A Sea Change: The New Migration from sub-Saharan Africa

Posted on November 2, 2016 by iMFdirect

By Jesus Gonzalez-Garcia and Montfort Mlachila

Versions in Français (French), and Português (Portuguese)

Migration of sub-Saharan Africans is growing rapidly. Just like the region’s population, the number of migrants doubled since 1990 to reach about 20 million in 2013. In the coming decades, migration will expand given the demographic boom in the working-age population—the group that typically feeds migration. We studied these trends in a recent paper because both receiving and sending countries need the right policies so all can benefit.

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Filed under: Advanced Economies, Africa, developing countries, Economic research, Employment, growth, International Monetary Fund, labor force, Migration, refugees | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

The World Economy: Moving Sideways

Posted on October 4, 2016 by iMFdirect

maury-obstfeld-weo_220x150By Maurice Obstfeld

Versions in: عربي (Arabic), 中文 (Chinese), Français (French), 日本語 (Japanese), Русский (Russian), and Español (Spanish)

A return to the strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth that Group of Twenty leaders called for at Hangzhou in September still eludes us. Global growth remains weak, even though it shows no noticeable deceleration over the last quarter. The new World Economic Outlook sees a slowdown for the group of advanced economies in 2016 and an offsetting pickup for emerging and developing economies. Taken as a whole, the world economy has moved sideways. Without determined policy action to support economic activity over the short and longer terms, sub-par growth at recent levels risks perpetuating itself—through the negative economic and political forces it is unleashing.

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Filed under: Advanced Economies, Africa, Annual Meetings, Economic outlook, Economic research, Emerging Markets, Financial markets, growth, IMF, International Monetary Fund | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Accelerating Financial Sector Development to Boost Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

Posted on July 13, 2016 by iMFdirect

Anne-Marie Gulde-Wolf.IMFBy Anne-Marie Gulde-Wolf

Version in Français (French), Português (Portuguese)

There are many reasons why deeper financial development—the increase in deposits and loans but also their accessibility and improved financial sector efficiency—is good for sustainable growth in sub-Saharan Africa. For one, it helps mobilize savings and to direct funds into productive uses, for example by providing the start-up capital for the next innovative enterprise. This in turn facilitates a more efficient allocation of resources and increases overall productivity.

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Filed under: Africa, Economic outlook, Financial regulation, growth, IMF, International Monetary Fund, Investment | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Capacity Development in Africa: the Faces behind the Numbers

Posted on April 7, 2016 by iMFdirect

By Carla Grasso CGrasso

Versions in:  عربي (Arabic),  中文 (Chinese), Français (French),  日本語 (Japanese), Português (Portuguese), Русский (Russian), and Español (Spanish)

If there’s one thing all economists can agree on, it’s the importance of numbers. Without good data, it is difficult to assess how an economy is performing and formulate smart policies that help improve lives. Continue reading →

Filed under: Africa, IMF, International Monetary Fund, technology | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Population Pressures

Posted on February 25, 2016 by iMFdirect

Jeff HaydenBy Jeff Hayden

(Versions in عربي and Español)

Say “population growth” and many people immediately think of resources under stress. The mind jumps to 19th century scholar Thomas Malthus, who saw population outstripping the food supply, or to Paul Ehrlich, whose 1968 book The Population Bomb warned of global catastrophe from overpopulation.

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Filed under: Africa, China, Employment, Fiscal policy, Government, growth, IMF, International Monetary Fund | 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 »

Competitiveness in Sub-Saharan Africa: Time to Move Ahead

Posted on January 28, 2016 by iMFdirect

Antoinette Sayeh2

By Antoinette Sayeh

(Versions in Español, Français, and Português)

The sub-Saharan Africa region is facing severe shocks associated with the steep decline in commodity prices and tightening global financial conditions. Against this background, it’s a good time to look back at the region’s recent growth experience and examine the relationship between growth rates and competitiveness. The extent to which sub-Saharan African companies are able to compete against their foreign competitors (that is, the extent to which they are competitive) could indeed play a role in sustaining growth going ahead.

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Filed under: Africa, Economic outlook, growth, International Monetary Fund, trade | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

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