The document is the April 2010 issue of the IMF's Global Financial Stability Report. It contains four chapters that discuss resolving the legacy of the global financial crisis and meeting new challenges to financial stability. Key topics covered include sovereign debt risks, problems in the banking system, risks to the recovery of credit markets, assessing capital flows and potential asset bubbles, and policy implications. The report also examines proposals for systemic risk regulation and the role of central counterparties in derivatives markets to help build a safer financial system going forward.
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IMF Global Stability Report
1. World Economic and Financial Sur veys
Global Financial Stability Report
Meeting New Challenges to Stability
and Building a Safer System
10
APR
I N T E R N A T I O N A L M O N E T A R Y F U N D
2. World Economic and Financial Surveys
Global Financial Stability Report
Meeting New Challenges to Stability
and Building a Safer System
April 2010
International Monetary Fund
Washington DC
4. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CONTENTS
Preface ix
Joint Foreword to World Economic Outlook and Global Financial Stability Report xi
Executive Summary xiii
Chapter 1. Resolving the Crisis Legacy and Meeting New Challenges to Financial Stability 1
A. How Has Global Financial Stability Changed? 1
B. Could Sovereign Risks Extend the Global Credit Crisis? 3
C. The Banking System: Legacy Problems and New Challenges 11
D. Risks to the Recovery in Credit 24
E. Assessing Capital Flows and Bubble Risks in the Post-Crisis Environment 28
F. Policy Implications 34
Annex 1.1. Global Financial Stability Map: Construction and Methodology 42
Annex 1.2. Assessing Proposals to Ban “Naked Shorts” in Sovereign Credit Default Swaps 45
Annex 1.3. Assessment of the Spanish Banking System 49
Annex 1.4. Assessment of the German Banking System 54
Annex 1.5. United States: How Different Are “Too-Important-to-Fail” U.S. Bank Holding Companies? 58
References 60
[The following supplemental annexes to Chapter 1 are available online at http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/
gfsr/2010/01/index.htm]
Annex 1.6. Analyzing Nonperforming Loans in Central and Eastern Europe Based on
Historical Experience in Emerging Markets
Annex 1.7. Credit Demand and Capacity Estimates in the United States, Euro Area, and
United Kingdom
Annex 1.8. The Effects of Large-Scale Asset Purchase Programs
Annex 1.9. Methodologies Underlying Assessment of Bubble Risks
Annex 1.10. Euro Zone Sovereign Spreads: Global Risk Aversion, Spillovers, or Fundamentals?
Chapter 2. Systemic Risk and the Redesign of Financial Regulation 63
Summary 63
Implementing Systemic-Risk-Based Capital Surcharges 64
Reforming Financial Regulatory Architecture Taking into Account Systemic Connectedness 76
Policy Reflections 84
Annex 2.1. Highlights of Model Specification 86
References 87
Chapter 3. Making Over-the-Counter Derivatives Safer: The Role of Central Counterparties 91
Summary 91
The Basics of Counterparty Risk and Central Counterparties 93
International Monetary Fund | April 2010 iii
5. gLObaL FiNaNCiaL STabiLiT y REPORT MeetIng new challenges to stabIlIt y and buIldIng a saFer systeM
The Case for Over-the-Counter Derivative Central Clearing 96
Incentivizing Central Counterparty Participation and the Role of End-Users 100
Criteria for Structuring and Regulating a Sound Central Counterparty 105
How Should Central Counterparties Be Regulated and Overseen? 111
One versus Multiple Central Counterparties? 111
Conclusions and Policy Recommendations 113
References 116
Chapter 4. global Liquidity Expansion: Effects on “Receiving” Economies and Policy Response Options 119
Summary 119
Overview of the 2007–09 Global Liquidity Expansion 120
Effects of the Global Liquidity Expansion on the Liquidity-Receiving Economies 121
Policy Response Options for Liquidity-Receiving Economies 124
Effectiveness of Capital Controls 128
Conclusions 132
Annex 4.1. Econometric Study on Liquidity Expansion: Data, Methodology, and Detailed Results 136
Annex 4.2a. Global Liquidity Expansion—Capital-Account-Related Measures Applied in Selected
Liquidity-Receiving Economies 142
Annex 4.2b. Global Liquidity Expansion—Policy Responses Affecting the Capital Account in Selected
Liquidity-Receiving Economies 143
Annex 4.3. Country Case Studies 144
References 149
glossary 152
annex: Summing Up by the acting Chair 157
Statistical appendix 159
boxes
1.1. Explaining Swap Spreads and Measuring Risk Transmission among Euro Zone Sovereigns 7
1.2. Nonperforming Loans in Central and Eastern Europe: Is This Time Different? 18
1.3. Asian Residential Real Estate Markets: Bubble Trouble? 35
1.4. Could Conditions in Emerging Markets Be Building a Bubble? 38
1.5. Proposals to Address the Problem of “Too-Important-to-Fail” Financial Institutions 41
1.6. Estimating Potential Losses from Nonperforming Loans for Spain 51
1.7. Loan Loss Estimation for Germany 56
2.1. Proposals for Systemic Risk Prudential Regulations 66
2.2. Assessing the Systemic Importance of Financial Institutions, Markets, and Instruments 72
2.3. Computing an Aggregate Loss Distribution 74
2.4. Regulatory Architecture Proposals 77
2.5. Contingent Capital—Part of the Solution to Systemic Risk? 83
3.1. The Mechanics of Over-the-Counter Derivative Clearing 95
3.2. The Basics of Novation and Multilateral Netting 98
3.3. The Failure of Lehman Brothers and the Near-Failure of AIG 99
3.4. Central Counterparty Customer Position Portability and Collateral Segregation 104
3.5. History of Central Counterparty Failures and Near-Failures 108
iv International Monetary Fund | April 2010
6. CONTENTS
3.6. The European and U.S. Regulatory Landscapes 112
3.7. Legal Aspects of Central Counterparty Interlinking and Cross-Margining 114
4.1. Global Liquidity Expansion and Liquidity Transmission 122
4.2. Capital Controls versus Prudential Measures 127
4.3. Capital Controls on Outflows versus Inflows 128
4.4. Reserve Requirements and Unremunerated Reserve Requirements 129
4.5. Capital Account Measures—Event Study Results 133
4.6. Market Participant Views Regarding Effectiveness of Capital Controls 135
Tables
1.1. Sovereign Market and Vulnerability Indicators 5
1.2. Estimates of Global Bank Writedowns by Domicile, 2007–10 12
1.3. Aggregate Bank Writedowns and Capital 15
1.4. United States: Bank Writedowns and Capital 15
1.5. Spain: Bank Writedowns and Capital 16
1.6. Germany: Bank Writedowns and Capital 17
1.7. Projections of Credit Capacity for and Demand from the Nonfinancial Sector 27
1.8. Asset Class Valuations 32
1.9. Global Financial Stability Map Indicators 42
1.10. Ten Largest Sovereign Credit Default Swap Referenced Countries 46
1.11. Spain: Baseline and Adverse-Case Scenarios 53
1.12. Spain: Calculations of Cutoff Rates for Banks with Drain on Capital 53
1.13. Estimates of German Bank Writedowns by Sector, 2007–10 55
1.14. Germany: Bank Capital, Earnings, and Writedowns 57
2.1. Comparison of Some Methodologies to Compute Systemic-Risk-Based Charges 65
2.2. System-Wide Capital Impairment Induced by Each Institution at Different Points in the
Credit Cycle and Associated Systemic Risk Ratings 70
2.3. Capital Surcharges Based on the Standardized Approach 71
2.4. Systemic-Risk-Based Capital Surcharges through the Cycle 74
2.5. Systemic-Risk-Based Cyclically Smoothed Capital Surcharges across Countries 76
2.6. Sample Systemic Risk Report 76
3.1. Currently Operational Over-the-Counter Derivative Central Counterparties 94
3.2. Incremental Initial Margin and Guarantee Fund Contributions Associated with
Moving Bilateral Over-the-Counter Derivative Contracts to Central Counterparties 101
4.1. Relation between Equity Returns, Official Foreign Exchange Reserve Accumulation, and
Liquidity under Alternative Exchange Rate Regimes 124
4.2. Fixed-Effects Panel Least-Square Estimation of the Determinants of Asset Returns—
41 Economies, January 2003–December 2009 137
4.3. Fixed-Effects Panel Least-Square Estimation of the Determinants of Asset Returns—
34 Economies, January 2003–December 2009 138
4.4. Fixed-Effects Panel Least-Square Estimation of the Determinants of Equity Returns—
Regional Disaggregation, January 2003–December 2009 139
4.5. Fixed-Effects Panel Least-Square Estimation of the Determinants of Capital Flows—
34 Economies, January 2003–December 2009 140
4.6. Granger Causality Relations between Global and Domestic Liquidity 140
4.7. Determinants of Equity Returns, EGARCH (1,1) Specifications, January 2003–November 2009 141
International Monetary Fund | April 2010 v
7. gLObaL FiNaNCiaL STabiLiT y REPORT MeetIng new challenges to stabIlIt y and buIldIng a saFer systeM
Figures
1.1. Global Financial Stability Map 1
1.2. Macroeconomic Risks in the Global Financial Stability Map 2
1.3. The Crisis Remains in Some Markets as Others Return to Stability 3
1.4. Sovereign Debt to GDP in the G-7 4
1.5. Sovereign Risks and Spillover Channels 4
1.6. Contributions to Five-Year Sovereign Credit Default Swap Spreads 6
1.7. The Four Stages of the Crisis 6
1.8. Sovereign Credit Default Swap Curve Slopes 9
1.9. Sovereign Risk Spilling over to Local Financial Credit Default Swaps,
October 2009 to February 2010 10
1.10. Regional Spillovers from Western Europe to Emerging Market Sovereign Credit Default Swaps 10
1.11. Realized and Expected Writedowns or Loss Provisions for Banks by Region 11
1.12. U.S. Bank Loan Charge-Off Rates 13
1.13. Global Securities Prices 14
1.14. U.S. Mortgage Market 16
1.15. Banks’ Pricing Power—Actual and Forecast 20
1.16. Bank Debt Rollover by Maturity Date 20
1.17. Government-Guaranteed Bank Debt and Retained Securitization 21
1.18. Euro Area Banking Profitability 21
1.19. Net European Central Bank Liquidity Provision and Credit Default Swap Spreads 22
1.20. Bank Credit to the Private Sector 22
1.21. Bank Return on Equity and Percentage of Unprofitable Banks, 2008 23
1.22. Banking System Profitability Indicators 23
1.23. Real Nonfinancial Private Sector Credit Growth in the United States 24
1.24. Average Lending Conditions and Growth in the Euro Area, United Kingdom, and United States 24
1.25. Contributions to Growth in Credit to the Nonfinancial Private Sector 25
1.26. Nonfinancial Private Sector Credit Growth 26
1.27. Total Net Borrowing Needs of the Sovereign Sector 26
1.28. Credit to GDP 27
1.29. Low Short-Term Interest Rates Are Driving Investors Out of Cash 29
1.30. Emerging Market Returns Better on a Volatility-Adjusted Basis 29
1.31. Cumulative Retail Net Flows to Equity and Debt Funds 30
1.32. Refinancing Needs for Emerging Markets and Other Advanced Economies Remain Significant 31
1.33. Emerging Market Real Equity Prices: Historical Corrections 31
1.34. Incentives for Foreign Exchange Carry Trades Are Recovering 34
1.35. Real Domestic Credit Growth and Equity Valuation 34
1.36. All Risks to Global Financial Stability and Its Underlying Conditions Have Improved 43
1.37. Evolution of the Global Financial Stability Map, 2007–09 45
1.38. Net Notional Credit Default Swaps Outstanding as a Share of Total Government Debt 47
1.39. Correlation of Daily Changes in Five-Year Greek Credit Default Swap and Bond Yield Spreads 47
1.40. Sovereign Credit Default Swap Volumes 48
1.41. Spain: Nonperforming Loans 50
1.42. Spain: Real Asset Repossessions 50
1.43. Germany: Loan Loss Rates 57
1.44. Germany: Loan Losses 57
vi International Monetary Fund | April 2010
8. CONTENTS
2.1. Network Structure of Cross-Border Interbank Exposures 67
2.2. Simulation Step 1: Illustration of the Evolution of Banks’ Balance Sheets at Different Points
in the Cycle 68
2.3. Simulation Step 2: Illustration of Contagion Effects at Different Points in the Credit Cycle 69
2.4. An Illustration of the Computation of Incremental Value-at-Risk for Bank 1 71
2.5. Simulation of Systemic Risk Capital Surcharges 73
2.6. Regulatory Forbearance under a Multiple Regulator Configuration 80
2.7. Regulatory Forbearance under a Multiple Regulator Configuration with
Systemic Oversight Mandate 81
2.8. Regulatory Forbearance under Multiple and Unified Regulator Configurations with
Oversight Mandate over Systemic Institutions 82
3.1. Global Over-the-Counter Derivatives Markets 93
3.2. Outstanding Credit Default Swaps in the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation
Data Warehouse 97
3.3. Derivative Payables plus Posted Cash Collateral 102
3.4. Typical Central Counterparty Lines of Defense against Clearing Member Default 107
4.1. Global Liquidity 121
4.2. Change of Central Bank Policy Rates 121
4.3. Liquidity-Receiving Economies: Composition of Capital Inflows 123
4.4. Emerging Markets Equity Indices 123
4.5. Brazil 145
4.6. Colombia 145
4.7. Thailand 146
4.8. Croatia 147
4.9. Korea 149
The following symbols have been used throughout this volume:
. . . to indicate that data are not available;
— to indicate that the figure is zero or less than half the final digit shown, or that the item
does not exist;
– between years or months (for example, 2008–09 or January–June) to indicate the years or
months covered, including the beginning and ending years or months;
/ between years (for example, 2008/09) to indicate a fiscal or financial year.
