Exogenous Shocks and Growth Crises in Low-Income Countries

Exogenous Shocks and Growth Crises in Low-Income Countries PDF Author: Ms.Era Dabla-Norris
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1475528515
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 42

Book Description
This paper develops a new index which provides early warning signals of a growth crisis in the event of large external shocks in low-income countries. Multivariate regression analysis and a univariate signaling approach are used to map information from a parsimonious set of underlying policy, structural, and institutional indicators into a composite vulnerability index. The results show that vulnerabilities to a growth crisis in low-income countries declined significantly from their peaks in the early 1990s, but have risen in recent years as fiscal policy buffers were expended in the wake of the global financial crisis.

Global Shocks and their Impacton Low-Income Countries

Global Shocks and their Impacton Low-Income Countries PDF Author: Hans Weisfeld
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1455216747
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 53

Book Description
This paper investigates the short-run effects of the 2007-09 global financial crisis on growth in (mainly non-fuel exporting) low-income countries (LICs). Four conclusions stand out. First, for many individual LICs, 2009 was not extraordinarily calamitous; however, aggregate LIC output declined sharply because LICs were unusually synchronized. Second, the growth declines are on average well explained by the decline in export demand. Third, if the external environment facing LICs improves as forecast, their growth should rebound sharply. Finally, and contrary to received wisdom, there are few robust relationships between the cross-country growth variation and the policy and structural environment; the main exceptions are reserve coverage and labor-market flexibility.

Natural Disasters and Food Crises in Low-Income Countries

Natural Disasters and Food Crises in Low-Income Countries PDF Author: Mr. Olumuyiwa Adedeji
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1475523955
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 25

Book Description
The exposure of low-income countries to natural disasters has a significant impact on food production and food security. This paper provides a framework for assessing a country’s vulnerability to food crisis in the event of natural disasters. The paper finds that macroeconomic and structural indicators that are crucial for ensuring the resilience of low-income countries to adverse external shocks are equally important for minimizing the occurrence of food crisis in the event of natural disasters.

The End of An Era? the Medium- and Long-Term Effects of the Global Crisison Growth in Low-Income Countries

The End of An Era? the Medium- and Long-Term Effects of the Global Crisison Growth in Low-Income Countries PDF Author: Mr.Chris Papageorgiou
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1455205362
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 31

Book Description
This paper investigates the medium- and long-term growth effects of the global financial crises on Low-Income Countries (LICs). Using several methodological approaches, including impulse response function analysis, growth spells techniques and panel regressions, we show that external demand (ED) shocks are not historically associated with sharp declines in output growth. Given existing evidence that LICs were primarily impacted by such a shock in the global financial crisis, our analysis provides some optimism on the chances that LICs will avoid a protracted period of slow growth. However, we also show that there seem to be persistent output losses associated with ED shocks in the medium-run. In terms of policy implications, our analysis provides evidence that countries with lower deficits, lower debt, more flexible exchange rate regimes, and a higher stock of international reserves are more likely to dampen the effects of an ED shock on growth.

Creating Policy Space in Low-Income Countries during the Recent Crises

Creating Policy Space in Low-Income Countries during the Recent Crises PDF Author: Mr.Paolo Dudine
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1589069307
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 58

Book Description
Low-income countries were hit especially hard by sharp increases in world food and fuel prices in 2007-08 and the global financial crisis that followed. In response, the International Monetary Fund scaled up its financial assistance to low-income countries and revamped its concessional lending facilities to make them more flexible in meeting the diverse needs of these countries. Creating Policy Space in Low-Income Countries during the Recent Crises assesses empirically the outcome of the IMF response, and provides insight into how IMF-supported programs in low-income countries have been adapted to the changing economic circumstances in these countries. The authors report that these programs have provided expanded policy space in the face of the global price shocks and financial crisis.

Are External Shocks Responsible for the Instability of Output in Low Income Countries?

