The attention to the subject is evidenced by increasing emphasis on transparency, accountability in various fora, and more recently, the issue of IMF guidelines on the subject. Operationally, reserve management is a process that ensures that adequate official public sector foreign assets are readily available to and controlled by the authorities for meeting a defined range of objectives for a country.
However, the legislation that offered relief to plan sponsors also contributed to the worsening position because it reduced not only the cash contributions made to plans but also the premiums to be paid to the PBGC.