Five Lessons from a Review of Recent Crisis Programs

Posted on July 11, 2016 by iMFdirect

Vivek Arora.Feb2015-thumbBy Vivek Arora

Version in 中文 (Chinese), Español (Spanish)

IMF lending increased to unprecedented levels in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. As difficulties emerged, we extended financial support to countries across the world—in the euro area, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and emerging economies in Europe.

The IMF tried to draw lessons in real time as the crisis evolved in order to adapt our operations. We reviewed individual programs and, from time to time, paused and took stock of our experience across countries.

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Filed under: Economic research, Financial Crisis, Fiscal policy, IMF, International Monetary Fund, Multilateral Cooperation | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Addition by Subtraction: How Diasporas Can Boost Home-Country Growth

Posted on May 18, 2016 by iMFdirect

Pritha Mitra-blogpicBy Pritha Mitra

Version in عربي (Arabic)

Every year, millions of people leave their countries of birth in search of better opportunities abroad. Often, these migrants are among the most talented workers in their home countries. At first glance, this is a loss for the home countries, which invested considerable time and money in educating and developing these people, only to watch them leave. But look again.

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Filed under: developing countries, Emerging Markets, Employment, Government, growth, International Monetary Fund, Investment, Migration, refugees, technology | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Who Wins and Who Loses As China Rebalances

Posted on May 12, 2016 by iMFdirect

By Serkan Arslanalp, Thomas Helbling, Jaewoo Lee, and Koshy Mathai

Version in 中文  (Chinese)

China’s economy leaves nobody indifferent. The world is watching closely as the second largest economy in the world is shifting its growth model from an export-driven one to one centered on household consumption. As China’s economy slows and rebalances, its impact is being felt on an already fragile global economy, and particularly in the rest of the Asia region. Our recent studies show that while China’s rebalancing will adversely affect some Asian economies, it will also open opportunities for several others.

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Filed under: Asia, China, Financial markets, growth, IMF, International Monetary Fund, Investment, technology, trade | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

The Change in Demand for Debt: The New Landscape in Low-income Countries

Posted on February 17, 2016 by iMFdirect

By Andrea F. Presbitero and Min Zhu

(Versions in 中文 (Chinese), Français, and Português)

Many low-income developing countries have joined the group of Eurobond issuers across the globe— in sub-Saharan Africa (for example, Senegal, Zambia, and Ghana), Asia (for example, Mongolia) and elsewhere, raising over US$21 billion cumulatively over the past decade. Tapping these markets provides a new source of funds, but also exposes borrowers to shifts in investor sentiment and rising global interest rates.

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Filed under: Africa, Asia, Emerging Markets, IMF, International Monetary Fund, Low-income countries, Public debt | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Fiscal Costs of Hidden Deficits: Beware—When It Rains, It Pours

Posted on February 9, 2016 by iMFdirect

By Elva Bova, Marta Ruiz-Arranz, Frederik Toscani, and Elif Ture

(Version in Español)

Budgets can be full of surprises. And not always good ones. Often times, debt increases significantly because an unforeseen obligation materializes. These contingent liabilities, as they are known in the economist’s jargon, can have significant economic and fiscal costs. In fact, on many occasions, large and unexpected increases in debt across the world were due to the materialization of contingent liabilities. That is why they are often called hidden deficits.

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Filed under: Asia, Economic Crisis, Financial Crisis, Fiscal, IMF, International Monetary Fund | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Subdued Growth, Diminished Prospects, Action Needed

Posted on January 19, 2016 by iMFdirect

By Maurice Obstfeld

(Versions in عربي, , 中文, Français, 日本語, Русский, and Español)

At the start of 2016, turbulence in financial markets has returned amid renewed concern about risks to global economic growth. The fundamental forces that underlay our October World Economic Outlook projections have not dissipated, and in some respects have intensified, leading us to trim our expectations for future medium-term growth of the world economy.

In the World Economic Outlook Update released today, we still, however, expect growth to pick up this year in most countries.

Despite the modesty of the reduction we see in general growth prospects and the promise of improvement in coming years, downside risks to our central scenario have intensified. In our view, a focus on these risks is the main factor driving recent developments in financial markets.

We may be in for a bumpy ride this year, especially in the emerging and developing world.

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Filed under: Advanced Economies, China, Economic outlook, Economic research, Emerging Markets, International Monetary Fund | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

The Price of Oil and the Price of Carbon

Posted on December 2, 2015 by iMFdirect

By Rabah Arezki and Maurice Obstfeld

(Versions in عربي, 中文, Français, 日本語,  Русский, and Español)

“The human influence on the climate system is clear and is evident from the increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, positive radiative forcing, observed warming, and understanding of the climate system.” —Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Fifth Assessment Report

Fossil fuel prices are likely to stay “low for long.” Notwithstanding important recent progress in developing renewable fuel sources, low fossil fuel prices could discourage further innovation in and adoption of cleaner energy technologies. The result would be higher emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Policymakers should not allow low energy prices to derail the clean energy transition. Action to restore appropriate price incentives, notably through corrective carbon pricing, is urgently needed to lower the risk of irreversible and potentially devastating effects of climate change. That approach also offers fiscal benefits.

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Filed under: Economic research, growth, International Monetary Fund, Reform | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

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