“Billion” means a thousand million; “trillion” means a thousand billion.
“Basis points” refer to hundredths of 1 percentage point (for example, 25 basis points are
equivalent to ¼ of 1 percentage point).
“n.a.” means not applicable.
Minor discrepancies between constituent figures and totals are due to rounding.
As used in this volume the term “country” does not in all cases refer to a territorial entity that is
a state as understood by international law and practice. As used here, the term also covers some
territorial entities that are not states but for which statistical data are maintained on a separate
and independent basis.
The boundaries, colors, denominations, and any other information shown on the maps do not
imply, on the part of the International Monetary Fund, any judgment on the legal status of any
territory or any endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries.
International Monetary Fund | April 2010 vii
9. PREFaCE
The Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR) assesses key risks facing the global financial system with a
view to identifying those that represent systemic vulnerabilities. In normal times, the report seeks to play a
role in preventing crises by highlighting policies that may mitigate systemic risks, thereby contributing to
global financial stability and the sustained economic growth of the IMF’s member countries. Although global
financial stability has improved, the current report highlights how risks have changed over the last six months,
traces the sources and channels of financial distress, and provides a discussion of policy proposals under con-
sideration to mend the global financial system.
The analysis in this report has been coordinated by the Monetary and Capital Markets (MCM) Department
under the general direction of José Viñals, Financial Counsellor and Director. The project has been directed by
MCM staff Jan Brockmeijer, Deputy Director; Peter Dattels and Laura Kodres, Division Chiefs; and Christo-
pher Morris, Matthew Jones and Effie Psalida, Deputy Division Chiefs. It has benefited from comments and
suggestions from the senior staff in the MCM department.
Contributors to this report also include Sergei Antoshin, Chikako Baba, Alberto Buffa di Perrero, Alexandre
Chailloux, Phil de Imus, Joseph Di Censo, Randall Dodd, Marco Espinosa-Vega, Simon Gray, Ivan Guerra,
Alessandro Gullo, Vincenzo Guzzo, Kristian Hartelius, Geoffrey Heenan, Silvia Iorgova, Hui Jin, Andreas
Jobst, Charles Kahn, Elias Kazarian, Geoffrey Keim, William Kerry, John Kiff, Annamaria Kokenyne, Van-
essa Le Lesle, Isaac Lustgarten, Andrea Maechler, Kazuhiro Masaki, Rebecca McCaughrin, Paul Mills, Ken
Miyajima, Sylwia Nowak, Jaume Puig, Christine Sampic, Manmohan Singh, Juan Solé, Tao Sun, Narayan
Suryakumar, and Morgane de Tollenaere. Martin Edmonds, Oksana Khadarina, Yoon Sook Kim, and Marta
Sanchez Sache provided analytical support. Shannon Bui, Nirmaleen Jayawardane, Juan Rigat, and Ramanjeet
Singh were responsible for word processing. David Einhorn of the External Relations Department edited the
manuscript and coordinated production of the publication.
This particular issue draws, in part, on a series of discussions with banks, clearing organizations, securi-
ties firms, asset management companies, hedge funds, standard setters, financial consultants, and academic
researchers. The report reflects information available up to March 2010 unless otherwise indicated.
The report benefited from comments and suggestions from staff in other IMF departments, as well as from
Executive Directors following their discussion of the Global Financial Stability Report on April 5, 2010. How-
ever, the analysis and policy considerations are those of the contributing staff and should not be attributed to
the Executive Directors, their national authorities, or the IMF.
International Monetary Fund | April 2010 ix
10. JOiNT FOREwORD TO
WORld EcOnOmic OutlOOk aND
EXECUTiVE SUMMaRy
FOREwORD
GlObal Financial Stability REpORt
T
he global recovery is proceeding better than ciation of other floating currencies of advanced and
expected but at varying speeds—tepidly in emerging economies. But these changes have been
many advanced economies and solidly in limited, and global current account imbalances are
most emerging and developing economies. World forecast to widen once again.
growth is now expected to be 4¼ percent. Among the The outlook for activity remains unusually uncer-
advanced economies, the United States is off to a bet- tain, and downside risks stemming from fiscal fragili-
ter start than Europe and Japan. Among emerging and ties have come to the fore. A key concern is that room
developing economies, emerging Asia is leading the for policy maneuvers in many advanced economies has
recovery, while many emerging European and some either been exhausted or become much more limited.
Commonwealth of Independent States economies are Moreover, sovereign risks in advanced economies could
lagging behind. This multispeed recovery is expected undermine financial stability gains and extend the
to continue. crisis. The rapid increase in public debt and deteriora-
As the recovery has gained traction, risks to global tion of fiscal balance sheets could be transmitted back
financial stability have eased, but stability is not yet to banking systems or across borders.
assured. Our estimates of banking system write-downs This underscores the need for policy action to sus-
in the economies hit hardest from the onset of the tain the recovery of the global economy and financial
crisis through 2010 have been reduced to $2.3 tril- system. The policy agenda should include several
lion from $2.8 trillion in the October 2009 Global important elements.
