Publication:
Financial Sector Policy in Practice : Benchmarking Financial Sector Strategies around the World

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Files in English
English PDF (1.12 MB)
994 downloads
English Text (184.5 KB)
227 downloads
Date
2014-01
ISSN
Published
2014-01
Editor(s)
Abstract
Policy makers use financial sector strategies to formulate a holistic policy for their national financial sectors. This paper examines and rates financial sector strategies around the world based on how well they formulate development targets, arrangements for systemic risk management, and implementation plans. The strategies are also rated on whether they consider policy trade-offs between financial development and systemic risk management. The rated strategies are then benchmarked against a wide range of country characteristics. The analysis finds that the scope and quality of national strategies for the financial sector are influenced by the country's type of legal system, its level of income and macroeconomic stability, the existing financial depth and inclusion, the share of foreign ownership in the national financial sector, and the experience of past financial crises. Giving due consideration to policy trade-offs, particularly between financial development and systemic risk management, remains the weakest part of these strategies. Countries with civil- and religious-based law and those with a higher share of foreign ownership in their financial system address the policy trade-offs more often.
Link to Data Set
Citation
Maimbo, Samuel Munzele; Melecky, Martin. 2014. Financial Sector Policy in Practice : Benchmarking Financial Sector Strategies around the World. Policy Research Working Paper;No. 6746. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/16832 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.
Associated URLs
Associated content
Report Series
Report Series
Other publications in this report series
  • Publication
    Geopolitics and the World Trading System
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-12-23) Mattoo, Aaditya; Ruta, Michele; Staiger, Robert W.
    Until the beginning of this century, the GATT/WTO system worked. Economic research provided a compelling explanation. It showed that if governments maximize the well-being of their own countries broadly defined, GATT/WTO principles would facilitate mutually beneficial cooperation over their trade policy choices. Now heightened geopolitical rivalry seems to have undermined the WTO. A simple transposition of the previous rationalization suggests that geopolitics and trade cooperation are not compatible. The paper shows that this is only true if rivalry eclipses any consideration of own-country well-being. In all other circumstances, there are gains from trade cooperation even with geopolitics. Furthermore, the WTO’s relevance is in question only if it adheres too rigidly to its existing rules and norms. Through measured adaptation to the geopolitical imperative, the WTO can continue to thrive as a forum for multilateral trade cooperation in the age of geopolitics.
  • Publication
    The Macroeconomic Implications of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Options
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-05-29) Abalo, Kodzovi; Boehlert, Brent; Bui, Thanh; Burns, Andrew; Castillo, Diego; Chewpreecha, Unnada; Haider, Alexander; Hallegatte, Stephane; Jooste, Charl; McIsaac, Florent; Ruberl, Heather; Smet, Kim; Strzepek, Ken
    Estimating the macroeconomic implications of climate change impacts and adaptation options is a topic of intense research. This paper presents a framework in the World Bank's macrostructural model to assess climate-related damages. This approach has been used in many Country Climate and Development Reports, a World Bank diagnostic that identifies priorities to ensure continued development in spite of climate change and climate policy objectives. The methodology captures a set of impact channels through which climate change affects the economy by (1) connecting a set of biophysical models to the macroeconomic model and (2) exploring a set of development and climate scenarios. The paper summarizes the results for five countries, highlighting the sources and magnitudes of their vulnerability --- with estimated gross domestic product losses in 2050 exceeding 10 percent of gross domestic product in some countries and scenarios, although only a small set of impact channels is included. The paper also presents estimates of the macroeconomic gains from sector-level adaptation interventions, considering their upfront costs and avoided climate impacts and finding significant net gross domestic product gains from adaptation opportunities identified in the Country Climate and Development Reports. Finally, the paper discusses the limits of current modeling approaches, and their complementarity with empirical approaches based on historical data series. The integrated modeling approach proposed in this paper can inform policymakers as they make proactive decisions on climate change adaptation and resilience.
