November 30, 2018
(photo: Michael Waraksa)
As the world seeks to address the rise of populism and nationalism, it is becoming clear that economic insecurity lies at the heart of much of the discontent. Continue reading “A New Social Contract” »
By Tobias Adrian, Dirk Jan Grolleman, and Anastasiia Morozova
October 29, 2018
Countries have improved banking sector regulation considerably in the past decade, but areas of weakness remain (Steve Gottlieb/Newscom)
The many 10th anniversary retrospectives of the global financial crisis mostly agree: the financial system is safer today than it was when US investment bank Lehman Brothers collapsed in 2008. Continue reading “Chart of the Week: Financial Reform Report Card” »
By IMFBlog
October 23, 2018
The Millennium Bridge in London, England: governments often don’t include the value of their assets, like bridges and roads, as well as natural resources, when they measure public wealth (Ingram Publishing/Newscom)
Lost track of your personal finances? You are not alone. Your government has often lost track of its finances too. While it keeps close tabs on debt, it is less clear on how much it owns: the assets. Continue reading “Chart of the Week: Government Debt Is Not the Whole Story: Look at the Assets” »
By Vitor Gaspar, Jason Harris, and Alexander Tieman
October 10, 2018
عربي,中文, Español, Français, Baˈhasa indoneˈsia, 日本語, Português, Русский
A firefighter in Auckland, New Zealand: when governments know what they own they can put their assets to better use and can earn about 3 percent of GDP more in revenues to spend on citizens’ well being (Photo: Rafael Ben-Ari/Newscom)
What is the state of your personal finances? You probably think first about your debts: your mortgage, your credit card balance, and your student loans. But you probably also think about how much cash is sitting in the bank, the value of your house, and the rest of your nest egg.
Surprisingly, most governments do not approach their finances this way. Continue reading “The Wealth of Nations: Governments Can Better Manage What They Own and Owe” »
October 10, 2018
عربي, 中文, Español, Français, Baˈhasa indoneˈsia, 日本語, Português, Русский
Debt owed by governments, companies and households in economies with globally systemically important financial sectors has risen since the global financial crisis (Photo: Richard B. Levine/Newscom)
Although the global expansion has plateaued, easy monetary policies continue to support growth. But we shouldn’t rest too easily. Chapter 1 of the latest Global Financial Stability Report finds that short-term risks to the financial system have increased somewhat over the past six months. Continue reading “The Financial System Is Stronger, but New Vulnerabilities Have Emerged in the Decade Since the Crisis” »
By Christine Lagarde and Vitor Gaspar
September 24, 2018
عربي, 中文, Español, Français, Baˈhasa indoneˈsia, 日本語, Português, Русский
Children in early childhood education in Indonesia: more money put into education helps countries achieve their Sustainable Development Goals (Photo: Ajun-Ally/Pacific Press/Newscom)
World leaders are gathering at the United Nations to discuss how to deliver on development for all that is economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable—“The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Continue reading “Give Today’s Children a Chance” »
By Vitor Gaspar, Sean Hagan, and Maurice Obstfeld
September 6, 2018
عربي, Baˈhasa indoneˈsia, 中文,Español, Français, 日本語,Português,Русский
With the world becoming more interdependent than ever before, countries can achieve a lot when they pull together (photo: Anton Sokolov/iStock by Getty Images)
Countries cooperate if they perceive it to be in their best interests, both economically and politically. Continue reading “Steering the World Toward More Cooperation, Not Less” »
September 5, 2018
عربي, Baˈhasa indoneˈsia, Español, 中文, Français, 日本語, Português, Русский
A trader on the New York Stock Exchange the day US investment bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy: the global crisis that followed is a defining moment of our time (Photo: Nancy-Kaszerman/ZUMA Press/Newscom)
The global financial crisis remains one of the defining events of our time. It will forever mark the generation that lived through it. Continue reading “Ten Years After Lehman—Lessons Learned and Challenges Ahead” »
By IMFBlog
August 22, 2018
Versions in عربي, 中文, Español,, Français, 日本語, Português
Schoolgirls in Valladolid, Mexico: Policies that focus on educating girls increase the likelihood that they will enter the labor force (photo: kertu_ee/iStock by Getty Images)
Government policies have boosted women’s participation in the work force. But women still make up a smaller percentage of the labor force than men in most countries. Of the many policies available, such as education and legal rights, which ones provide the most “bang for the buck” to reduce inequality between men and women? Continue reading “Chart of the Week: Educate Girls and Women to Boost Equality” »
By Divya Kirti
June 26, 2018
Versions in Español, Português
A credit boom can be fueled by excessive optimism among investors (photo: Nick White/Newscom)
We’ve all heard about good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. Too much of the good stuff probably won’t do you any harm. Too much of the bad stuff can lead to a heart attack. Continue reading “Chart of the Week: When High Yield Goes Boom” »