Country Data through the IMF

 The IMF was established to strengthen financial stability and global monetary cooperation. Its country reviews and semi-annual reports provide economic and financial data that are highly comparable across the world.  For country risk purposes, the most important and readily accessible sources include:
  • Principal Global Indicators (PGI):  this data source covers the G-20 countries and other systemically important economies. It is updated monthly and quarterly.
  • World Economic Outlook (WEO):  this semi-annual report offers the IMF's current view on the global economy, along with a rich data base with forecasts for 188 member countries.
  • Fiscal Monitor and Global Financial Stability Report:  these semi-annual reports provide valuable analysis of critical issues in public finance and banking, as well as cross-country data on 60+ countries.
  • Article IV Country Reviews:  Each member of the Fund agrees to facilitate an yearly IMF staff evaluation of its economy & macro performance. The data tables permit careful study of each economy, while allowing standardized measures for cross country comparisons.

Country Data from the World Bank

Established to help eradicate poverty, the World Bank gathers value data on economic and social conditions in the developing world.  The Bank provides valuable information on income inequality, education levels, and gender issues.  It has created two unique data resources that are benchmarks for country risk analysis:
  • WB Governance Index:  this source evaluates 6 dimensions of political performance and risks across 150 countries.
    ​
  • Ease of Doing Business:  this rich data base, updated quarterly, identifies obstacles to business in more than 180 countries. 
Picture
Bank for International Settlements

Financial Data through BIS, ECB,  FSB and ESRB

Several major institutions play vital roles in monitoring financial risk, coordinating monetary and financial policies, and funding short-term liquidity problems across the globe. These include:
  • Bank for International Settlements:  referred to as the "central bank to central banks", the BIS is a key actor in global monetary coordination. Its data sources help track capital flows, bank lending, and cross-border flows.
  • European Central Bank:  the ECB sets monetary policy for the 17 countries of the Eurozone. It now has supervisory responsibility for all banks in Europe. The ECB and Eurostat are the sources for financial data in Europe
  • Financial Stability Board:  its authority strengthened by G-7 leaders after the financial crisis, the FSB now monitors sources of financial risk across the globe and recommends regulatory measures for adoption by national authorities.
  • European Systemic Risk Board:  a multi-lateral body of all European bank regulators, the ESRB provides a useful monthly Risk Dashboard which tracks most sources of financial risk in Europe.
Proudly powered by Weebly