Financial Stability Report. However, the aggregate The key task ahead is to reduce sovereign vulner-
picture masks considerable differentiation within seg- abilities. In many advanced economies, there is a
ments of banking systems, and there remain pockets pressing need to design and communicate credible
that are characterized by shortages of capital, high medium-term fiscal consolidation strategies. These
risks of further asset deterioration, and chronically should include clear time frames to bring down gross
weak profitability. Deleveraging has so far been driven debt-to-GDP ratios over the medium term as well as
mainly by deteriorating assets that have hit both earn- contingency measures if the deterioration in public
ings and capital. Going forward, however, pressures finances is greater than expected. If macroeconomic
on the funding or liability side of bank balance sheets developments proceed as expected, most advanced
are likely to play a greater role, as banks reduce lever- economies should embark on fiscal consolidation in
age and raise capital and liquidity buffers. Hence, the 2011. Meanwhile, given the still-fragile recovery, the
recovery of private sector credit is likely to be subdued, fiscal stimulus planned for 2010 should be fully imple-
especially in advanced economies. mented, except in economies that face large increases
At the same time, better growth prospects in many in risk premiums, where the urgency is greater and
emerging economies and low interest rates in major consolidation needs to begin now. Entitlement reforms
economies have triggered a welcome resurgence of that do not detract from demand in the short term—
capital flows to some emerging economies. These for example, raising the statutory retirement age or
capital flows however come with the attendant risk of lowering the cost of health care—should be imple-
inflation pressure and asset bubbles. So far, there is no mented without delay.
systemwide evidence of bubbles, although there are a Other policy challenges relate to unwinding mon-
few hot spots, and risks could build up over a longer- etary accommodation across the globe and manag-
term horizon. The recovery of cross-border financial ing capital flows to emerging economies. In major
flows has brought some real effective exchange rate advanced economies, insofar as inflation expectations
changes—depreciation of the U.S. dollar and appre- remain well anchored, monetary policy can con-
International Monetary Fund | April 2010 xi
11. gLObaL FiNaNCiaL STabiLiT y REPORT MeetIng new challenges to stabIlIt y and buIldIng a saFer systeM
tinue being accommodative as fiscal consolidation ensure that too-important-to-fail institutions in all
progresses, even as central banks begin to withdraw jurisdictions do not use the funding advantages their
the emergency support provided to financial sectors. systemic importance gives them to consolidate their
Major emerging and some advanced economies will positions even further. Starting securitization on a safer
continue to lead the tightening cycle, since they are basis is also essential to support credit, particularly for
experiencing faster recoveries and renewed capital households and small and medium-size enterprises.
flows. Although there is only limited evidence of Looking further ahead, there must be agreement on
inflation pressures and asset price bubbles, current the regulatory reform agenda. The direction of reform
conditions warrant close scrutiny and early action. is clear—higher quantity and quality of capital and
In emerging economies with relatively balanced better liquidity risk management—but the magnitude
external positions, the defense against excessive cur- is not. In addition, uncertainty surrounding reforms to
rency appreciation should include a combination of address too-important-to-fail institutions and systemic
macroeconomic and prudential policies, which are risks make it difficult for financial institutions to plan.
discussed in detail in the World Economic Outlook Policymakers must strike the right balance between
and Global Financial Stability Report. promoting the safety of the financial system and
Combating unemployment is yet another policy keeping it innovative and efficient. Specific proposals
challenge. As high unemployment persists in advanced for making the financial system safer and for strength-
economies, a major concern is that temporary ening its infrastructure—for example, in the over-
joblessness will turn into long-term unemployment. the-counter derivatives market—are discussed in the
Beyond pursuing macroeconomic policies that support Global Financial Stability Report.
recovery in the near term and financial sector policies Finally, the world’s ability to sustain high growth
that restore banking sector health (and credit supply to over the medium term depends on rebalancing
employment-intensive sectors), specific labor market global demand. This means that economies that
policies could also help limit damage to the labor had excessive external deficits before the crisis need
market. In particular, adequate unemployment benefits to consolidate their public finances in ways that
are essential to support confidence among households limit damage to growth and demand. Concurrently,
and to avoid large increases in poverty, and education economies that ran excessive current account
and training can help reintegrate the unemployed into surpluses will need to further increase domestic
the labor force. demand to sustain growth, as excessive deficit
Policies also need to buttress lasting financial stabil- economies scale back their demand. As the currencies
ity, so that the next stage of the deleveraging process of economies with excessive deficits depreciate, those
unfolds smoothly and results in a safer, competitive, of surplus economies must logically appreciate.
and vital financial system. Swift resolution of nonvi- Rebalancing also needs to be supported with financial
able institutions and restructuring of those with a sector reform and growth-enhancing structural
commercial future is key. Care will be needed to policies in both surplus and deficit economies.
Olivier Blanchard José Viñals
Economic Counsellor Financial Counsellor
xii International Monetary Fund | April 2010
12. EXECUTiVE SUMMaRy
Risks to global financial stability have eased as the economic recovery has gained steam, but concerns
about advanced country sovereign risks could undermine stability gains and prolong the collapse of
credit. Without more fully restoring the health of financial and household balance sheets, a worsening of
public debt sustainability could be transmitted back to banking systems or across borders. Hence, policies
are needed to (1) reduce sovereign vulnerabilities, including through communicating credible medium-
term fiscal consolidation plans; (2) ensure that the ongoing deleveraging process unfolds smoothly; and
(3) decisively move forward to complete the regulatory agenda so as to move to a safer, more resilient,
and dynamic global financial system. For emerging market countries, where the surge in capital inflows
has led to fears of inflation and asset price bubbles, a pragmatic approach using a combination of mac-
roeconomic and prudential financial policies is advisable.
W
ith the global economy improving (see need to be refinanced this year and next; more and
the April 2010 World Economic Outlook), higher-quality capital will likely be needed to satisfy
risks to financial stability have subsided. investors in anticipation of upcoming more stringent
Nonetheless, the deterioration of fiscal balances and regulation; and not all losses have been written down
the rapid accumulation of public debt have altered to date. In addition to these challenges, new regula-
the global risk profile. Vulnerabilities now increas- tions will also require banks to rethink their business
ingly emanate from concerns over the sustainability of strategies. All of these factors are likely to put down-
governments’ balance sheets. In some cases, the longer- ward pressure on profitability.
run solvency concerns could translate into short-term In such an environment, the recovery of private
strains in funding markets as investors require higher sector credit is likely to be subdued as credit demand
yields to compensate for potential future risks. Such is weak and supply is constrained. Households and
strains can intensify the short-term funding challenges corporates need to reduce their debt levels and restore
facing advanced country banks and may have nega- their balance sheets. Even with low demand, the bal-
tive implications for a recovery of private credit. These looning sovereign financing needs may bump up against
interactions are covered in Chapter 1 of this report. limited credit supply, which could contribute to upward
Banking system health is generally improving pressure on interest rates (see Section D of Chapter 1)
alongside the economic recovery, continued deleverag- and increase funding pressures for banks. Small and
ing, and normalizing markets. Our estimates of bank medium-sized enterprises are feeling the brunt of reduc-
writedowns since the start of the crisis through 2010 tions in credit. Thus, policy measures to address supply
have been reduced to $2.3 trillion from $2.8 trillion constraints may still be needed in some economies.
in the October 2009 Global Financial Stability Report. In contrast, some emerging market economies have
As a result, bank capital needs have declined substan- experienced a resurgence of capital flows. Strong recov-
tially, although segments of banking systems in some eries, expectations of appreciating currencies, as well
countries remain capital deficient, mainly as a result of as ample liquidity and low interest rates in the major
losses related to commercial real estate. Even though advanced countries form the backdrop for portfolio
capital needs have fallen, banks still face considerable capital inflows to Asia (excluding Japan) and Latin
challenges: a large amount of short-term funding will America (see Section E of Chapter 1, and Chapter 4).
