This study reviews the developments and issues in the exchange arrangements and currency convertibility of IMF members. The principal information source for this report is the Annual Report on Exchange Arrangements and Exchange Restrictions prepared in consultation with national authorities.

This paper reviews developments and issues in the exchange arrangements and currency convertibility of IMF members. Against the backdrop of continuing financial globalization and a series of emerging market crises since 1997, there have been important changes in the evolution of exchange rate regimes and the pace of liberalization of current and capital transactions among IMF member countries. There has been a shift away from intermediate regimes according to the IMF's official exchange rate regime classification system based on de facto exchange rate policies. The de facto exchange rate classification system has helped to clarify the nature and role of members' exchange rate regimes. It has facilitated discussions with country authorities about the implementation of exchange rate regimes and hence has contributed to more effective surveillance of the international monetary system. The use of exchange controls appears to have been little influenced by the degree of flexibility of exchange rate regimes or the occurrences of currency crises.

The Annual Report on Exchange Arrangements and Exchange Restrictions (AREAER) has been published by the IMF since 1950. It is a unique publication based on a database maintained by the IMF that tracks exchange arrangements and foreign exchange systems for all member countries on an annual basis and also provides historical information on these. The introduction to the volume provides a summary of recent global trends and developments in the areas covered by the publication. Individual country chapters report exchange measures in place, the structure and setting of the exchange rate, arrangements for payments and receipts, procedures for resident and nonresident accounts, mechanisms for import and export payments and receipts, controls on capital transactions, and provisions specific to the financial sector. A separate section in each chapter lists changes made during 2005 and the first part of 2006. The AREAER draws on information made available to the IMF from a number of sources, including during official staff visits to member countries, and has been prepared in close consultation with national authorities. The information is presented in a tabular format.

This paper examines the problems in establishing currency convertibility- and the optimal timing- in formerly planned economies making the transition to market-oriented systems.

Since liberalization, Indian economy is going through some dynamic changes. From a primarily closed agrarian economy, India has become service-oriented open economy, becoming more and more susceptible to economic fluctuations. This comprehensive book, in its third edition, continues to equip the readers with the necessary skills to assess and analyze the evolving economic scenario in India and world over. The new edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to incorporate the recent changes taking place in Indian and global economic environment. Every chapter is incorporated with a section on Understanding Economic Environment (UEE), in which the Indian economic environment is compared with the economic environment of its neighbouring countries, emerging markets and major players in the world economy. All chapters are well-supported with illustrative examples and cases to provide an analytical insight to the topics. The chapters also include the topic Implications for Managers, in which implications of a particular aspect of an economy are summarized for the managers. Besides, for an easy assessment of the data, most of the quantitative information is presented in a graphical form rather than in the conventional tabular format. Designed primarily as a textbook for the postgraduate students of management and commerce, this book is useful for the practising managers and policy makers as well. KEY FEATURES : Includes illustrations using latest data (upto 2011) Provides several numerical problems to strengthen the quantitative aspect of the subject Each chapter concludes with a Case Analysis to support the chapters with the applicative tools Companion website www.phindia.com/veenapailwar provides useful resources for the teachers as well as for the students and has been updated as per the current edition.

This paper reports on the work undertaken in this area since the 1992 review and seeks to encourage further progress in current account liberalization among the membership. Section II provides an overview of the legal framework; Section III studies recent trends in members’ acceptance of Article VIII obligations, and analyzes the factors underlying these trends; Section IV outlines the possible economic (and financial) benefits of current account liberalization for Fund members; finally, Section V lays out the implications for surveillance, the enforcement of compliance with Article VIII obligations and technical assistance.

This review reports on trends, developments, and issues in exchange rate arrangements and currency convertibility. This section presents a summary of the overall findings. Section II provides an overview of key trends and developments in exchange rate arrangements. Section III outlines key trends and developments in current and capital account restrictions. The present paper uses the existing methodology for the classification of exchange rate arrangements.

In this book leading economists and economic historians look at the history of the international monetary system, in particular the workings of the gold standard, to examine the implications for international monetary relations.

The World Economic Outlook, published twica a year in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic, presents IMF staff economists analyses of global economic developments during the near and medium term. Chapters give an overview of the world economy; consider issues affecting industrial countries, developing countries, and economies in transition to market; and address topics of pressing current interest. Annexes, boxes, charts, and an extensive statistical appendix augment the text.

Supporting Studies for the World Economic Outlook, prepared by IMF staff, provide a more detailed analysis of issues recently covered in the main pubication. The current edition includes studies of globalization and growth, the future of the international financial system, currency crises, business cycles and exchange rates, supply-side issues in the contractions experienced in the Baltics, Russia, and other countries of the former Soviet Union, and challenges to European labor markets posed by European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU).