Financial Inclusion, Regulation, Literacy, and Education in Central Asia and South Caucasus

Financial Inclusion, Regulation, Literacy, and Education in Central Asia and South Caucasus PDF Author: Peter J. Morgan
Publisher:
ISBN: 9784899741053
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 200

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Book Description
Financial inclusion and financial education are becoming increasingly recognized as key requirements for sustainable and inclusive growth, and have been recognized as such by international fora such the Group of Twenty (G20) and the OECD. However, countries in Central Asia and the South Caucasus region have generally lagged in this area. Aside from Kazakhstan, the levels of financial inclusion are substantially below the average level of developing economies. Moreover, there has been little study of the determinants of and barriers to the development of financial inclusion and financial literacy in this region. In this study, prominent scholars in each country examine recent trends in financial inclusion in seven countries--Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan--for both individuals and small and medium-sized firms (SMEs); institutional and regulatory barriers to the expansion of financial inclusion; and policy options to support greater financial inclusion while maintaining financial stability. The book also examines issues related to the assessment of financial literacy and promotion of financial education to support greater financial inclusion in the region. One prominent feature of the region is the relatively slow uptake of innovative financial technologies that could promote financial inclusion such as mobile phone banking, crowd funding and peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms. This book examines the barriers to such development, as recommends policies to facilitate the introduction of such technologies.

Financial Inclusion, Regulation, Literacy, and Education in Central Asia and South Caucasus

Financial Inclusion, Regulation, Literacy, and Education in Central Asia and South Caucasus PDF Author: Peter J. Morgan
Publisher:
ISBN: 9784899741053
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 200

Get Book Here

Book Description
Financial inclusion and financial education are becoming increasingly recognized as key requirements for sustainable and inclusive growth, and have been recognized as such by international fora such the Group of Twenty (G20) and the OECD. However, countries in Central Asia and the South Caucasus region have generally lagged in this area. Aside from Kazakhstan, the levels of financial inclusion are substantially below the average level of developing economies. Moreover, there has been little study of the determinants of and barriers to the development of financial inclusion and financial literacy in this region. In this study, prominent scholars in each country examine recent trends in financial inclusion in seven countries--Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan--for both individuals and small and medium-sized firms (SMEs); institutional and regulatory barriers to the expansion of financial inclusion; and policy options to support greater financial inclusion while maintaining financial stability. The book also examines issues related to the assessment of financial literacy and promotion of financial education to support greater financial inclusion in the region. One prominent feature of the region is the relatively slow uptake of innovative financial technologies that could promote financial inclusion such as mobile phone banking, crowd funding and peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms. This book examines the barriers to such development, as recommends policies to facilitate the introduction of such technologies.

The Central Asian Economies in the Twenty-First Century

The Central Asian Economies in the Twenty-First Century PDF Author: Richard Pomfret
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 0691185409
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 329

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Book Description
This book analyzes the Central Asian economies of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, from their buffeting by the commodity boom of the early 2000s to its collapse in 2014. Richard Pomfret examines the countries’ relations with external powers and the possibilities for development offered by infrastructure projects as well as rail links between China and Europe. The transition of these nations from centrally planned to market-based economic systems was essentially complete by the early 2000s, when the region experienced a massive increase in world prices for energy and mineral exports. This raised incomes in the main oil and gas exporters, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan; brought more benefits to the most populous country, Uzbekistan; and left the poorest countries, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, dependent on remittances from migrant workers in oil-rich Russia and Kazakhstan. Pomfret considers the enhanced role of the Central Asian nations in the global economy and their varied ties to China, the European Union, Russia, and the United States. With improved infrastructure and connectivity between China and Europe (reflected in regular rail freight services since 2011 and China’s announcement of its Belt and Road Initiative in 2013), relaxation of United Nations sanctions against Iran in 2016, and the change in Uzbekistan’s presidency in late 2016, a window of opportunity appears to have opened for Central Asian countries to achieve more sustainable economic futures.

Recognizing Reality—Unification of Official and Parallel Market Exchange Rates

Recognizing Reality—Unification of Official and Parallel Market Exchange Rates PDF Author: Mr.Simon T Gray
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1513568639
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 45

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Book Description
Some central banks have maintained overvalued official exchange rates, while unable to ensure that supply of foreign exchange meets legitimate demand for current account transactions at that price. A parallel exchange rate market develops, in such circumstances; and when the spread between the official and parallel rates is both substantial and sustained, price levels in the economy typically reflect the parallel market exchange rate. “Recognizing reality” by allowing economic agents to use a market clearing rate benefits economic activity without necessarily leading to more inflation. But a unified, market-clearing exchange rate will not stabilize without a supportive fiscal and monetary context. A number of country case studies are included; my thanks to Jie Ren for pulling together all the data for the country case studies, and the production of the charts.

