Blow, Bling and Bucks: IMF Work Against Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing

Posted on June 27, 2011 by iMFdirect

By Jody Myers

(Version in Français)

Drug traffickers, diamond smugglers, and terrorists’ financiers around the world have one thing in common: they abuse the financial system to “clean” the proceeds they have obtained from their illegal work, or to transfer funds to achieve their destructive aims. The former is known as money laundering and the latter as terrorist financing.

In the United States alone, profits from these crimes are estimated around $275 billion, excluding tax evasion.

Our research shows this dark side of the economy has destructive consequences for a country’s financial stability, economy, and governance.    (more…)

Filed under: Advanced Economies, Economic Crisis, Emerging Markets, Europe, Financial Crisis, International Monetary Fund | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Tax Matters for Developing Countries

Posted on April 22, 2011 by iMFdirect

By Carlo Cottarelli

You hear a lot these days—not least from me—about the fiscal problems of advanced economies. But let’s not forget the fiscal problems that low-income countries face, though they are of a different kind.

For all too many low-income countries, government tax revenues are far from enough to meet the needs of their people. Some have made good progress, and this helped them weather the crisis better than many advanced economies—but there is an underlying, quiet crisis of inadequately resourced governments. (more…)

Filed under: Asia, Fiscal policy, International Monetary Fund, Latin America, Low-income countries | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Stepping Up the Fight Against Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing

Posted on December 17, 2009 by iMFdirect

By Sean Hagan and Jody Myers

The international community has made the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing a priority. The IMF is especially concerned about the possible consequences of money laundering and the financing of terrorism on our members’ economies and on international financial stability.

The IMF’s Legal Department has the lead on the Fund’s work in combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism, and our work includes assessments of countries’ compliance with the international standard on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), technical assistance, research, and policy development.

Investors in pyramid scheme company VEFA speak to official in Tirana, Albania, in 1998 (photo: AFP)

Building on the results of our recent work on the risks from money laundering and the macroeconomic impacts of money laundering and predicate crime, we are seeking to integrate AML/CFT more fully into the Fund’s surveillance and Financial Sector Assessment Programs (FSAPs).

(more…)

Filed under: Economic Crisis, Financial regulation, Global Governance, IMF, International Monetary Fund, Multilateral Cooperation | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

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