Publications

What Should Bank Supervisors Do About Climate Risks?

| 4 June 2024
Monetary, Policy Briefs | Tags: Central Banks, Climate Risks, Financial Supervision, Governing Finance
This paper considers the role of bank supervisory authorities with respect to climate change. The emerging consensus is that financial supervisors and regulators must address climate-related risks to banks and other financial institutions. The paper discusses potentially productive avenues for doing that in the near ... continue reading

Technical Standards in Services and Trade Governance

| 8 May 2024
Trade, Blog | Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, International Standards, Services Trade, Trade Governance
Standards can potentially resolve the trade-off between regulatory certainty and space for innovation, provided they are recognized and accepted by law enforcement bodies. ... continue reading

Economic Policies for Affordable, Secure and Clean Energy. Insights from France

| 3 May 2024
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Decarbonization, Energy, Fossil Fuel Subsidies, France, Industrial Policy, Tax Expenditures
Successive French governments have reformed the country’s energy sector, with notable achievements in maintaining affordable access, ensuring supply security, and reducing carbon emissions. However, the energy crisis triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022-23 has underscored the imperative for a thorough revision of France's ... continue reading

Economic Policies for Affordable, Secure and Clean Energy. Insights from France

| 3 May 2024
Fiscal, Policy Briefs | Tags: Decarbonization, Energy, Fossil Fuel Subsidies, France, Industrial Policy, Tax Expenditures
France has launched a vast transformation of its energy system, with the aim of providing affordable, secure and clean energy. ... continue reading

A Step into the Right Direction: The India-EFTA Trade Agreement

| 1 May 2024
Trade, Blog | Tags: EFTA, Global Value Chains, India, Intellectual Property Rights, Trade Agreements
The new trade agreement between India and EFTA States includes commitments on an important yet often overlooked form of trade restrictions: local content requirements. ... continue reading

Governing AI for Humanity: Thoughts on the UN AI Advisory Body Interim Report

| 8 April 2024
Trade, Blog | Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Data Governance, Innovation
The awesome capabilities of AI applications have raised deep concerns about the future of work, democracy and even humanity itself - and a sense of urgency for establishing effective governance at all levels and use cases. ... continue reading

The Role of the Zambian Legislature in Tax Expenditure Policy

| 2 April 2024
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Parliaments, Tax Expenditures, Zambia
The Zambian Government annually presents the National Budget, including tax measures and some incentives, to the National Assembly. In addition to TEs granted through budget policy, other incentives are granted through various government institutions... ... continue reading

Striking a Balance on Local Content Requirements in Trade Agreements: The Case of the Energy Sector

| 15 March 2024
Trade, Blog | Tags: Energy, Global Value Chains, Renewables
The new trade agreement between India and EFTA States includes commitments on an important yet often overlooked form of trade restrictions: local content requirements. ... continue reading

Aligning Sovereign Bond Markets with the Net Zero Transition: the Role of Central Banks

, , and | 14 March 2024
Monetary, Policy Briefs | Tags: Central Banks, Climate Risks, Debt, Financial Supervision
Aligning sovereign bonds with net zero requires coordinated action by several stakeholders across the financial system. National governments are first in line to act but central banks have a unique opportunity to make a meaningful contribution. ... continue reading

Financial Regulation and Supervision in China. Grappling with the Ups and Downs of the Property Market

and | 12 March 2024
Monetary, Policy Briefs | Tags: China, Financial Supervision, Housing
China's economic landscape bears the distinct imprint of its real estate sector, serving as both an engine of growth and a focal point for financial risk. ... continue reading

Why a Deal in the WTO Negotiations on E-Commerce is a “Must-Have” for MC13

and | 13 February 2024
Trade, Blog | Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, WTO
The internet is fundamentally dependent on openness to cross-border data flows. But many governments are regulating to constrain international data transfers - including under a banner of data sovereignty. ... continue reading

Rationalizing the Use of Tax Expenditures – The Role of Parliamentarians

| 31 January 2024
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Parliaments, Tax Expenditures
The role of parliaments is vital with regard to the monitoring and control of tax expenditures, both as part of the regular budget cycle and ad hoc, if required. ... continue reading

Advancing Scrutiny: 55 Year of Tax Expenditures Reporting in the United States

| 14 December 2023
Fiscal, Blog | Tags: Parliaments, Tax Expenditures, United States
The normal baseline currently used to define tax expenditures by the US Treasury remains fairly close to an economic measure of income, but with some differences. Tax expenditures include employee fringe benefits and imputed income on rents on owner-occupied housing, but not free financial services. ... continue reading

Net Zero Central Banking in Africa’s Diverse Economies: Challenges, Opportunities and Policy Options

, and | 29 November 2023
Monetary, Policy Briefs | Tags: Africa, Central Banks, Climate Risks, Financial Stability, Inequality
Africa’s economies are contending with a diverse set of challenges and opportunities in relation to building low-carbon, green economies and the transition to net zero emissions. Central banks can play a pivotal role in enabling the green transition in Africa. ... continue reading

Building Climate Resilient Portfolios. The Case of the Bank of Japan’s Index-Linked ETF Holdings

and | 28 November 2023
Monetary, Policy Briefs | Tags: Asset Purchases, Central Banks, Climate Risks, Governing Finance, Japan
Climate risks are financial risks that must be accounted for across all central bank operations and invested asset classes. Like for any other financial institution, all assets that central banks own – e.g., equities, bonds, and asset-backed securities – are exposed to climate risks. ... continue reading