  • Publication
    Global Poverty Revisited Using 2021 PPPs and New Data on Consumption
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-06-05) Foster, Elizabeth; Jolliffe, Dean Mitchell; Ibarra, Gabriel Lara; Lakner, Christoph; Tettah-Baah, Samuel
    Recent improvements in survey methodologies have increased measured consumption in many low- and lower-middle-income countries that now collect a more comprehensive measure of household consumption. Faced with such methodological changes, countries have frequently revised upward their national poverty lines to make them appropriate for the new measures of consumption. This in turn affects the World Bank’s global poverty lines when they are periodically revised. The international poverty line, which is based on the typical poverty line in low-income countries, increases by around 40 percent to $3.00 when the more recent national poverty lines as well as the 2021 purchasing power parities are incorporated. The net impact of the changes in international prices, the poverty line, and new survey data (including new data for India) is an increase in global extreme poverty by some 125 million people in 2022, and a significant shift of poverty away from South Asia and toward Sub-Saharan Africa. The changes at higher poverty lines, which are more relevant to middle-income countries, are mixed.
  • Publication
    Global Socio-economic Resilience to Natural Disasters
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-05-22) Middelanis, Robin; Jafino, Bramka Arga; Hill, Ruth; Nguyen, Minh Cong; Hallegatte, Stephane
    Most disaster risk assessments use damages to physical assets as their central metric, often neglecting distributional impacts and the coping and recovery capacity of affected people. To address this shortcoming, the concepts of well-being losses and socio-economic resilience—the ability to experience asset losses without a decline in well-being—have been proposed. This paper uses microsimulations to produce a global estimate of well-being losses from, and socio-economic resilience to, natural disasters, covering 132 countries. On average, each $1 in disaster-related asset losses results in well-being losses equivalent to a $2 uniform national drop in consumption, with significant variation within and across countries. The poorest income quintile within each country incurs only 9% of national asset losses but accounts for 33% of well-being losses. Compared to high-income countries, low-income countries experience 67% greater well-being losses per dollar of asset losses and require 56% more time to recover. Socio-economic resilience is uncorrelated with exposure or vulnerability to natural hazards. However, a 10 percent increase in GDP per capita is associated with a 0.9 percentage point gain in resilience, but this benefit arises indirectly—such as through higher rate of formal employment, better financial inclusion, and broader social protection coverage—rather than from higher income itself. This paper assess ten policy options and finds that socio-economic and financial interventions (such as insurance and social protection) can effectively complement asset-focused measures (e.g., construction standards) and that interventions targeting low-income populations usually have higher returns in terms of avoided well-being losses per dollar invested.
  • Publication
    From Patriarchy to Policy
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-05-29) Bussolo, Maurizio; Rexer, Jonah M.; Hu, Lynn
    Legal institutions play an important role in shaping gender equality in economic domains, from inheritance to labor markets. But where do gender equal laws come from? Using cross-country data on social norms and legal equality, this paper investigates the socio-cultural roots of gender inequity in the legal system and its implications for female labor force participation. To identify the impact of social norms, the analysis uses an empirical strategy that exploits pre-modern differences in ancestral patriarchal culture as an instrument for present-day gender norms. The findings show that ancestral patriarchal culture is a strong predictor of contemporary norms, and conservative social norms are associated with more gender inequality in the de jure legal framework, the de facto implementation of laws, and the labor market. The paper presents evidence for a political selection mechanism linking norms to laws: countries with more conservative norms elect political leaders who are more hostile to gender equality, who then pass less progressive legislation. The results highlight the cultural roots and political drivers of legalized gender inequality.