International Monetary Fund | April 2010 xiii
13. gLObaL FiNaNCiaL STabiLiT y REPORT MeetIng new challenges to stabIlIt y and buIldIng a saFer systeM
While the resumption of capital flows is welcome, in consistent with a well-functioning and safe banking
some cases this has led to concerns about the poten- system. While certain central banks and governments
tial for inflationary pressures and asset price bubbles, may need to continue to provide some support, others
which could compromise monetary and financial should stand ready to reinstate it, if needed, to avert a
stability. However, with the exception of some local return of funding market disruptions.
property markets, there is only limited evidence of this Looking further ahead, the regulatory reforms
actually happening so far. need to move forward expeditiously after being
Nonetheless, current conditions warrant close scru- adequately calibrated, and be introduced in a manner
tiny and early policy action so as not to compromise that accounts for the current economic and financial
financial stability. Chapter 4 notes that there are strong conditions. It is already clear that the reforms to make
links between global liquidity expansion and asset the financial system safer will entail more and better
prices in “liquidity-receiving” economies. The work quality capital and improvements in liquidity manage-
shows that capital inflows in the receiving economies ment and buffers. These microprudential measures will
are less problematic if exchange rates are flexible and help remove excess capacity and restrict a build-up in
capital outflows are liberalized. Moreover, policymak- leverage. While the direction of the reforms is clear,
ers in these economies are encouraged to use a wide the magnitude is not. Furthermore, questions remain
range of policy options in response to the surge in about how policymakers will deal with the capacity of
flows—namely macroeconomic policies and prudential too-important-to-fail institutions to harm the financial
regulations. If these policy measures are insufficient system and to generate costs for the public sector
and the capital flows are likely to be temporary, judi- and its taxpayers. In particular, there will be a need
cious use of capital controls could be considered. for some combination of ex ante preventive measures
as well as improved ex post resolution mechanisms.
Resolving the present regulatory uncertainty will help
Main Policy Messages financial institutions better plan and adapt their busi-
ness strategies.
To address sovereign risks, credible medium-term
In moving forward with regulatory reforms to
fiscal consolidation plans that command public sup-
address systemic risks, care will be needed to ensure
port are needed. This is the most daunting challenge that the combination of measures strikes the right
facing governments in the near term. Consolidation balance between the safety of the financial system and
plans should be made transparent, and contingency its innovativeness and efficiency. One way that is being
measures should be in place if the degradation of considered to improve the safety of the system is to
public finances is greater than expected. Better fiscal assign capital charges on the basis of an institution’s
frameworks and growth-enhancing structural reforms contribution to systemic risk. While not necessarily
will help ground public confidence that the fiscal con- endorsing its use, Chapter 2 presents a methodology
solidation process is consistent with long-term growth. to construct such a capital surcharge based on financial
In the near term, the banking systems in a number institutions’ interconnectedness—essentially charging
of countries still require attention so as to reestablish systemically important institutions for the external-
a healthy core set of viable banks that can get private ity they impose on the system as a whole—that is,
credit flowing again. Policies need to focus on the the impact their failure would have on others. The
“right sizing” of a vital and sound financial system. methodology relies on techniques already employed
While deleveraging has occurred mostly on the asset by supervisors and the private sector to manage risk.
side of banks’ balance sheets, funding and liability- Other regulatory measures, of course, are also possible,
side pressures are coming to the fore. Further efforts such as those discussed in Section F of Chapter 1, and
to address a number of weak banks are still neces- merit further analysis.
sary to ensure a smooth exit from the extraordinary As important as the types of regulations to put
central bank support of funding and liquidity. The key into place is the question of who should do it. Chap-
will be for policymakers to ensure fair competition ter 2 also asks whether some recent reform propos-
xiv International Monetary Fund | April 2010
14. EXECUTiVE SUMMaRy
als that add the task of monitoring the build-up of well designed. In the global context, strict regulatory
systemic risks to the role of regulators would help to oversight, including a set of international guidelines, is
mitigate such risks. The chapter finds that a unified warranted. Such a set of guidelines is currently being
regulator—one that oversees liquidity and solvency crafted jointly by the International Organization of
issues—removes some of the conflicting incentives Securities Commissions and the Committee on Pay-
that result from the separation of these powers, but ments and Settlement Systems.
nonetheless if it is mandated to oversee systemic The chapter also notes that while moving OTC
risks it would still be softer on systemically impor- derivative contracts to a CCP will likely lower systemic
tant institutions than on those that are not. This risks by reducing the counterparty risks associated with
arises because the failure of one of these institutions trading these contracts, such a move will bring with it
would cause disproportionate damage to the financial transition costs due to the need to post large amounts of
system and regulators would be loath to see serial additional collateral at the CCP. This calls for a gradual
failures. To truly address systemic risks, regulators transition. Given these costs, however, the incentive to
need additional tools explicitly tied to their mandate voluntarily move contracts to the safer environment
to monitor systemic risks—altering the structure of may be low and it may need more regulatory encour-
regulatory bodies is not enough. Such tools could agement. One way, for example, would be to raise capi-
include systemic-risk-based capital surcharges, levies tal charges or attach a levy on derivative exposures that
on institutions in ways directly related to their con- represent a dealer’s payments to their other counterpar-
tribution to systemic risk, or perhaps even limiting ties in case of their own failure—that is, their contribu-
the size of certain business activities. tion to systemic risk in the OTC market.
