Leaning Against the Wind: A Cost-Benefit Analysis for an Integrated Policy Framework

Leaning Against the Wind: A Cost-Benefit Analysis for an Integrated Policy Framework
Author: Mr.Luis Brandao-Marques
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 59
Release: 2020-07-07
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1513549650

This paper takes a new approach to assess the costs and benefits of using different policy tools—macroprudential, monetary, foreign exchange interventions, and capital flow management—in response to changes in financial conditions. The approach evaluates net benefits of policies using quadratic loss functions, estimating policy effects on the full distribution of future output growth and inflation with quantile regressions. Tightening macroprudential policy dampens downside risks to growth stemming from loose financial conditions, and is beneficial in net terms. By contrast, tightening monetary policy entails net losses, calling for caution in the use of monetary policy to “lean against the wind.” These findings hold when policies are used in response to easing global financial conditions. Buying foreign-exchange or tightening capital controls has small net benefits.

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Leaning Against the Wind

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Leaning Against the Wind
Author: Mr.Lars E. O. Svensson
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 76
Release: 2016-01-11
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1498314783

“Leaning against the wind” (LAW) with a higher monetary policy interest rate may have benefits in terms of lower real debt growth and associated lower probability of a financial crisis but has costs in terms of higher unemployment and lower inflation, importantly including a higher cost of a crisis when the economy is weaker. For existing empirical estimates, costs exceed benefits by a substantial margin, even if monetary policy is nonneutral and permanently affects real debt. Somewhat surprisingly, less effective macroprudential policy and generally a credit boom, with resulting higher probability, severity, or duration of a crisis, increases costs of LAW more than benefits, thus further strengthening the strong case against LAW.

Toward an Integrated Policy Framework

Toward an Integrated Policy Framework
Author: International Monetary Fund
Publisher: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
Total Pages: 54
Release: 2020-10-08
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9781513558769

Policymakers often face difficult tradeoffs in pursuing domestic and external stabilization objectives. The paper reflects staff’s work to advance the understanding of the policy options and tradeoffs available to policymakers in a systematic and analytical way. The paper recognizes that the optimal path of the IPF tools depends on structural characteristics and fiscal policies. The operational implications of IPF findings require careful consideration. Developing safeguards to minimize the risk of inappropriate use of IPF policies will be essential. Staff remains guided by the Fund’s Institutional View (IV) on the Liberalization and Management of Capital Flows.

Evolving Monetary Policy Frameworks in Low-Income and Other Developing Countries

Evolving Monetary Policy Frameworks in Low-Income and Other Developing Countries
Author: International Monetary Fund
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 74
Release: 2015-10-23
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1498344062

Over the past two decades, many low- and lower-middle income countries (LLMICs) have improved control over fiscal policy, liberalized and deepened financial markets, and stabilized inflation at moderate levels. Monetary policy frameworks that have helped achieve these ends are being challenged by continued financial development and increased exposure to global capital markets. Many policymakers aspire to move beyond the basics of stability to implement monetary policy frameworks that better anchor inflation and promote macroeconomic stability and growth. Many of these LLMICs are thus considering and implementing improvements to their monetary policy frameworks. The recent successes of some LLMICs and the experiences of emerging and advanced economies, both early in their policy modernization process and following the global financial crisis, are valuable in identifying desirable features of such frameworks. This paper draws on those lessons to provide guidance on key elements of effective monetary policy frameworks for LLMICs.

The ASEAN Way

The ASEAN Way
Author: Ms.Ana Corbacho
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 311
Release: 2018-10-02
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1513558900

The first part of the book examines the evolution of monetary policy and prudential frameworks of the ASEAN5, with particular focus on changes since the Asian financial crisis and the more recent period of unconventional monetary policy in advanced economies. The second part of the book looks at policy responses to global financial spillovers. The third and last part of the book elaborates on the challenges ahead for monetary policy, financial stability frameworks, and the deepening of financial markets.

Estimating the Costs of Financial Regulation

Estimating the Costs of Financial Regulation
Author: Mr.Andre Santos
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 43
Release: 2012-09-11
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 147551008X

Staff Discussion Notes showcase the latest policy-related analysis and research being developed by individual IMF staff and are published to elicit comment and to further debate. These papers are generally brief and written in nontechnical language, and so are aimed at a broad audience interested in economic policy issues. This Web-only series replaced Staff Position Notes in January 2011.

Micro-Assessment of Macroprudential Borrower-Based Measures in Lithuania

Micro-Assessment of Macroprudential Borrower-Based Measures in Lithuania
Author: Mantas Dirma
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 68
Release: 2023-10-27
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

Despite having introduced borrower-based measures (BBM), Lithuania's housing and mortgage markets were booming during the low-interest-rate period, casting doubt on the macroprudential toolkit's ability to contain excessive mortgage growth. This paper assesses the adequacy of BBMs’ parametrization in Lithuania. We do so by building a novel lifetime expected credit loss framework that is founded on actual loan-level default and household income data. We show that the BBM package effectively contains mortgage credit risk and that housing loans are more resilient to stress than in the preregulatory era. Our BBM limit calibration exercise reveals that (1) in the low-rate environment, income-based measures could have been tighter; and (2) borrowers taking out secondary mortgages rightly are and should be required to pledge a higher down payment.

Loose Financial Conditions, Rising Leverage, and Risks to Macro-Financial Stability

Loose Financial Conditions, Rising Leverage, and Risks to Macro-Financial Stability
Author: Mr. Adolfo Barajas
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 43
Release: 2021-08-20
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1513591487

After a steady increase following the global financial crisis, private nonfinancial sector leverage rose further during the COVID-19 on the back of easy financial conditions induced by unprecedented policy support. We investigate the empirical relationships between increased leverage, financial conditions, and macro-financial stability in a sample of major advanced and emerging market economies. We find that loose financial conditions contribute to leverage buildups and generate an intertemporal tradeoff: financial stability risk is lessened in the near term but exacerbated in the medium term. The tradeoff is amplified during credit booms, when debt service burdens are particularly high, or when the share of foreign currency debt is high in emerging markets. Selected macroprudential tools can arrest leverage buildups and mitigate the tradeoff.

Housing Market Stability and Affordability in Asia-Pacific

Housing Market Stability and Affordability in Asia-Pacific
Author: Mr. Pragyan Deb
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 59
Release: 2022-12-14
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

The paper intends to highlight challenges in Asian housing markets linked to fast price rises especially in the advanced economies since COVID, and more broadly including many EMs in the period leading up to COVID. It aims to draw policy lessons on how to manage stability aspects through macroprudential and other policies and how to support affordability through structural policies and targeted government support.