02133cas a2200241 a 4500 AALejournalIMF020444 230101c9999 xx r poo 0 0eng d 5.00 USD 9781498344456 2663-3493 BD-DhAAL BD-DhAAL International Monetary Fund. Balance Sheet Analysis in Fund Surveillance. Washington, D.C. : International Monetary Fund, 2015. 1 online resource (49 pages) Policy 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 Balance sheets convey vital information about economic prospects and risks. Balance sheet analysis captures the role that financial frictions and mismatches play in creating fragility and amplifying shocks. This is key to understanding the macroeconomic outlook, identifying vulnerabilities, and tracing the transmission of potential shocks and policies. This paper reviews the use of balance sheet analysis in the Fund's bilateral surveillance and introduces some practical examples of how it can be deepened. Recent evaluations of IMF surveillance--including the 2014 TSR--have emphasized the importance of strengthening balance sheet analysis and coverage of macro-financial issues. This paper is a first step that highlights useful examples of such analysis conducted by staff over the last decade, documents the data and tools that have been used, and mentions some limitations. In addition, it discusses recent improvements in the coverage and quality of balance sheet data through initiatives launched in the wake of the global crisis, as well as key remaining gaps, addressing which requires international collaboration. Mode of access: Internet Policy Papers; Policy Paper ; No. 2015/076 Full text available on IMF http://elibrary.imf.org/view/journals/007/2015/076/007.2015.issue-076-en.xml IMF e-Library