Search Results

open access

Foreign Ownership of U.S. Financial Assets: Implications of a Withdrawal

Description: This report provides an overview of the role foreign investment plays in the U.S. economy. It also includes an assessment of possible actions a foreign investor or a group of foreign investors might choose to take to liquidate their investments in the United States.
Date: July 4, 2008
Creator: Jackson, James K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Financing the U.S. Trade Deficit

Description: This report provides an overview of the U.S. balance of payments, an explanation of the broader role of capital flows in the U.S. economy, an explanation of how the country finances its trade deficit or a trade surplus, and the implications for Congress and the country of the large inflows of capital from abroad.
Date: July 17, 2015
Creator: Jackson, James K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Sovereign Wealth Funds: Background and Policy Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides background on sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) -- investment funds owned and managed by national governments -- including countries operating SWFs and the size of the SWF market. It also discusses broad areas of concern to Members of Congress and the international financial community.
Date: January 15, 2009
Creator: Weiss, Martin A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Pakistan's Capital Crisis: Implications for U.S. Policy

Description: This report discusses Pakistan's capital crisis. In the autumn of 2008, Pakistan was in urgent need of an estimated $4 billion in capital to avoid defaulting on its sovereign debt. The elected government of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani sought short-term financial assistance from a number of sources, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), China, and an informal group of nations (including the United States) known as the "Friends of Pakistan."
Date: March 6, 2009
Creator: Martin, Michael F. & Kronstadt, K. A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Small Business Provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Description: This report provides an overview of key provisions related to the Small Business Administration (SBA), based on appropriations in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA, P.L. 111-5).
Date: February 25, 2009
Creator: Weiss, N. E. & Gonzales, Oscar R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The EMV Chip Card Transition: Background, Status, and Issues for Congress

Description: This report describes the financial harm caused by data breaches and the impact of EMV (Europay, MasterCard, and Visa) chip cards on fraud. It provides information about the effect of the transition in selected foreign countries and discusses resolved and remaining impediments to completing the EMV transition in the United States. It also identifies areas of potential congressional interest.
Date: September 8, 2015
Creator: Moloney Figliola, Patricia
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Social Security Provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Description: This report discusses certain provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) that pertain to Social Security. The ARRA as passed by the House of Representatives and Senate provides over $1 billion in supplemental appropriations to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and provides for a onetime $250 payment to all SSI recipients and adult Social Security beneficiaries.
Date: February 13, 2009
Creator: Szymendera, Scott
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Election in Greece

Description: This report discusses issues leading up to Greece's snap legislative election on September 20, only eight months after the country's last election. Greece continues to struggle with the negative repercussions of a sovereign debt and financial crisis that began in 2009.
Date: September 14, 2015
Creator: Belkin, Paul
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Iraq's Debt Relief: Procedure and Potential Implications for International Debt Relief

Description: This report discusses the Iraqi debt problem in three parts: (1) an overview of the Iraq debt situation following the ouster of the Saddam regime, (2) subsequent debt relief negotiations and their resolution, and (3) possible implications for future international debt relief cases.
Date: January 26, 2009
Creator: Weiss, Martin A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

China's Currency Devaluation

Description: This report discusses China's recent changes to its method for determining the value of its currency (the renminbi). On Tuesday, August 11, 2015, the People's Bank of China (PBC), China's central bank, surprised global financial markets by lowering the reference rate of the renminbi, effectively depreciating the currency.
Date: August 17, 2015
Creator: Jackson, James K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Islamic Finance: Overview and Policy Concerns

Description: This report discusses Islamic finance, which is based on principles of shariah, or "Islamic law." Major financial principles of shariah are a ban on interest, a ban on contractual uncertainty, adherence to risk-sharing and profit-sharing, promotion of ethical investments that enhance society, and asset-backing. While the Islamic finance industry represents a fraction of the global finance market, it has grown at double-digit rates in recent years.
Date: February 9, 2009
Creator: Ilias, Shayerah
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Financial Crisis: Impact on and Response by The European Union

Description: This report discusses the global financial crisis and resulting geopoligical situation in detail. It also discusses individual efforts by both the U.S. and European Union (EU) to combat the effects of the crisis by attempting to resolve the financial crisis while stimulating domestic demand to stem the economic downturn.
Date: March 9, 2009
Creator: Jackson, James K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC): Summary of Actions in Support of Housing and Financial Markets

