This volume sheds light on crucial questions in the field of monetary, financial and macroeconomic policy. Consisting of a series of surveys written by leading international economists, it addresses questions such as: What is the role of the financial sector in economic development? Is financial liberalization good for development? Why do financial crises occur and how can they be avoided? And do macroeconomic adjustment measures exacerbate poverty? The surveys are written to be accessible to readers with a basic background in economics, and will be a valuable resource for economists, social scientists, policy–makers and students who want to keep abreast of recent literature in this important field.