Questions over the role of the IMF in the economic development and adjustment in developing countries have been the topic of intensive research and debate in recent years. Although most studies find that participation in an IMF program helps facilitate balance of payments adjustment, research in...

This paper studies a small open economy with a large external debt. It begins by considering the long-term effects of shocks in the international capital market and domestic fiscal policy on the amount of outstanding external debt and the domestic reallocation of resources between the tradable...

This paper considers the economic and political drivers of sovereign default, focusing on countries rich enough to render sovereign default a ‘won’t pay’ rather than a ‘can’t pay’ phenomenon. Unlike many private contracts, sovereign debt contracts rely almost exclusively on...

L’année 2012 a vu se fêter les anniversaires des « quarante ans de la Zone franc », des cinquante ans de la Banque Centrale des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (BCEAO) et des quarante ans de la Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (BEAC), venant eux-mêmes après dix ans de la Banque...

L’année 2012 a vu se fêter les anniversaires des « quarante ans de la Zone franc », des cinquante ans de la Banque Centrale des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (BCEAO) et des quarante ans de la Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (BEAC), venant eux-mêmes après dix ans de la Banque...

As a result of debt enforcement problems, many high-productivity firms in emerging economies are unable to pledge enough future profits to their creditors and this constrains the financing they can raise. Many have argued that, by relaxing these credit constraints, reforms that strengthen...

During the last few decades, many emerging markets have lifted restrictions on cross-border financial transactions. The conventional view was that this would allow these countries to: (i) receive capital in flows from advanced countries that would finance higher investment and growth; (ii)...

As a result of debt enforcement problems, many high-productivity firms in emerging economies are unable to pledge enough future profits to their creditors and this constrains the financing they can raise. Many have argued that, by relaxing these credit constraints, reforms that strengthen...

This paper provides an exhaustive assessment of feasible horizons for policy harmonization against African capital flight. The empirical evidence is based on a methodological innovation on common policy initiatives and the results are premised on 15 fundamental characteristics of African capital...

Trade finance, particularly in the form of short-term letters of credit has received favourable capital treatment new Basel III rules. However, concerns have been expressed over the potential negative “unintended consequences” of the newly created leverage ratio for trade. This paper offers...