Greater digitalization and heightened geopolitical tensions imply that the risk of a cyberattack with systemic consequences has risen
Policymakers must be ready to manage greater spillovers to the global economy as emerging markets’ influence grows
Rapid growth of this opaque and highly interconnected segment of the financial system could heighten financial vulnerabilities given its limited oversight
Effects may be delayed in some countries: if interest rates remain higher for longer, homeowners will likely feel their effects as mortgage rates adjust
The G20 has an important opportunity to shift focus from firefighting against successive shocks to a medium-term agenda that supports strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth.
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Improving people’s relationships with state institutions and ensuring access to services can foster conditions for greater peace and social cohesion in sub-Saharan Africa
A look back at the most popular charts on IMF Blog in 2023
Prospects for growth, prices and interest rates enjoyed the greatest reader interest, followed by fossil fuel subsidies and the implications of geoeconomic fragmentation
In the first two months of 2024, Suez Canal trade dropped by 50 percent from a year earlier while trade through the Panama Canal fell by 32 percent, disrupting supply chains and distorting key macroeconomic indicators
Major emerging markets have shown resilience to global rate gyrations, but more challenging times could be ahead
The magazine publishes insights on international finance, economics, & development.
One of the steepest price declines in at least a half century heightens risks to investors and lenders
Prospective home buyers face high prices and elevated borrowing costs, while homeowners refrain from listing their properties
Elevated inflation means central banks may have to keep policy rates higher in a way that stretches the capacity of borrowers to repay debt
AI will affect almost 40 percent of jobs around the world, replacing some and complementing others. We need a careful balance of policies to tap its potential
Listen to the brightest minds in economics discuss their latest research
Careful calibration of spending and tax policies can reduce inequality caused by automation.
Global principles on data policy can help level the playing field while addressing financial stability and inclusion, competition, and privacy.
New technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, big data, and networks are expected to revolutionize production processes, but they could also have a major impact on developing economies.
Climate Change Indicators Dashboard shows that avoiding physical damage from climate change can have sizable benefits
Investment of up to 4 percent of GDP annually is needed to ensure climate resilience and meet emissions reduction targets
International cooperation is more important than ever because no country can address climate change by itself
Panama’s drought shows how trade disruptions from climate extremes can reverberate around the world
Coordinated climate policies can spur innovation in low-carbon technologies and help them spread to emerging market and developing economies
A broad mix of policies is needed to unlock the necessary private capital in emerging market and developing economies and ensure a positive climate impact
Higher interest rates have exposed vulnerabilities in some banks, and many more would be weakened by a prolonged period of tight monetary policy
Tighter monetary policy is starting to work. Alternatives would be more costly.
Expectations increasingly drive inflation dynamics. Improvements in monetary policy frameworks can better inform people’s inflation expectations and thereby help reduce inflation at lower output cost.
Central banks may keep interest rates higher for longer than currently priced; given investors’ benign inflation outlook and growing expectations for a soft landing, this could increase financial stability risks and weigh on growth
Higher prices so far mostly reflect increases in profits and import costs, but labor costs are picking up
But there are trade-offs between price and financial stability during times of stress, especially when inflation is high
Empowering women economically is a powerful engine of inclusive growth
A new survey reveals the gender gap persists
The pandemic has deepened long-standing gender gaps, with women continuing to bear the burden of unpaid work. By structuring spending and taxation in ways that advance gender equality—a process called gender budgeting—governments can help close the gap.
International Women’s Day, first recognized by the United Nations in 1977, grew from early 1900s labor movements for better working conditions and women’s right to work.
Stopping violence against women is not only a moral imperative, new evidence shows that it can help the economy.
Women remain underrepresented in economics, yet many have made an outsized impact on the field.
Supervisors in many countries face conditions that limit their effectiveness. Raising the bar requires independence with clear mandates, enhanced powers, greater resources, and more effective approaches.
Elevated borrowing costs are adding to risks that some companies may default on their debt as central banks keep interest rates higher for longer to contain inflation
NBFIs have emerged as key players in the financial sector, and global financial stability could hinge on their resilience as policy is tightened to tackle high inflation
A deterioration in market liquidity has amplified price swings