In recent years financial policies in both industrial and developing countries have put increased emphasis on the market mechanism. Liberalization was partly a response to developments in the financial markets themselves: as these markets innovated to get round the restrictions placed on them, governments chose to throw in the towel. More important, however, governments embraced liberalization as a doctrine. (more…)
National Financial Policy in Developing Countries.
A fundamental question raised by recurrent financial crises in mature and emerging economies is how to ensure that the financial markets and institutions serve growth and development rather than being a constant source of instability and disruption in pursuit of self-interest. (more…)
Rethinking Regulation in Light of the Financial Crisis
By Yaga Venugopal Reddy
There is a recognition that policies relating to regulation of the financial sector must optimise the benefits of the financial sector while minimising the costs or risks associated with it. There are several dimensions to striking this balance, which this august audience is well aware of and involved with. I selected three themes for consideration today: the optimal level of financialisation, appropriate innovation in the financial sector, and the effectiveness of financial sector regulation.
Statutory Sovereign Debt Workout Mechanisms: Why and How?.
Because of the absence of a multilaterally agreed legal system for debt workouts, the practice tends to be ad hoc and disorderly, generally favouring creditors. Often the IMF is involved in coordinating and resolving debt servicing difficulties, be it due to solvency or liquidity problems, based on an adjustment programme agreed with the debtor country. (more…)
Financial Instability as a Threat to Sustainable Development.
As seen over and again during recurrent financial crises in both developing and advanced economies (DEs and AEs), including the recent global crisis originating in the US and Europe, financial instability and boom-bust cycles undermine all three ingredients of sustainable development – economic development, social development and environmental protection. (more…)
Re-making Financial Policy to Meet Society’s Needs
By Yaga Venugopal Reddy
The financial sector has been hit by major crises and scandals, to the point that its credibility with the public has fallen to historically low levels. A re- thinking and re-making of financial policies and the role of financial institutions is thus urgently needed. This was the theme of a lecture presented by the distinguished former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Yaga Venugopal Reddy, which was made in conjuncture with the 2012 Annual General Meeting of the Bank for International Settlements held in Basel, Switzerland. The 2012 Per Jacobsson Foundation Lecture by Mr Reddy, made on 24 June 2012, covered three main themes: (1) Society and Finance, (2) Economic Policies and the Financial Sector, and (3) Regulation of the Financial Sector.
Below is the first part of the lecture, on Society and Finance. Future issues of SouthViews will publish the other two parts of the lecture.
The following is a speech made by Dr. Lim Mah-Hui on behalf of the South Centre at a Seminar on the 18th meeting of Afreximbank Advisory Group on Trade and Export Development in Africa, High-level Roundtable 1– Can Africa learn from China?, in Beijing on July 13. The seminar was held in conjunction with the 19th General Meeting of Shareholders of African Export-Import Bank.
Developing countries very vulnerable to global economic crisis, UN role is vital: South Centre speech at UN
By Yilmaz Akyüz
The world economy is as fragile today as in 2009. Developing countries are very vulnerable to a slowdown caused by the Eurozone crisis. There has been no global reforms and the G20 is ineffective. Thus the role of the UN on global economic issues is vital. These are highlights of the speech by the South Centre’s Chief Economist at the UN General Assembly High Level Thematic Debate on the State of the Global Economy in New York on 18 May.
Sustainable Development as an Answer to Economic and Financial Crises
Below is the speech delivered by Dr Yilmaz Akyüz, Chief Economist of the South Centre on the Sustainable Development Dialogue Roundtable on the Global Financial Crisis, UN Conference on Sustainable Development 2012, in Rio de Janeiro on 16 June 2012. (more…)
The State of the World Economy – South Centre Statement to the UN High Level Thematic Debate on the State of the World Economy.
The South Centre’s Chief Economist, Dr. Yilmaz Akyüz, took part as a speaker at the UN General Assembly’s two-day Thematic Debate on the State of the World Economy, held in New York on 17-18 May 2012. Below is the statement he presented to one of the four roundtables at the conference. (more…)
Statement to the UN High Level Thematic Debate on the State Of the World Economy, New York
1. Global economic conditions continue to have a strong bearing on production, trade and investment in developing economies (DEs). In this respect the current landscape is not very encouraging. After three years of recovery the world economy still remains highly fragile. (more…)
Statutory Sovereign Debt Workout Mechanisms: Why And How?
The following paper by the South Centre (authored by its Chief Economist Yilmaz Akyuz ) was presented by the Centre’s Executive Director at the UN General Assembly special event on sovereign debt crises and restructurings, held in New York on 20 October 2012.
