Development of financial sectoral accounts: new opportunities and challenges for supporting financial stability analysis

Abstract

The development of financial sectoral accounts is high on the global policy agenda. These accounts have become a key part of the SNA Framework, drawing from the "traditional" description of real economic aggregates and augmented to present information on financial flows and positions. Several steps have been taken in recent years to refine some aspects of these statistics, with the ultimate goal of building "Integrated sectoral financial accounts". Such information can be instrumental in supporting financial stability analysis as highlighted during the Great Financial Crisis of 2007-09 and its aftermath. Further progress can be achieved by drawing on the "micro data revolution" currently underway, despite a number of challenges.