1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910823365303321

Titolo

Costa Rica : : Selected Issues and Analytical Notes

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Washington, D.C. : , : International Monetary Fund, , 2015

ISBN

1-4983-6289-3

1-4983-1271-3

Edizione

[1st ed.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (101 p.)

Collana

IMF Staff Country Reports

Disciplina

332.152

Soggetti

Financial services industry - Costa Rica

Banks and banking, Central - Costa Rica

Monetary policy - Costa Rica

Foreign exchange rates - Costa Rica

Capital movements - Costa Rica

Economic development - Costa Rica

Labor market - Costa Rica

Electric power - Costa Rica

Banks and Banking

Finance: General

Foreign Exchange

Macroeconomics

Public Finance

Fiscal Policy

General Financial Markets: Government Policy and Regulation

Banks

Depository Institutions

Micro Finance Institutions

Mortgages

International Financial Markets

Macroeconomics: Production

Currency

Foreign exchange

Banking

Financial services law & regulation

Finance

Public finance & taxation

Fiscal consolidation

Exchange rates

Basel III



Currency markets

Financial markets

Fiscal policy

Exchange rate flexibility

Banks and banking

State supervision

Foreign exchange market

Production

Economic theory

Costa Rica

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Description based upon print version of record.

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references.

Nota di contenuto

Cover; CONTENTS; I. SELECTED REAL SECTOR ISSUES; A. Potential Output Estimates; TABLE; 1. Potential Output Growth and Output Gap Estimates; B. Estimating the Impact of Intel Exit; C. Labor Markets and Inequality; D. Electricity sector; BOX; 1. Methodologies for Potential Output Estimates; References; II. CROSS-BORDER LINKAGES AND SPILLOVERS; A. Trade Linkages; B. Real Growth Spillovers; C. Fiscal Spillovers; D. Financial Spillovers; E. Monetary Policy Spillovers (the Effect of U.S. Monetary Policy Normalization); TABLE; 1. Vulnerability Indicators; FIGURES; 1. Trade Linkages

2. Costa Rica and Selected Trading Partners-full title 3. United States: Three Scenarios of Tapering Off (FSGM simulations); 4. The Impact of U.S. Tapering Off (FSGM simulations); References; III. ASSESSING FISCAL VULNERABILITY AND MEDIUM-TERM SUSTAINABILITY; FIGURE; 1. Long-Term Fiscal Sustainability; References; IV. THE CENTRAL BANK NET'S WORTH; A. Introduction; B. Baseline Simulation Results; C. Sensitivity Analysis; FIGURE; 1. Central Bank of Costa Rica: Sensitivity Analysis; BOX; 1. Balance Sheet Equations; References; V. MONETARY POLICY AND INFLATION; A. Monetary Policy Stance

B. Pass-through from Exchange Rate Depreciation to Inflation References; VI. TRANSITION TO A FLEXIBLE EXCHANGE RATE: LESSONS FROM PAST EXPERIENCE; A. Background; B. Dangers of Exchange Rate Inflexibility and the Advantages of Flexibility; C. Moving Toward Exchange Rate Flexibility: Experiences and Lessons from Other Countries; D. Assessing Costa Rica's Preparedness to Float; TABLE; 1. Extent of Preparedness for Transitioning to Greater Flexibility: Before the Full Float; FIGURE; 1. Historical Experiences with Transitions to Exchange Rate Flexibility; References; VII. FINANCIAL SECTOR ISSUES

A. Strengthening Bank Capital and Liquidity in Central America: The Road to Basel III B. Balance Sheet Analysis; FIGURE; 1. Gross Financial Assets and Liabilities of Economic Sectors; TABLES; 1. External and Foreign Currency Positions; 2. Net Foreign Currency Debt Position and Exchange Rate Shocks; ANNEXES; I. Net Intersectoral Asset and Liability Positions; II. Bank Heat Maps; References

Sommario/riassunto

This Selected Issues paper examines several real sector issues, including estimates of potential output, the effect of Intel’s withdrawal on gross domestic product (GDP), labor market and inequality and



electricity prices in Costa Rica. The production function approach shows that the main drivers of fluctuations in GDP growth are total factor productivity (TFP) and labor supply. These results on TFP, however, should be interpreted with caution. The TFP measure is a residual—the difference between output growth and the growth in the quantity (and quality) of inputs. Estimates suggest that potential GDP growth is about 4.3 percent, the output gap is broadly closed, and Intel’s withdrawal will lower real GDP growth in about 1/2 percentage point. Significant wage premia are identified across public versus private sectors and some evidence of intergenerational inequality is also presented. Electricity tariffs are found to be regionally competitive albeit with inefficiencies in their determination.