We implement a three-step procedure to assess the extent of exposure to real estate in commercial banks. First, we demonstrate interest rates and income to be the major determinants of delinquency. Then, we adopt a stress testing approach to calculate the impact of any adverse changes in these...

Low rates of inflation have been recorded in recent years, despite a decline in the unemployment rate. This phenomenon could be the result of a series of transitory shocks or of a permanent change in the structure of the economy leading to a lower NAIRU. The paper suggests that, while the NAIRU...

This paper assesses productivity trends in Canada vis-a-vis the United States from two perspectives. The first one is based on estimates of total factor productivity. The second one decomposes productivity growth into two sources: investment-specific technical change, associated with...

This paper provides a quantitative assessment of the impact of economic growth in the United States on growth in other countries. Using panel data estimation, the paper finds a significant positive impact of U.S. growth on growth in the rest of the world, especially developing countries, during...

This Selected Issues paper focuses on U.S. potential growth in the aftermath of the crisis. It discusses recent productivity developments in the nonfarm business sector. The paper uses back-of-the envelope calculations to gauge the effect of diminished financial sector activity on GDP growth in...

The Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) regime of the United States is overviewed. The United States has implemented a system that is broadly in line with the international AML/CFT standard. However, many of the recommendations made by the evaluators to...

OTC derivatives markets were an increasing source of vulnerability heading into the crisis. OTC derivatives markets contributed to the financial crisis. Credit derivatives facilitated the development and growth of the structured securities markets; and the purchasing, packaging, and distribution...

This note reviews outgoing U.S. consolidated regulatory and supervisory arrangements and explores options to strengthen them. Although U.S. consolidated regulation and supervision span from the smallest financial groups to the largest and most complex, much effort is focused on the latter. This...

Though The United States has experienced a devastating financial crisis owing to multifaceted factors, it started showing recovery. The authorities welcomed the program, which included strengthening microprudential regulation, establishing macroprudential responsibilities, strengthening market...

The paper examines the experiences of countries in defining monetary aggregates, particularly those countries that have undertaken substantial redefinitions. It finds that both the functional and empirical approaches are important; and that monetary definitions tend to be dynamic in nature,...