Journal
Journal Volume
Journal Issue

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Publication
    Kenya : Accelerating and Sustaining Inclusive Growth
    (Washington, DC, 2008-07) World Bank
    This report focuses on what needs to be done in the next five years to realize a significantly higher growth potential and sustain high growth in Kenya. The challenge before Kenya and the new government is to take the economy to the next phase of development. The report attempts to do this in two ways. First, it applies the insights from the recent empirical work and experience in other high growth countries to Kenya to propose a growth strategy. The strategy, so developed, will validate and likely help sharpen the broad thrust and direction of the ongoing reform efforts. Second, it drills down selectively into certain aspects of the growth strategy to generate a set of specific policy and institutional reforms. The net result is a reform agenda consisting of detailed policy actions that are expected to add up to a well-articulated growth strategy. Apart from influencing government action, the report is also expected to influence thinking about growth in policy circles outside the government. In its analysis, the report draws upon the state-of-the-art thinking on the issues of growth, which is going through considerable rethinking among economists and practitioners. Among several departures from the conventional view, the new thinking shies away from providing prepackaged answers to an economy's problems and emphasizes country-specific analysis instead. Similarly, the focus has shifted from identifying correlates of growth at a macroeconomic level (as in growth regressions), to identifying constraints to growth at a microeconomic level. This report reflects this shift in thinking and draws mainly upon analysis specific to Kenya (such as growth diagnostics and investment climate assessment) to arrive at conclusions relevant to policy choices. This report reinforces the findings of the Vision 2030 document in several areas, adds value in many others, and modifies some. Most significantly, this report agrees with the Vision that tourism, manufacturing, and service sectors based on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) are likely engines for growth. However, this report is much less emphatic than Vision 2030 about the sectors (identified winners and flagship projects) on which government should focus for delivering the aspired growth. The emphasis of the report is instead on generic economy-wide reforms aimed at reducing business costs and improving productivity.
  • Publication
    Republic of Korea Financial Sector Assessment Program : Detailed Assessment of Observance - Assessment of Observance of CPSS-IOSCO Principles for Financial Market Infrastructures--BOK-WIRE+ and KRX CCP
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2014-09) International Monetary Fund; World Bank
    This report contains the assessments of the Bank of Korea (BOK)-wire+ and Korea exchange (KRX) central counterparty (CCP) based on the committee on payment and settlement systems (CPSS) - International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) principles for financial market infrastructures (PFMI). The assessment was undertaken in the context of the international monetary fund's (IMF's) financial sector assessment program (FSAP) to the Republic of Korea in April and July 2013. The objective of the assessment has been to identify potential risks related to the FMIs that may affect financial stability. The scope of the assessment includes two main FMIs as well as the authorities in Korea responsible for regulation, supervision, and oversight of FMIs. The BOK-wire+ and the KRX CCP are assessed against all relevant principles of the PFMI. The authorities, being the BOK, the financial services committee (FSC), and the financial supervisory service (FSS), are assessed using the responsibilities for authorities of FMIs. This report provides introduction; methodology and information used for the assessment; overview of the payment, clearing, and settlement landscape; and key findings follow up for the BOK-wire+; key findings and follow-up for the KRX-CCP; key findings and follow up for authorities; recommendations for the BOK-wire+; recommendations for the KRX-CCP; and recommendations for authorities.
  • Publication
    Financial Sector Assessment : Poland
    (Washington, DC, 2001-04) World Bank
    The principal objectives of this financial sector assessment were to assist the authorities in identifying potential vulnerabilities in the Polish financial system that could have macroeconomic consequences, to suggest measures to reduce these risks, and to outline development needs in the system and strategies to address these concerns. The purpose of this note is to provide a summary of the main findings of the mission, together with the policy priorities identified. The issues facing the Polish financial sector are mostly of development rather than stability nature. Poland has made significant reforms in its financial sector over the last decade, with an acceleration of the restructuring of its banking system in the last three years. Poland has completed the larger part of the transition-related reform agenda in the financial sector. While the overall stability of the financial sector does not appear to be a concern at the moment, enhanced oversight of risk management systems of financial institutions and improvements in crisis prevention and management procedures are necessary.
