Purpose

The balance of payments are compiled on behalf of the authorities. As described here under, these statements serve an important use for national and international policy formulation, where ‘external’ aspects - such as payments imbalances and inward and outward foreign investment - play a leading role in economic and other policy decisions. Another use is for analytical studies such as the causes of payments imbalances and the relation with domestic saving and investment decisions, the relationships between merchandise trade and direct investment, aspects of international trade and services, and international banking flows and stocks.

BOP provides an indicator for national and international policy formulation, such as monetary and exchange rate policy. BOP statistics provide information...
		on international transactions in goods and services, on income flows (labour and capital) and transfers (such as gift); this concerns current accounts.
		on capital movements (portfolio flows, direct investment flows, etc); this concerns capital and financial accounts.
		on current account transactions: in goods and services, on income flows (labour and capital) and on transfers (such as gifts, workers'remittances, etc).
		on the external sector of the national accounts and on the international investment position.

BOP gives information on international transactions to different users for analytical studies :
		policy makers at official institutions (national central banks, ministries, EC)
		other official users such as national statistical agencies ans official forecasting bodies
		international institutions for purposes of policy coordination and forecasts for countries and groups of countries
		research departments of financial and credit institutions
		trade associations, chambers of commerce
		universities
		consultants and media
		embassies

Purpose of BOP