Another approach to improving financial stability In sum, the future financial regulatory reform
is to beef up the infrastructure underling financial agenda is still a work in progress, but will need to
markets to make them more resilient to the distress move forward with at least the main ingredients
of individual financial institutions. One of the major soon. The window of opportunity for dealing with
initiatives is to move over-the-counter (OTC) deriva- too-important-to-fail institutions may be closing and
tives contracts to central counterparties (CCPs) for should not be squandered, all the more so because
clearing. Chapter 3 examines how such a move could some of these institutions have become bigger and
lower systemic counterparty credit risks, but notes more dominant than before the crisis erupted. Policy-
that once contracts are placed in a CCP it is essen- makers need to give serious thought about what makes
tial that the risk management standards are high and these institutions systemically important and how their
back-up plans to prevent a failure of the CCP itself are risks to the financial system can be mitigated.
International Monetary Fund | April 2010 xv
15. 1
ChaPTER
RESOLViNg ThE CRiSiS LEgaCy aND MEETiNg ChaPTER 1 resolVIng the crIsIs legacy and MeetIng new challenges to FInancIal stabIlIty
NEw ChaLLENgES TO FiNaNCiaL STabiLiTy
a. how has global Financial Stability Changed? Macroeconomic risks have eased as the economic
recovery takes hold, aided by policy stimulus, the turn
The health of the global financial system has improved
in the inventory cycle, and improvements in inves-
since the October 2009 Global Financial Stability Report
tor confidence. The baseline forecast in the World
(GFSR), as illustrated in our global financial stability
Economic Outlook (WEO) for global growth in 2010
map (Figure 1.1).1 However, risks remain elevated due
has been raised significantly since October, follow-
to the still-fragile nature of the recovery and the ongoing
ing a sharp rebound in production, trade, and a
repair of balance sheets. Concerns about sovereign risks
range of leading indicators. The recovery is expected
could also undermine stability gains and take the credit
to be multi-speed and fragile, with many advanced
crisis into a new phase, as nations begin to reach the
economies that are coping with structural challenges
limits of public sector support for the financial system and
the real economy.1
Keim, William Kerry, Vanessa Le Lesle, Andrea Maechler, Rebecca
McCaughrin, Paul Mills, Ken Miyajima, Christopher Morris, Jaume
Note: This chapter was written by a team led by Peter Dattels Puig, Narayan Suryakumar, and Morgane de Tollenaere.
and comprised of Sergei Antoshin, Alberto Buffa di Perrero, Phil 1Annex 1.1 details how indicators that compose the rays of
de Imus, Joseph Di Censo, Alexandre Chailloux, Martin Edmonds, the map in Figure 1.1 are measured and interpreted. The map
Simon Gray, Ivan Guerra, Vincenzo Guzzo, Kristian Hartelius, provides a schematic presentation that incorporates a degree of
Geoffrey Heenan, Silvia Iorgova, Hui Jin, Matthew Jones, Geoffrey judgment, serving as a starting point for further analysis.
Figure 1.1. Global Financial Stability Map
Risks
Emerging market Credit
risks risks
April 2009 GFSR
October 2009 GFSR
April 2010 GFSR
Macroeconomic Market and
risks liquidity risks
Monetary and Risk
financial appetite
Conditions
Note: Closer to center signifies less risk, tighter monetary and financial conditions, or reduced risk appetite.
International Monetary Fund | April 2010 1
16. gLObaL FiNaNCiaL STabiLiT y REPORT MeetIng new challenges to stabIlIt y and buIldIng a saFer systeM
recovering more slowly than emerging markets. The
improving growth outlook has reduced dangers of
deflation, while inflation expectations remain con-
tained as output gaps remain large in many advanced
economies. In contrast, the need to address the conse-
quences of the credit bubble has led to sharply higher
sovereign risks amid a worsened trajectory of debt
burdens (Figure 1.2).
With markets less willing or able to support lever-
age—be it on bank or government balance sheets—
sovereign credit risk premiums have more recently
widened across mature economies with fiscal vulner-
Figure 1.2. Macroeconomic Risks in the Global Financial
abilities. Longer-run solvency concerns have, in some
Stability Map
(Changes in notches since October 2009 GFSR) cases, telescoped into short-term strains in funding
4 markets that can be transmitted to banking systems
and across borders. The management of sovereign
3
credit and financing risks therefore carries important
Less risk
2 consequences for financial stability in the period ahead
(see Section B).
1
Quantitative- and credit-easing policies, extraordi-
0 nary liquidity measures, and government-guaranteed
–1 funding programs have helped improve the func-
tioning of short-term money markets and allowed a
–2
tentative recovery in some securitization markets. As
–3 a result, monetary and financial conditions have eased
further, as market-based indicators of financial condi-
–4
Overall Economic activity In ation/de ation Sovereign credit tions largely reversed the sharp tightening seen earlier
in the crisis. This has been accompanied by a decline
Note: The indicators included in our assessment of macroeconomic risks
(see Annex 1.1) are the IMF’s WEO growth projections, G-3 con dence in market and liquidity risks as asset prices have
indices, OECD leading indicators, and implied global trade growth continued to recover across a range of asset classes
(economic activity); mature and emerging market country breakeven
in ation rates (in ation/de ation); and advanced country general (Figure 1.3).
government de cits and sovereign credit default swap spreads (sovereign
credit). Supported by these more benign financial condi-
tions, private sector credit risks have improved. Our
estimates of global bank writedowns have declined to
$2.3 trillion from $2.8 trillion in the October 2009
GFSR, reducing aggregate banking system capital
needs. However, pockets of capital deficiency remain
in segments of some countries’ banking systems,
especially where exposures to commercial real estate
are high. Banks face new challenges due to the slow
progress in stabilizing their funding and the likelihood
of more stringent future regulation, leading them to
reassess business models as well as raise further capital
and make their balance sheets less risky. Distress may
resurface in banks that have remained dependent on
central bank funding and government guarantees (see
Section C).
2 International Monetary Fund | April 2010
17. ChaPTER 1 resolVIng the crIsIs legacy and MeetIng new challenges to FInancIal stabIlIty
Figure 1.3. The Crisis Remains in Some Markets as Others Return to Stability
Subprime RMBS
Money markets
Financial institutions
Commercial MBS
Prime RMBS
Corporate credit
Emerging markets
2007 08 09 10
Source: IMF sta estimates.
Note: The heat map measures both the level and one-month volatility of the spreads, prices, and total returns of each asset class
relative to the average during 2003–06 (i.e., wider spreads, lower prices and total returns, and higher volatility). The deviation is
expressed in terms of standard deviations. Dark green signi es a standard deviation under 1, light green signi es 1 to 4 standard
deviations, yellow signi es 4 to 9 standard deviations, and magenta signi es greater than 9 standard deviations.
MBS = mortgage-backed security; RMBS = residential mortgage-backed security.
