Emancipating the Banking
System and Developing Markets for Government Debt
Maxwell Fry
Monetary policy in developing countries is largely based on a system introduced in the
1960s. Emancipating the Banking System and Developing Markets for Government Debt
illustrates how this outdated system has led to financial repression and suggests some
alternatives. Maxwell Fry is one of the leading experts in this area. His book will
provide a much-needed study for those studying development and finance economics at an
advanced level.
This book, published in
association with the Bank of England, assesses the damaging effects of inflationary
finance, financial repression and excessive government borrowing from abroad on economic
performance in ill countries. It then presents a practical guide to developing voluntary
domestic markets for government debt.
As ways of financing
government deficits, inflationary finance, financial repression and excessive government
borrowing from abroad are associated with higher inflation, lower saving ratios and lower
growth rates. Although the typical developing country makes little use of the fourth
source, borrowing from voluntary domestic lenders in the private sector is the least
harmful way of financing any given government deficit.
After providing empirical
evidence on these relationships, the book focuses on some of the practical issues involved
in establishing a functional market for government debt in countries that have not so far
developed one. To obtain a better understanding of the changes involved, the Bank of
England asked the central banks in Ghana, India, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand,
Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, countries that had recently developed voluntary domestic markets
for government debt, to answer some questions about the process of change. All eight
central banks responded and much of the material in the book is based these questionnaire
responses.
Maxwell ). Fry, Tokai Bank
Professor of International Finance at the University of Birmingham, is well known
internationally for his work on money, interest and banking in economic development.
280 pages