This paper discusses the role of a country’s fiscal stance in weakening the financial underpinnings of an open economy with a quasi-fixed nominal exchange rate, even where the overall fiscal deficit remains unchanged, or even narrows. The paper cites the role of expanding government operations...

This paper assesses the effect of constrained trade finance on trade flows in countries undergoing financial and balance of payments crises. Most of the countries that had a major crisis had a significant trade contraction, while trade-related finance declined sharply. However, trade may also be...

This paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the impact of NAFTA on growth and business cycles in Mexico. The effect of the agreement in spurring a dramatic increase in trade and financial flows between Mexico and its NAFTA partners, and its impact on Mexican economic growth and business...

This paper analyzes the effects of intervention on the level and volatility of the exchange rate in Mexico and Turkey, two emerging countries that have floating exchange rate regimes. The paper finds mixed evidence on the effectiveness of intervention. In Mexico, foreign exchange sales have a...

This report reviews the main laws and regulations governing the Mexican financial system, and analyzes the financial system stability in Mexico. The study assesses the implementation of macroeconomic policies, the process of bank restructuring and consolidation, and sectoral and infrastructure...

The Mexican economy has performed well since the last Article IV Consultation. Executive Directors commended the authorities for maintaining prudent fiscal and monetary policies in the face of financial turbulence in emerging markets and the slowdown in the United States. They appreciated the...

This paper explores the reasons behind the recent transformation and upturn of the Mexican economy. the changes are the result of the authorities' determination to stick with a difficult reform program since the early 1980s, supported by multilateral financial institutions, creditor countries,...

This paper presents a technical note on Mexico’s Financial Sector Assessment Program update. The Mexican experience displays interesting characteristics that provide lessons for other countries that still need to design the decumulation phase of their newly established second pillars. The...

This paper presents a technical note on Mexico’s Financial Sector Assessment Program update. The Sociedad Hipotecaria Federal has successfully led a range of direct policy measures that have stimulated the development of the housing finance market. The government improved the legal environment...

Mexico’s two main economic policy challenges are to fully entrench stability and to remove remaining obstacles to economic growth, necessary to end poverty. The floating exchange rate policy continues to serve Mexico well. An essential part of Mexico’s stability is the resilience of the...