The overall credit recovery will likely be slow, shallow, b. Could Sovereign Risks Extend the global
and uneven. The pace of tightening in bank lend- Credit Crisis?
ing standards has slowed, but credit supply is likely
The crisis has led to a deteriorating trajectory for debt
to remain constrained as banks continue to delever.
burdens and sharply higher sovereign risks. With markets
Private credit demand is likely to rebound only weakly
less willing to support leverage—be it on bank or sov-
as households restore their balance sheets. Ballooning
ereign balance sheets—and with liquidity being with-
sovereign financing needs may bump up against limited drawn as part of policy exits, new financial stability risks
lending capacity, potentially helping to push up interest have surfaced. Initially, sovereign credit risk premiums
rates (see Section D) and increasing funding pressures increased substantially in the major economies most hit
on banks. Policy measures to address supply constraints by the crisis. More recently, spreads have widened in some
may therefore still be needed in some economies. highly indebted economies with underlying vulnerabili-
Emerging market risks have continued to ease. ties, as longer-run public solvency concerns have telescoped
Capital is flowing to Asia (excluding Japan) and Latin into strains in sovereign funding markets that could
America, attracted by strong growth prospects, appre- have cross-border spillovers. The subsequent transmission
ciating currencies, and rising asset prices, and pushed of sovereign risks to local banking systems and feedback
by low interest rates in major advanced economies, as through the real economy threatens to undermine global
risk appetite continues to recover. Rapid improvements financial stability.
in emerging market assets have started to give rise to
concerns that capital inflows could lead to inflation- The crisis has increased sovereign risks and exposed
ary pressure or asset price bubbles. So far there is only underlying vulnerabilities. The higher budget defi-
limited evidence of stretched valuations—with the cits resulting from the crisis have pushed up sover-
exception of some local property markets. However, eign indebtedness, while lower potential growth has
if current conditions of high external and domestic worsened debt dynamics. For example, G-7 sover-
liquidity and rising credit growth persist, they are eign debt levels as a proportion of GDP are nearing
conducive to over-stretched valuations arising in the 60-year highs (Figure 1.4). Higher debt levels have the
medium term (see Section E). potential for spillovers across financial systems, and to
International Monetary Fund | April 2010 3
18. gLObaL FiNaNCiaL STabiLiT y REPORT MeetIng new challenges to stabIlIt y and buIldIng a saFer systeM
Figure 1.4. Sovereign Debt to GDP in the G-7 impact on financial stability. Some sovereigns have also
(In percent) been vulnerable to refinancing pressures that could
140 telescope medium-term solvency concerns into short-
term funding challenges (Figure 1.5).
120
Table 1.1 shows a range of vulnerability indica-
100 tors for advanced economies that captures their
current fiscal position, reliance on external funding,
80
and banking system linkages to the government
60 sector.2 It features not only economies that had
credit booms and subsequent busts, but also those
40
whose underlying vulnerabilities have come into
20 greater focus, and which are perceived as having less
flexibility—economically or politically—to address
0 mounting debt burdens.3,4
1950 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 2000 05 10
Source: IMF, Fiscal A airs Department database.
Note: Average using purchasing power parity GDP weights. The crisis has driven up market prices of sovereign risk.
The vulnerabilities outlined in Table 1.1 are
Figure 1.5. Sovereign Risks and Spillover Channels being priced in to market assessments of sovereign
risk. A cross-sectional regression over 24 countries
Country-level indicates that higher current account deficits and
scal greater required fiscal adjustment are correlated with
fundamentals/
vulnerabilities higher sovereign credit default swap (CDS) spreads
Fiscal (Figure 1.6).5 In addition, BIS reporting banks’
Sovereign funding
spillovers strains consolidated cross-border claims on each coun-
Financial
system 2Reliance on foreign bank financing is measured by the
fragilities
consolidated claims on an immediate borrower basis of Bank for
International Settlements (BIS) reporting banks on the public
sector as a proportion of GDP.
3It should be noted that near-term risks associated with Japan’s
elevated public debt are low due to a number of Japan-specific
features, including high domestic savings, low foreign participa-
tion in the public debt market, strong home bias, and stable
institutional investors (Tokuoka, 2010).
4For a more in-depth review of fiscal vulnerabilities, see IMF
(2010b).
5Estimates of required fiscal adjustment are drawn from IMF
(2010c). These estimates are based on illustrative scenarios, in
which the structural primary balance is assumed to improve
gradually from 2011 until 2020; thereafter, it is maintained
constant until 2030. Specifically, the estimated adjustment
provides the primary balance path needed to stabilize debt at the
end-2012 level if the respective debt-to-GDP ratio is less than
60 percent; or to bring the debt-to-GDP ratio to 60 percent
in 2030. The scenarios for Japan are based on its net debt, and
assume a target of 80 percent of GDP. For Norway, maintenance
of primary surpluses at their projected 2012 level is assumed.
The analysis is illustrative and makes some simplifying assump-
tions: in particular, beyond 2011, an interest rate–growth rate
differential of 1 percent is assumed, regardless of country-specific
circumstances.