  • Publication
    Oil Rules : Kazakhstan's Policy Options in a Downturn
    (Washington, DC, 2013) World Bank
    This report assesses the role of fiscal rules for countercyclical economic management in Kazakhstan and simulates the behavior of different types of fiscal rules. The work represents technical assistance to the ministry of economy and budget planning and has been financed by the joint economic research program between the government of Kazakhstan and the World Bank. Kazakhstan adopted a fixed fiscal rule in 2010 and introduced changes to it in 2012. By keeping the annual amount transferred from the fund to the budget constant, Kazakhstan's rule is more stringent than pure application of the permanent rule will imply. This report's five chapters outline the advantages of Kazakhstan's current fiscal rule and its performance against other types of rules. Chapter one reviews the performance of the Kazakh economy and the policy stance of the authorities over the last 10 years. Chapter two argues that fiscal rules should be simple and transparent; presenting evidence that Kazakhstan's current fiscal rule meets these two criteria. Chapter three presents the results of simulations of different global economic scenarios and the expected impacts on key variables in Kazakhstan, considering scenarios as elected in close consultation with the Kazakh authorities. Chapter four uses the results of these simulations to test the performance of different types of fiscal rules. Chapter five responds to a government request to review the literature on the use of fiscal and monetary policy for countercyclical economic management.
  • Publication
    Financial Sector Assessment : Sri Lanka
    (2008-01) World Bank
    This Financial Sector Assessment (FSA) is based on the work of the joint World Bank and IMF Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) update team that visited Sri Lanka between June 20 and July 3, 2007. The principal objectives of the FSAP Update were to: (i) assess developments in the financial sector and progress in strengthening financial sector regulation since 2002; and (ii) identify measures that would contribute to consolidation of financial stability and to further development of the financial sector over the next five years. This report describes the main findings of the 2007 FSAP update addressing bank and non bank financial institutions, state bank restructuring, pension funds, insurance, capital markets, supervisory framework, access to finance, and legal and judicial reforms. This report summarizes the recommendations for sustaining financial development.

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

  • Publication
    World Development Report 2011
    (World Bank, 2011) World Bank
    The 2011 World development report looks across disciplines and experiences drawn from around the world to offer some ideas and practical recommendations on how to move beyond conflict and fragility and secure development. The key messages are important for all countries-low, middle, and high income-as well as for regional and global institutions: first, institutional legitimacy is the key to stability. When state institutions do not adequately protect citizens, guard against corruption, or provide access to justice; when markets do not provide job opportunities; or when communities have lost social cohesion-the likelihood of violent conflict increases. Second, investing in citizen security, justice, and jobs is essential to reducing violence. But there are major structural gaps in our collective capabilities to support these areas. Third, confronting this challenge effectively means that institutions need to change. International agencies and partners from other countries must adapt procedures so they can respond with agility and speed, a longer-term perspective, and greater staying power. Fourth, need to adopt a layered approach. Some problems can be addressed at the country level, but others need to be addressed at a regional level, such as developing markets that integrate insecure areas and pooling resources for building capacity Fifth, in adopting these approaches, need to be aware that the global landscape is changing. Regional institutions and middle income countries are playing a larger role. This means should pay more attention to south-south and south-north exchanges, and to the recent transition experiences of middle income countries.
  • Publication
    Classroom Assessment to Support Foundational Literacy
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-03-21) Luna-Bazaldua, Diego; Levin, Victoria; Liberman, Julia; Gala, Priyal Mukesh
    This document focuses primarily on how classroom assessment activities can measure students’ literacy skills as they progress along a learning trajectory towards reading fluently and with comprehension by the end of primary school grades. The document addresses considerations regarding the design and implementation of early grade reading classroom assessment, provides examples of assessment activities from a variety of countries and contexts, and discusses the importance of incorporating classroom assessment practices into teacher training and professional development opportunities for teachers. The structure of the document is as follows. The first section presents definitions and addresses basic questions on classroom assessment. Section 2 covers the intersection between assessment and early grade reading by discussing how learning assessment can measure early grade reading skills following the reading learning trajectory. Section 3 compares some of the most common early grade literacy assessment tools with respect to the early grade reading skills and developmental phases. Section 4 of the document addresses teacher training considerations in developing, scoring, and using early grade reading assessment. Additional issues in assessing reading skills in the classroom and using assessment results to improve teaching and learning are reviewed in section 5. Throughout the document, country cases are presented to demonstrate how assessment activities can be implemented in the classroom in different contexts.