Description: This report discusses recent actions taken by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in support of housing and financial markets, including: a temporary increase in deposit insurance as required by the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-343), the resolution of bank failures, the development of the Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program (TLGP), and efforts to reduce foreclosures.
Date: March 5, 2009
Creator: Gonzales, Oscar R. & Getter, Darryl E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Who Regulates Whom? An Overview of U.S. Financial Supervision

Description: This report provides an overview of current U.S. financial regulation: which agencies are responsible for which institutions and markets, and what kinds of authority they have. Federal financial regulation in the United States has evolved through a series of piecemeal responses to developments and crises in the markets.
Date: February 24, 2009
Creator: Jickling, Mark & Murphy, Edward V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Crisis in Greece: Political Implications

Description: This report discusses political and economic conditions in Greece. What began as a debt crisis in Greece in late 2009 has evolved into a political crisis that many analysts believe could represent the most significant setback in over 60 years of European integration.
Date: July 7, 2015
Creator: Belkin, Paul
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Multiemployer Defined Benefit (DB) Pension Plans: A Primer and Analysis of Policy Options

Description: This report discusses the nature of multiemployer defined benefit (DB) pension plans, and issues regarding their financial solvency. DB pension plans are sponsored by more than one employer and maintained as part of a collective bargaining agreement.
Date: July 24, 2015
Creator: Topoleski, John J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Federal Securities Law: Insider Trading

Description: This report discusses various regulations regarding insider trading violations. Insider trading in securities may occur when a person in possession of material nonpublic information about a company trades in the company's securities and makes a profit or avoids a loss.
Date: June 1, 2015
Creator: Seitzinger, Michael V.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The African Development Bank Group

Description: This report discusses the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, which is a regional development bank (RDB) "dedicated to combating poverty and improving the lives of people of the continent." It comprises three lending facilities: the market rate facility, the AfDB; a concessional lending facility, the African Development Fund; and a trust fund established by Nigeria to lend to low-income African countries. The Bank has 53 African members, as well as 24 non-regional members, including the Unit… more
Date: January 30, 2009
Creator: Weiss, Martin A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

DRIVE Act Would Increase Highway Funding Faster than Projected Inflation

Description: This report briefly discusses the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy Act (DRIVE Act; S. 1647). The DRIVE Act would authorize $278 billion for a six-year federal highway program.
Date: July 13, 2015
Creator: Kirk, Robert S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Community Development Block Grants: Neighborhood Stabilization Program; Assistance to Communities Affected by Foreclosures

Description: Report regarding the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, P.L. 110-289, which allocates federal financial aid to all state and local governments with high amounts of foreclosed homes, subprime mortgage loans, and delinquent home mortgages. The report focuses on the assistance that aids in aquiring, rehabilitating, and reselling foreclosed and abandoned homes.
Date: March 13, 2009
Creator: Boyd, Eugene & Gonzales, Oscar R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Proposals for a Congressional Commission on the Financial Crisis: A Comparative Analysis

Description: This report provides a comparative analysis of six proposed congressional advisory commissions that would investigate various aspects of the recent financial crisis and economic downturn. The report specifically discusses the membership structure, appointment structure, rules of procedure and operation, duties and reporting requirements, powers of the commission, staffing issues, and funding.
Date: April 29, 2009
Creator: Glassman, Matthew E. & Straus, Jacob R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Exon-Florio National Security Test for Foreign Investment

Description: This report covers the recent background of the Exon-Florio provision with special regards to issues faced in the 112th Congress. The Exon-Florio provision grants the President the authority to block proposed or pending foreign acquisitions of "persons engaged in interstate commerce in the United States" that threaten to impair the national security.
Date: April 8, 2008
Creator: Jackson, James K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Insurance Regulation: Issues, Background, and Legislation in the 111th Congress

Description: This report discusses congressional and action on insurance regulation in the wake of the recent financial crisis. Although the financial crisis has changed the focus of the debate surrounding insurance regulatory reform, many of the pre-crisis pressures for regulatory changes continue.
Date: August 19, 2009
Creator: Webel, Baird
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
Back to Top of Screen