4 International Monetary Fund | April 2010
19. ChaPTER 1 resolVIng the crIsIs legacy and MeetIng new challenges to FInancIal stabIlIty
Table 1.1. Sovereign Market and Vulnerability indicators
(Percent of GDP, unless otherwise indicated)
sovereign cds 10-year swap sovereign credit
spreads (bps)1,2 spreads (bps)1,3 rating/outlook1 Fiscal and debt Fundamentals external Funding banking system linkages
5- cds curve change (notches rating general gross net gen. govt. gen. govt. current depository institutions’ bIs reporting
year slope since above actions government gen. govt. gen. govt. securities debt held account claims on gen. govt. 14 banks’
(5-year 9/30/2009 speculative (since structural debt6,8,9 debt6,8,10 < 1 year abroad12 balance6,13 consolidated
minus grade/ 6/30/07) 5 deficit6,7 Fy2010 (p) Fy2010 (p) remaining 2010 (p) (percent (percent of claims on
1-year) outlook)4 Fy2010 (p) maturity11 of depository public sector15
2009 gdP) institutions’
consolidated
assets)
australia 38 14 –39 23 9/stable none 4.9 19.8 5.4 3.9 4.3 –3.5 2.3 1.2 2.7
austria 58 28 18 3 10/stable none 4.3 70.7 60.5 6.1 58.5 1.8 15.1 4.0 13.2
belgium 58 33 24 5 9/stable none 4.3 100.1 91.1 22.6 65.0 –0.5 21.3 6.2 19.0
canada n.a. n.a. –24 -14 10/stable none 3.0 82.3 31.8 14.1 14.1 –2.6 18.6 8.9 4.6
czech republic 69 34 63 -58 5/stable 2 up/0 down 3.7 37.6 n.a. 5.1 9.6 –1.7 14.3 12.4 5.9
denmark 34 22 –16 3 10/stable none 1.7 51.2 3.1 4.4 17.9 3.1 8.2 1.7 6.2
Finland 25 19 8 3 10/stable none 1.9 49.9 n.a. 12.0 35.9 2.0 4.7 2.0 9.6
France 50 24 13 8 10/stable none 4.6 84.2 74.5 17.2 48.7 –1.9 18.5 4.6 8.0
germany 33 16 –17 6 10/stable none 3.8 76.7 68.6 15.8 40.3 5.5 20.6 6.7 11.8
greece 427 –223 381 282 3/neg 0 up/6 down 8.9 124.1 104.3 15.9 99.0 –9.7 17.5 8.5 32.3
Iceland 412 –134 n.a. n.a. 0/neg 0 up/11 down 4.8 119.9 77.2 n.a. n.a. 5.4 n.a. n.a. 18.1
Ireland 155 26 119 0 8/neg 0 up/5 down 7.9 78.8 47.8 3.3 47.2 0.4 5.8 0.6 9.0
Israel 112 60 –5 0 5/stable 3 up/0 down -0.1 77.5 72.8 n.a. 14.5 3.9 4.7 7.1 1.1
Italy 125 20 66 13 7/stable none 3.5 118.6 116.0 24.5 56.4 –2.8 29.4 11.9 20.0
Japan 66 54 –6 8 8/neg none 7.5 227.3 121.7 48.7 13.7 2.8 69.3 21.8 1.9
Korea 82 32 43 –33 5/stable 1 up/0 down –1.4 33.3 n.a. 3.2 3.0 1.6 6.8 4.2 4.0
netherlands 34 22 6 3 10/stable none 5.2 64.2 46.0 16.2 46.2 5.0 10.8 2.8 8.9
new Zealand 46 14 3 42 9/neg none 2.0 31.3 3.4 4.9 12.9 –4.6 5.6 2.8 5.9
norway 19 13 –68 –25 10/stable none 7.3 53.6 –153.6 12.1 27.5 16.8 n.a. n.a. 11.9
Portugal 160 32 102 65 7/neg 0 up/2 down 7.1 85.9 81.6 13.0 60.2 –9.0 10.2 3.2 23.0
slovak republic 60 41 –67 34 6/stable 2 up/0 down 4.7 37.3 n.a. 3.5 12.6 –1.8 19.3 21.7 5.9
slovenia 53 37 –65 –31 8/stable none 4.4 35.2 n.a. n.a. 19.6 –1.5 11.0 7.3 6.2
spain 130 38 55 23 9/neg 0 up/1 down 7.3 66.9 57.5 12.4 26.9 –5.3 20.6 6.3 7.2
sweden 35 23 –12 7 10/stable none 0.8 43.1 –16.2 4.2 19.3 5.4 4.2 1.4 6.2
switzerland 45 22 –46 2 10/stable none 0.3 39.8 39.2 4.6 3.8 9.5 n.a. n.a. 5.0
united Kingdom 77 40 17 43 10/neg none 7.6 78.2 71.6 6.6 17.9 –1.7 5.1 1.1 3.6
united states 42 16 2 17 10/stable none 9.2 92.6 66.2 17.9 24.7 –3.3 8.2 5.5 2.7
sources: bank for International settlements (bIs); bloomberg, l.P.; IMF, International Financial statistics, Monetary and Financial statistics, and world economic outlook (weo) databases;
bIs-IMF-oecd-world bank Joint external debt hub; and IMF staff estimates.
note: (p) = projected. cds = credit default swap; bps = basis points.
1as of april 9, 2010.
2cds contracts are denominated in u.s. dollars, except for the czech republic, Iceland, and the united states, which are denominated in euros.
3swap spreads are shown here as government yields minus swap yields, the opposite of market convention.
4based on average of long-term foreign currency debt ratings of Fitch, Moody’s, and standard & Poor’s agencies, rounded down. outlook is based on the most negative of the three agencies.
5sum of rating actions (excluding credit watches and outlook changes) for long-term foreign currency debt ratings by the Fitch, Moody’s, and standard & Poor’s agencies.
6based on projections for 2010 from the april 2010 weo. see box a1 in the weo for a summary of the policy assumptions underlying the fiscal projections.
7on a national income accounts basis. the structural budget deficit is defined as the actual budget deficit (surplus) minus the effects of cyclical deviations from potential output. because of the
margin of uncertainty that attaches to estimates of cyclical gaps and to tax and expenditure elasticities with respect to national income, indicators of structural budget positions should be interpreted
as broad orders of magnitude. Moreover, it is important to note that changes in structural budget balances are not necessarily attributable to policy changes but may reflect the built-in momentum
of existing expenditure programs. In the period beyond that for which specific consolidation programs exist, it is assumed that the structural deficit remains unchanged. calculated as a percentage of
projected potential 2010 gdP. Figure for norway is the nonoil structural deficit as a proportion of mainland potential gdP. For other country-specific details see footnotes of table b.7. of april 2010 weo.
8as a percentage of projected fiscal year 2010 gdP.
9gross general government debt consists of all liabilities that require payment or payments of interest and/or principal by the debtor to the creditor at a date or dates in the future. this includes debt
liabilities in the form of sdrs, currency and deposits, debt securities, loans, insurance, pensions and standardized guarantee schemes, and other accounts payable.
10net general government debt is calculated as gross debt minus financial assets corresponding to debt instruments. these financial assets are: monetary gold and sdrs, currency and deposits, debt
securities, loans, insurance, pension, and standardized guarantee schemes, and other accounts receivable.
11sum of domestic and international government securities (excluding central bank domestic obligations) with less than one year outstanding maturity as compiled by the bIs, divided by weo
projection for 2010 gdP.
12Most recent data for externally held general government debt (from Joint external debt hub) divided by 2009 gdP. new Zealand data from reserve bank of new Zealand.
13as a percentage of projected 2010 gdP.
14 Includes all claims of depository institutions (excluding the central bank) on general government. u.K. figures are for claims on the public sector. data are for end-2009 or latest available.
15bIs reporting banks’ international claims on the public sector on an immediate borrower basis for third quarter 2009, as a percentage of 2009 gdP.
International Monetary Fund | April 2010 5