A rapidly growing empirical literature is studying the causes and consequences of bank fragility in present-day economies. The paper reviews the two basic methodologies adopted in cross-country empirical studies-the signals approach and the multivariate probability model-and their application to...

This paper presents an update to the Financial System Stability Assessment (FSAP) on the Republic of Belarus. The paper reveals that the Belarusian financial sector has so far weathered the ongoing turmoil well, reflecting its relatively closed nature and the dominant role of state-owned banks....

The Central Bank of Tunisia's (CBT) liquidity support contributed to rapid credit growth in Tunisia and an uptick in inflation. The Tunisian economy is expected to recover gradually. Banking sector vulnerabilities are much higher, and stress tests indicate that the banking sector may face large...

Portugal’s financial system is sound, well-managed and competitive, with shorter-term risks and vulnerabilities well contained, and with the system buttressed by a strong financial policy framework. Portuguese banks’ profitability, asset quality, and solvency have held up well in...

This technical note on the Republic of Poland underlies the country’s credit, growth, and financial stability. A broad-based statistical and econometric analysis of financial and household balance sheet data implies that exchange rate-related credit risk and liquidity risk are currently...

This note explores the costs and benefits of different policy options to reduce the risks associated with credit booms, drawing upon several country experiences and the findings from econometric analysis.

Remarks at the Global Economic Policy Forum, New York City.