A New Social Contract
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. (more…)
Chart of the Week: Grading the G-20 on its Growth Goals
By Helge Berger and Margaux MacDonald
November 19, 2018
Growth is stronger in the G-20 but progress toward more balanced, sustainable, and inclusive growth is slow (photo: Egon Bömsch imageBROKER/Newscom)
This blog is dedicated to the memory of Giang Ho, an IMF economist who died suddenly this past August. Her efforts and ingenuity were critical to carrying out this analytical work. We miss her and will never forget her.
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Women, Technology, and the Future of Work
By Era Dabla-Norris and Kalpana Kochhar
November 16, 2018
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Women are currently underrepresented in fields experiencing job growth, such as engineering and information and communication technology (photo: Vgajic/iStock by Getty Images)
The way we work is changing at an unprecedented rate. Digitalization, artificial intelligence, and machine learning are eliminating many jobs involving low and middle-skill routine tasks through automation. (more…)
Chart of the Week: Bye Bye Baby—How Crises Affect Fertility Rates
By IMFBlog
November 13, 2018
Increasing access to affordable and high-quality childcare can make it easier for families to have more children (photo: Franziska Kraufmann/dpa/Newscom)
The global financial crisis a decade ago and the resulting recession left long-lasting scars on future growth in more ways than one. (more…)
When History Rhymes
November 5, 2018
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The graves of soldiers who died in World War I, near Verdun, France: on the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War, leaders should listen closely to the echoes of history (photo: Mathieu Pattier/SIPA/Newscom)
Mark Twain once said that “History never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme.” As heads of state gather in Paris this week to mark 100 years since the end of World War I, they should listen closely to the echoes of history and avoid replaying the discordant notes of the past. (more…)
Global Growth Plateaus as Economic Risks Materialize
October 9, 2018
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Uncertainty over trade policy is becoming a drag on economic activity (photo: Imagine China/Newscom)
The latest World Economic Outlook report projects that global growth will remain steady over 2018–19 at last year’s rate of 3.7 percent. This growth exceeds that achieved in any of the years between 2012 and 2016. It occurs as many economies have reached or are nearing full employment and as earlier deflationary fears have dissipated. Thus, policymakers still have an excellent opportunity to build resilience and implement growth-enhancing reforms.
Chart of the Week: The Digital Divide in Asia
By IMFBlog
September 25, 2018
Young people on their phones in Phnom Pehn, Cambodia: about 70 percent of the country does not have internet access and can’t participate in the digital economy (Samrang Pring/Reuters/Newscom)
The countries of Southeast Asia are young—more than half of its 643 million people are under 30— and together they live in an economy of $2.8 trillion. (more…)
Give Today’s Children a Chance
By Christine Lagarde and Vitor Gaspar
September 24, 2018
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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). (more…)
Women in Finance: An Economic Case for Gender Equality
By Martin Čihák and Ratna Sahay
September 19, 2018
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A group of women attend an event in Sao Paolo to promote women’s participation in the financial sector: women account for 51% of borrowers in Brazil (Sebastio Mareira/Newscom)
Women are underrepresented at all levels of the global financial system, from depositors and borrowers to bank board members and regulators. (more…)
Back to School Blogs
By IMFBlog
September 7, 2018
عربي, Baˈhasa indoneˈsia, 中文, Español, Français,日本語, Português, Русский
Girls on their first day of school: our latest blog helps you catch up on all the news of the summer (Shadi Jarar'ah/Newscom)
As your list of things to do gets longer and the days grow shorter, you know summer is fading, just like your tan.
To help you quickly catch up on the news and policy debates of the summer—if you live in the Northern Hemisphere—our editors have put together a list of our top reads on economics and finance. (more…)