Macro-Financial Policies and Vulnerabilities in IMF-Supported Programs

We construct a unique dataset by collecting macro-financial commitments data using textual analysis of the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFPs), a document outlining, inter-alia, policy commitments by member countries, in the context of an IMF-supported program. We combine this data with information on structural conditionality. Using a staggered difference-in-differences methodology, we show that IMF-supported programs with macro-financial policy commitments are followed by periods of lower non-performing loans and in some cases lower credit-to-GDP ratios, relative to IMF-supported programs without macro-financial commitments, mostly for the post global financial crisis (GFC) period before the COVID-19 pandemic. The NPL-to-loans ratio does not seem to decrease as a result of credit expansion. The results point to stronger and more abrupt declines in credit-to-GDP following ex-post macro-financial policies, those implemented after a crisis occurs (e.g., restructuring), and milder and more gradual declines following ex-ante policies, those implemented before risks materialize (e.g., regulatory requirements). The responses are also larger when countries have positive credit gaps at the start of the program than when credit gaps are negative. These results point to the importance of considering the country’s position in the credit cycle in program design and in addressing vulnerabilities preemptively to reduce the need for abrupt corrections when risks materialize. Finally, macro-financial policies targeting financial inclusion tend to increase credit-to-GDP ratios in low credit-to-GDP program countries.