Are External Shocks Responsible for the Instability of Output in Low Income Countries? PDF Author: Claudio E. Raddatz
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN:
Category : Business cycles
Languages : en
Pages : 53

Book Description
External shocks, such as commodity price fluctuations, natural disasters, and the role of the international economy, are often blamed for the poor economic performance of low-income countries. The author quantifies the impact of these different external shocks using a panel vector autoregression (VAR) approach and compares their relative contributions to output volatility in low-income countries vis-à-vis internal factors. He finds that external shocks can only explain a small fraction of the output variance of a typical low-income country. Internal factors are the main source of fluctuations. From a quantitative perspective, the output effect of external shocks is typically small in absolute terms, but significant relative to the historic performance of these countries.

IMF-Supported Programs in Low Income Countries

IMF-Supported Programs in Low Income Countries PDF Author: Mr.Christian Mumssen
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1484356209
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 64

Book Description
This paper studies the short and longer-term impact of IMF engagement in Low-Income Countries (LICs) over nearly three decades. In contrast to earlier studies, we focus on a sample composed exclusively of LICs and disentangle the different effects of IMF longer-term engagement and short-term financing using a propensity score matching approach to control for selection bias. Our results indicate that longer-term IMF support (at least five years of program engagement per decade) helped LICs sustain economic growth and boost resilience by building fiscal buffers. Interestingly, the size of IMF financing has no significant impact on economic growth, possibly pointing to the prominent role of IMF policy advice and institutional capacity building in the context of longer-term engagement. We also present evidence that the short-term IMF engagement through augmentations of existing programs or short-term and emergency facilities is positively associated with a wide range of macroeconomic outcomes. Notably, the IMF financial support has the greatest impact on short-term growth when LICs are faced with substantial macroeconomic imbalances or exogenous shocks.

Modification of Access Policies for the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility and the Exogenous Shocks Facility

Modification of Access Policies for the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility and the Exogenous Shocks Facility PDF Author: International Monetary Fund. Strategy, Policy, & Review Department
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1498336094
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 15

Book Description
The paper proposes a doubling of access limits on concessional lending to ensure that the Fund can respond effectively to the needs of low-income countries (LICs) severely affected by the current world economic downturn. Pending adoption of broader reforms to the LIC facilities architecture, higher access limits under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) and Exogenous Shocks Facility-High-Access Component (ESF-HAC) would give the Fund greater flexibility in assisting LICs, which have become more exposed to global volatility over time. A doubling of access limits would restore them to their 1998 levels in percent of GDP and would be consistent with the approach taken in determining new access limits for General Resources Account (GRA) resources. It would also be in line with the projected doubling of medium-term demand for concessional resources.

Emerging from the Global Crisis

Emerging from the Global Crisis PDF Author: International Monetary Fund
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1616350733
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 114

Book Description
Although the impact of the global crisis has been severe, real per capita GDP growth stayed positive in two-thirds of low-income countries (LICs), unlike in previous global downturns, and in contrast to richer countries. Emerging from the Global Crisis explores how LICS have coped with the global economic crisis. It reviews the impact of the crisis on LICs, domestic policy responses to the crisis, and the precrisis conditions of select countries. The prospects and challenges that LICs face are also considered. Sections of the paper look at growth prospects, policy recommendations, the general macroeconomic outlook, as well as the rebuilding of fiscal buffers. The authors also "stress-test" LICs' exposure to further volatility by using a hypothetical "downside" recovery scenario.

Exogenous Shocks and Growth Crises in Low-Income Countries

Exogenous Shocks and Growth Crises in Low-Income Countries PDF Author: Ms.Era Dabla-Norris
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1475548834
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 42

Book Description
This paper develops a new index which provides early warning signals of a growth crisis in the event of large external shocks in low-income countries. Multivariate regression analysis and a univariate signaling approach are used to map information from a parsimonious set of underlying policy, structural, and institutional indicators into a composite vulnerability index. The results show that vulnerabilities to a growth crisis in low-income countries declined significantly from their peaks in the early 1990s, but have risen in recent years as fiscal policy buffers were expended in the wake of the global financial crisis.