01719cas a2200241 a 4500 AALejournalIMF008323 230101c9999 xx r poo 0 0eng d 5.00 USD 9781451858433 1018-5941 BD-DhAAL BD-DhAAL Bhatia, Ashok. Sovereign Credit Ratings Methodology : An Evaluation / Ashok Bhatia. Washington, D.C. : International Monetary Fund, 2002. 1 online resource (60 pages) IMF Working Papers <strong>Off-Campus Access:</strong> No User ID or Password Required <strong>On-Campus Access:</strong> No User ID or Password Required Electronic access restricted to authorized BRAC University faculty, staff and students This paper describes and evaluates the sovereign credit ratings methodologies of Standard and Poor's, Moody's Investors Service, and Fitch Ratings. A simple definition of ratings failure-based on ratings stability-is proposed and tested, pointing to falling failure rates, consistent upside bias, and strong interagency correlation. Possible causes of ratings failure are separated into informational, analytical, revenue bias, and other incentive problems, each of which is discussed. The paper seeks to highlight methodological developments after the Asian crisis, particularly with regard to the estimation of contingent liabilities and the assessment of international reserves adequacy. Mode of access: Internet IMF Working Papers; Working Paper ; No. 2002/170 Full text available on IMF http://elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/001/2002/170/001.2002.issue-170-en.xml IMF e-Library