Balance Sheet Analysis in Fund Surveillance
Policy Papers, June 12, 2015
Source details
- Canonical URL
- Balance Sheet Analysis in Fund Surveillance
Other formats
Bibliographic details
- Published: June 12, 2015
- Series: Policy Papers
Overview
- Balance sheets convey vital information about economic prospects and risks.
- Balance sheet analysis captures the role that financial frictions and mismatches play in creating fragility and amplifying shocks.
- This analysis is key to understanding the macroeconomic outlook, identifying vulnerabilities, and tracing the transmission of potential shocks and policies.
- Publication date: June 12, 2015.
Purpose and scope
- Reviews the use of balance sheet analysis in the Fund’s bilateral surveillance.
- Introduces practical examples of how balance sheet analysis can be deepened.
- Highlights useful examples of such analysis conducted by staff over the last decade.
- Documents the data and tools that have been used and mentions some limitations.
- Discusses recent improvements in the coverage and quality of balance sheet data through initiatives launched in the wake of the global crisis, and key remaining gaps that require international collaboration.
Key findings and emphases
- Recent evaluations of IMF surveillance—including the 2014 TSR—have emphasized the importance of strengthening balance sheet analysis and coverage of macro-financial issues.
- Balance sheet analysis helps trace transmission of shocks and policies by revealing mismatches and financial frictions that amplify vulnerabilities.
Data, tools, and coverage notes
- The paper documents the data and tools used by staff for balance sheet analysis.
- Notes recent improvements in coverage and quality of balance sheet data driven by post-crisis initiatives.
- Identifies key remaining data gaps that need international collaboration to address.
- The IMF eLibrary offers over 25,000 IMF publications in multiple formats (as noted on the landing page).
Limitations and gaps
- The paper mentions limitations of current balance sheet analysis and data coverage (described qualitatively in the text).
- Remaining gaps in balance sheet data coverage and quality are highlighted as requiring international collaboration.
Policy implications and recommendations
- Strengthen balance sheet analysis within bilateral surveillance to better identify vulnerabilities and transmission channels.
- Improve coverage and quality of balance sheet data through coordinated international initiatives.
- Deepen use of documented data and tools shared across Fund staff to enhance analysis of macro-financial linkages.
Subjects covered
- Bilateral surveillance
- Corporate sector
- Cross country analysis
- Data collection
- Data quality assessment framework
- Developed countries
- Emerging markets
- Financial sector
Balance Sheet Analysis in Fund Surveillance, June 12, 2015. Accessed 9/11/2026.
Content in this bundle
- Balance Sheet Analysis in Fund Surveillance; IMF Policy Paper, June 12, 2015