This paper considers how a tax on financial transactions could be applied to three broad and partially overlapping categories of financial instruments: (1) exchange-traded instruments; (2) over-the-counter instruments; and, (3) foreign exchange instruments. For each category, the paper examines...

Korea’s rapid recovery from the global downturn has transitioned into a full-fledged expansion. Policies to strengthen the resilience of the economy and pave the way for sustained and equitable growth is required. Greater two-way flexibility of the exchange rate is needed to support the...

Seychelles's strong stabilization efforts has helped the economy to overcome debt crisis and global recession under the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA). But the authorities need to address monetary policy trade-offs, and financial sector challenges exist. Executive Directors welcomed Seychelles's...

This 2011 Article IV Consultation highlights that the growth momentum in Uruguay has continued into 2011 but a slowdown is under way, led by weaker exports and slower public investment. Uruguay’s economic and financial vulnerabilities are modest, and the government has reduced debt...

Croatia’s economic vulnerability is discussed in this study. Using the balance sheet approach (BSA), this paper analyzes Croatia’s overall and sectoral vulnerabilities. Croatia’s financial sector balance sheet is exposed to liquidity, contagion, and currency risks. With...

Balance-sheet analysis (BSA) complements traditional flow-oriented macroeconomic analysis by gauging mismatches in aggregate and sectoral balance sheets of an economy. Enabled by recent progress in data availability, this paper applies BSA to Georgia, focusing on currency mismatches. In...

Based on experimental evidence, I adjust the standard currency option pricing models for the anchoring heuristic of Tversky and Kahneman (1974). Anchoring provides an explanation for the market practice of using risk-reversals as sentiment proxy. While generating currency smiles even with...