  • Publication
    World Development Report 2006
    (Washington, DC, 2005) World Bank
    This year’s Word Development Report (WDR), the twenty-eighth, looks at the role of equity in the development process. It defines equity in terms of two basic principles. The first is equal opportunities: that a person’s chances in life should be determined by his or her talents and efforts, rather than by pre-determined circumstances such as race, gender, social or family background. The second principle is the avoidance of extreme deprivation in outcomes, particularly in health, education and consumption levels. This principle thus includes the objective of poverty reduction. The report’s main message is that, in the long run, the pursuit of equity and the pursuit of economic prosperity are complementary. In addition to detailed chapters exploring these and related issues, the Report contains selected data from the World Development Indicators 2005‹an appendix of economic and social data for over 200 countries. This Report offers practical insights for policymakers, executives, scholars, and all those with an interest in economic development.
  • Publication
    Remarks to the Annual Meetings 2020 Development Committee
    (World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-10-16) Malpass, David
    David Malpass, President of the World Bank Group, announced that the Board approved a fast track approach to emergency health support programs that now covers 111 countries. Most projects are well advanced, with average disbursement upward of 40 percent. The goal is to take broad, fast action early. The operational framework presented back in June has positioned the Bank to help countries address immediate health threats and social and economic impacts and maintain our focus on long-term development. The Bank is making good progress toward the 15-month target of 160 billion dollars in surge financing. Much of it is for the poorest countries and will take the form of grants or low-rate, long-maturity loans. IFC, through the Global Health Platform, will be providing financing to vaccine manufacturers to foster expanded production of COVID-19 vaccines in both part 1 and 2 countries, providing production is reserved for emerging markets. The Development Committee holds a unique place in the international architecture. It is the only global forum in which the Governments of developed countries and the Governments of developing countries, creditor countries and borrower countries, come together to discuss development and the ‘net transfer of resources to developing countries.’ The current International Financial Architecture system is skewed in favor of the rich and creditor countries. It is important that all voices are heard, so Malpass urged the Ministers of developing countries to use their voice and speak their minds today. Malpass urged consideration of how we can build a new approach to debt restructuring that allows for a fair relationship and balance between creditors and debtors. This will be critical in restoring growth in developing countries; and helping reverse the inequality.
  • Publication
    Doing Business 2014 : Understanding Regulations for Small and Medium-Size Enterprises
    (Washington, DC: World Bank Group, 2013-10-28) World Bank; International Finance Corporation
    Eleventh in a series of annual reports comparing business regulation in 185 economies, Doing Business 2014 measures regulations affecting 11 areas of everyday business activity: Starting a business, Dealing with construction permits, Getting electricity, Registering property, Getting credit, Protecting investors, Paying taxes, Trading across borders, Enforcing contracts, Closing a business, Employing workers. The report updates all indicators as of June 1, 2013, ranks economies on their overall “ease of doing business”, and analyzes reforms to business regulation – identifying which economies are strengthening their business environment the most. The Doing Business reports illustrate how reforms in business regulations are being used to analyze economic outcomes for domestic entrepreneurs and for the wider economy. Doing Business is a flagship product by the World Bank and IFC that garners worldwide attention on regulatory barriers to entrepreneurship. More than 60 economies use the Doing Business indicators to shape reform agendas and monitor improvements on the ground. In addition, the Doing Business data has generated over 870 articles in peer-reviewed academic journals since its inception.