This paper describes the institutional changes that have induced a decline in the vertical fiscal imbalance (VFI) - defined as the share of sub-national own spending not financed through own revenues - in four European countries: Belgium, Italy, Norway, and Spain. The decline in VFI was achieved...

This Technical Note focuses on banking sector structure in Germany. Germany’s banking system comprises three “pillars” private commercial banks, public sector banks, and cooperative banks—distinguished by the ownership structure and business orientation. The German banking system...

As part of the 2011 Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) update for Germany, this Technical Note reviews recent developments of mortgage-covered bond (Pfandbrief) and mortgage securitization markets in Germany, and explores future prospects for each against the background of ongoing...

This note summarizes the stress tests undertaken for the German banking system as part of the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) update. Solvency tests for the German banking system assessed medium-term vulnerabilities under two adverse macroeconomic scenarios. The tests considered a...

This paper discusses Germany’s challenges and measures to strengthen crisis management arrangements. Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin) and the Bundesbank have closely coordinated with the interagency risk committee on banking matters, which also encompasses BaFin...

This paper applies nonparametric test procedures to test for a shift in the volatility of nominal and real exchange rates for ERM members and nonmembers. The results imply a reduction in volatility for the ERM members, especially during the second half of the period of operation of the ERM. We...

The paper presents estimates of a model of the credibility of the U.K. commitment to its central parity against the deutsche mark during the period of U.K. ERM membership (1990-92). The measure of credibility used is the long-term interest differential with Germany. Credibility is decomposed...

This Selected Background Issues paper examines the process of international financial integration in Germany, focusing on both banking and securities markets. The examination is useful both because of the size and importance of Germany’s economy and because of the structure of its financial...

This Selected Issues paper analyzes labor market asymmetries and macroeconomic adjustment in Germany. Empirical work reported shows that in Germany, negative demand shocks increase the unemployment rate by more than the decrease in the unemployment rate caused by a comparable-sized positive...

This paper presents the report on observance of standards and codes (ROSC) for the financial sector prepared in connection with the financial sector assessment program (FSAP). The FSAP covers the Basel Core Principles for effective banking, the International Association of Insurance Supervisors...