTENCE OF AN EQUILIBRIUM WITH FREE RECONTRACTING OPPORTUNITY -- V. DISCUSSION -- VI. CONCLUDING REMARKS -- REFERENCES -- APPENDIX I. PROOFS...

Intro -- Contents -- I. INTRODUCTION -- II. ASYMMETRIC OLIGOPOLISTS IN AN UNTAXED ECONOMY -- III. ASYMMETRIC OLIGOPOLISTS AND THE SPECIFIC SALES TAX -- IV. ASYMMETRIC OLIGOPOLISTS AND THE AD VALOREM SALES TAX -- V. ASYMMETRIC OLIGOPOLISTS AND THE HYBRID PROFITS TAX -- VI. ASYMMETRIC OLIGOPOLISTS...

The paper discusses the role the financial sector can play in supporting growth in Japan. While overall credit conditions have been accommodative, credit growth has remained weak, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Firm-level SME data and sectoral corporate balance sheets...