Global policymakers plan this year to focus on finalizing the regulatory reforms that were sparked by the global financial crisis of 2008-09, while stepping up their defences against the next crisis.
The Financial Stability Board (FSB) today published its plans for the year ahead, which set out the international organization’s objectives and timetable for 2019.
“[The plan] reflects the FSB’s continued pivot from post-crisis policy design to the implementation and evaluation of the effects of reforms and, in particular, vigilant monitoring to identify and address new and emerging risks to financial stability,” the FSB stated in a release.
Regarding emerging threats, the FSB stated that it will “scan the horizon” to identify new risks to the global financial system. Possible threats on the FSB’s radar include the continued growth in shadow banking, rapid industry innovation and ever-present cybersecurity worries.
“The FSB will also continue to assess the impact of evolving market structures and of technological innovation on global financial stability,” it stated. “This includes the resilience of financial markets in stress, the implications of the growth of non-bank financial intermediation and operational issues such as cyber risks.”
At the same time, there’s work to be done on the reforms that were developed in response to the crisis of 2008-09: “G20 post-crisis financial reforms have delivered a safer, simpler and fairer financial system. To reinforce this progress, the FSB is working with standard-setting bodies to complete work on a few final issues in the main reform areas.”
The FSB continues to warn that the implementation of the post-crisis reforms remains incomplete and uneven. “It is critical to maintain momentum and avoid complacency, in order to achieve the goal of greater resilience,” it said. “The FSB, in collaboration with [standard setters], will continue work on implementation monitoring through regular progress reports and peer reviews.”
Finally, the group said that it will continue its efforts at evaluating the impact of those reforms and adjusting them, if necessary.