Building Resilient Banking Sectors in the Caucasus and Central Asia

Building Resilient Banking Sectors in the Caucasus and Central Asia PDF Author: MissMercedes Vera Martin
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 148436077X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 49

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Book Description
External shocks since 2014—lower oil prices and slower growth in key trading partners—have put financial sectors, mainly banks, in the eight Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) countries under increased stress. Even before the shocks, CCA banking sectors were not at full strength. Asset quality was generally weak, due in part to shortcomings in regulation, supervision, and governance. The economies were highly dollarized. Business practices were affected by lack of competition and, in most countries, connected lending, which undermined banking sector health. Shortcomings in financial regulation and supervision allowed the unsound banking practices to remain unaddressed. The external shocks exacerbated in these underlying vulnerabilities. Strains in CCA banking sectors intensified as liquidity tightened, asset quality deteriorated, and banks became undercapitalized. These challenges have required public intervention in some cases.

Europe and Central Asia Economic Update, Fall 2019

Europe and Central Asia Economic Update, Fall 2019 PDF Author: World Bank
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 1464815062
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 136

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Book Description
The share of immigrants in Western and Eastern Europe has increased rapidly over the past four decades. Today, one of every three immigrants in the world goes to Europe. Furthermore, although globally only one-third of migration takes place within regions, intraregional migration is especially high within Europe and Central Asia, with 80 percent of the region's emigrants choosing to move to other countries in the region. In high-income destination countries, migrants are often blamed for high unemployment and declining social services. There are also widespread concerns about brain drain in the migrant sending countries of Eastern Europe, the Western Balkans, and Central Asia. This update focuses on the design of policies on labor mobility and presents the trends, determinants, and impacts of low- and high-skilled labor.

Good Jobs for Inclusive Growth in Central Asia and the South Caucasus

Good Jobs for Inclusive Growth in Central Asia and the South Caucasus PDF Author: Asian Development Bank
Publisher:
ISBN: 9789292615109
Category : Asia
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Reviews economic performance in the region and discusses prospects through 2030, introducing two growth scenarios related to the adoption of structural reforms for creating good jobs and inclusive growth. This publication also highlights the importance of adopting a full policy reform scenario.

EU Development Assistance to Central Asia

EU Development Assistance to Central Asia PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Economic assistance, European
Languages : en
Pages : 56

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Book Description
"The court examined how the European Commission (EC) and the European External Action Service (EEAS) planned and managed development assistance to the Central Asian republics (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) in the period 2007-2. In challenging circumstances, planning and allocation of assistance were generally satisfactory. Implementation was less so. The court makes a number of recommendations. The EC and the EEAS should design any future regional programmes so that they are likely to achieve a genuine regional dimension. They should concentrate all assistance provided on a small number of sectors. For any continuing budget support programmes, they should define and apply robust and objectively verifiable conditions, in particular giving sufficient attention to support for anti-corruption mechanisms."-- Page [4] of cover.

Engaging Central Asia

Engaging Central Asia PDF Author: Bhavna Dave
Publisher: CEPS
ISBN: 929079707X
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 196

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Book Description
"In July 2007, the European Union initiated a fundamentally new approach to the countries of Central Asia. The launch of the EU Strategy for Central Asia signals a qualitative shift in the Union's relations with a region of the world that is of growing importance as a supplier of energy, is geographically situated in a politically sensitive area - between China, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan and the south Caucasus - and contains some of the most authoritarian political regimes in the world. In this volume, leading specialists from Europe, the United States and Central Asia explore the key challenges facing the European Union as it seeks to balance its policies between enhancing the Union's energy, business and security interests in the region while strengthening social justice, democratisation efforts and the protection of human rights. With chapters devoted to the Union's bilateral relations with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan and to the vital issues of security and democratisation, 'Engaging Central Asia' provides the first comprehensive analysis of the EU's strategic initiative in a part of the world that is fast emerging as one of the key regions of the 21st century."--BOOK JACKET.

Reaping Digital Dividends

Reaping Digital Dividends PDF Author: Tim Kelly
Publisher: World Bank Publications
ISBN: 1464810273
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 386

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Book Description
From East to West, the economies of Europe and Central Asia (ECA) are not taking full advantage of the internet to foster economic growth and job creation. The residents of Central Asia and the South Caucasus pay some of the highest prices in the world for internet connections that are slow and unreliable. In contrast, Europe enjoys some of the world’s fastest and affordable internet services. However, its firms and individuals are not fully exploiting the internet to achieve higher productivity growth as well as more and better jobs. Reaping Digital Dividends investigates the barriers that are holding back the broader adoption of the internet in ECA. The report identifies the main bottlenecks and provides policy recommendations tailored to economies at varying levels of digital development. It concludes that policies to increase internet access are necessary but not sufficient. Policies to foster competition, international trade and skills supply, as well as adapting regulations to the changing business environment and labor markets, will also be necessary. In other words, Reaping Digital Dividends not only requires better connectivity, but also complementary factors that allow governments, firms and individuals to make the most out of it.

Staff Guidance Note on Macroprudential Policy

Staff Guidance Note on Macroprudential Policy PDF Author: International Monetary Fund
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
ISBN: 1498342620
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 45

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Book Description
This note provides guidance to facilitate the staff’s advice on macroprudential policy in Fund surveillance. It elaborates on the principles set out in the “Key Aspects of Macroprudential Policy,” taking into account the work of international standard setters as well as the evolving country experience with macroprudential policy. The main note is accompanied by supplements offering Detailed Guidance on Instruments and Considerations for Low Income Countries