Financial Development and Financial Inclusion

Source details

Target audience: Mid-level to senior officials from central banks and government agencies dealing with regulation of the financial sector.
Preference: Given to applicants working on issues directly related to financial development and inclusion.
Qualifications expected:
- Basic knowledge of economics or finance, or equivalent work experience.
- Knowledge of econometrics is helpful but not required.
- Strong recommendation: applicants first complete the online Financial Market Analysis (FMAx) course and understand basic models for pricing debt and equity.

The course explains the macroeconomic relevance of financial development and inclusion.
Begins with an analysis that defines the role of finance in the economy.
Reviews the theoretical and empirical literature on the impact of finance on macroeconomic performance and growth.
Addresses two policy classes:
- Market-enabling policies to encourage financial development.
- Market-harnessing policies to limit potentially destabilizing effects of financial development.
Introduces financial inclusion as an integral dimension of financial development, distinguishing it from prior emphasis on financial depth.
Reviews:
- Indicators currently used to measure financial inclusion.
- The distinct macroeconomic impact of financial inclusion.
- Main policy strategies usually pursued to promote inclusion.

Upon completion of the course, participants should be able to:

Measure the degree of financial development and inclusion for a country or countries using a wide range of standard indicators.
Identify the shortcomings of various indicators and recognize the possible need to collect more detailed microeconomic data.
Use a simple analytical model to predict the likely outcomes of different policies on financial inclusion.
Assess policy options and strategies for financial development and inclusion from a macroeconomic perspective by identifying potential tradeoffs and possible impediments.
Formulate a strategy for policies to support financial development in a country, taking into account initial conditions and links between the financial sector and the macroeconomy.

IMF offers online training to government officials and the public; prospective applicants are directed to Learn more for current offerings.