Globalization Of Financial Markets And Implications For Pacific Basin Developing Countries

This paper analyzes the consequences of the growing interdependence of world financial markets for Pacific developing countries. Section I discusses trends in financial integration in the Pacific and the underlying movements in saving and investment. Section II seeks to quantify the increased capital mobility, in terms of rate of return differentials and the degree of correlation between savings and investment rates across countries. Section III focuses on policy implications of increasing integration, including the effectiveness of macroeconomic policy instruments, the usefulness of the current account as a target of policy, and the dangers of excessive taxation of financial intermediation.

This paper analyzes the consequences of the growing interdependence of world financial markets for Pacific developing countries. Section I discusses trends in financial integration in the Pacific and the underlying movements in saving and investment. Section II seeks to quantify the increased capital mobility, in terms of rate of return differentials and the degree of correlation between savings and investment rates across countries. Section III focuses on policy implications of increasing integration, including the effectiveness of macroeconomic policy instruments, the usefulness of the current account as a target of policy, and the dangers of excessive taxation of financial intermediation.

This eleventh volume in the series on research in international business and finance deals with studies in the financial markets of the Pacific Basin. Topics covered by the book include emerging Asian equity markets and the money markets of the area.

This paper analyzes the impact of the globalization of financial markets on developing and transition economies. Differences between the responses of competitive and imperfectly competitive banking sectors cause them to affect economic activity differently. While nonbank financial markets and institutions can help to increase the competitiveness of banking sectors, there are “gaps” in the institutions and market structures of developing and transition economies. Eliminating these gaps may reinforce financial market discipline in these countries. Some current international initiatives are outlined for enhancing financial system soundness; these emphasize the complementary roles of market discipline and official oversight in an environment of globalized markets.

This paper estimates empirically the changing degree of capital mobility in several Pacific Basin countries that have pursued financial liberalization in recent years. Tracing the impact of the liberalization process on the capital account, the paper also examines the implications for monetary policy operating in this changing economic environment. Empirical estimates support an overall finding of increased capital mobility in the region over the past decade. However, country experiences, with the exception of Singapore, have been more episodic--oscillating between periods of high and low financial openness--rather than uniform in regards to changing capital mobility.

Hardbound. This volume contains all keynote addresses, invited papers and those manuscripts selected for research awards from the first conference which was held in March 1989, Tapei, Republic of China.

This is the first volume in a series concentrating on the financial markets of the Pacific Basin. It investigates such topics as market integration in the four newly industrialized economies of Asia and equity price variation in Pacific Basin countries.