Global Debt Reaches a Record $226 Trillion
Policymakers must strike the right balance in the face of high debt and rising inflation.
Making Electronic Money Safer in the Digital Age
As e-money use grows, regulators need to focus on consumer protection and the integrity of the overall payments system.
Global Crypto Regulation Should be Comprehensive, Consistent, and Coordinated
The IMF’s mandate is to safeguard the stability of the international monetary and financial system, and crypto assets are changing the system profoundly.
Metals Demand From Energy Transition May Top Current Global Supply
The clean energy transition needed to avoid the worst effects of climate change could unleash unprecedented metals demand in coming decades, requiring as much as 3 billion tons.
Food Inflation in Sub-Saharan Africa
Inflation is rising around the world. In sub-Saharan Africa, one item is driving the trend more than others: food prices. Food accounts for roughly 40 percent of the region’s consumption basket—a measure of goods and services used to measure consumer price index (CPI) inflation.
Addressing Inflation Pressures Amid an Enduring Pandemic
With inflationary pressures intensifying and Omicron generating new uncertainties, monetary policymakers are facing new and challenging tradeoffs.
The Economics of Health and Well-Being
Just as good health—mental and physical—is fundamental to individual well-being, public health is fundamental to stable, cohesive societies.
The G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatments Must Be Stepped Up
With the debt service suspension initiative expiring and interest rates poised to rise, low-income countries will find it increasingly difficult to service their debts.
Sovereign Domestic Debt Restructuring: Handle with Care
Restructuring domestic debt is like surgery: You only do it if you must, and you avoid it if it might do more harm than good.
Chart of the WeekGlobal Financial Safety Net—A Lifeline for an Uncertain World
When crises hit, such as a global health pandemic, countries have a number of financial resources—both internal and external—to draw on.