We develop a micro-founded general equilibrium model with heterogeneous agents to identify pertinent constraints to financial inclusion. We evaluate quantitatively the policy impacts of relaxing each of these constraints separately, and in combination, on GDP and inequality. We focus on three...

This technical assistance report on Philippines provides details about the Property Price Index mission. The authorities intend to improve the methods used for the Residential Real Estate Price Index and publish the Commercial Property Price Index (land only) for the first time. Some further...

A new administration took office in July with a blueprint to secure an inclusive, sustainable, and green recovery. While the economy remains fundamentally sound, the new administration will face three important challenges: (1) striking the right policy mix to secure the recovery and safeguard...

Bank stress tests of climate change risks are relatively new, but are rapidly proliferating. The IMF and World Bank staff collaborated to develop an experimental macro scenario stress testing approach to examine physical risks for banks by building a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model...

The Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas (BSP), together with the other financial sector regulators and the Department of Finance (DoF), made significant progress in developing a framework for macroprudential supervision. The BSP plays a central role as the bank and payment system supervisor, as well as...

The Philippines is a dynamic economy with a relatively smaller financial system than other Asian emerging market economies, dominated by banks. The total assets of the system amount to 126 percent of GDP. However, bank credit is just over 50 percent of GDP and mostly goes to nonfinancial...

The Philippines is highly vulnerable to risks from climate change. The Philippines is categorized as one of the world's most vulnerable countries to climate change and natural disasters, especially typhoons. Depending on where a severe typhoon hits the Philippines, it could potentially cause a...