Euro Area Inflation: Why Low For So Long?
By Yasser Abdih, Li Lin, Anne-Charlotte Paret
August 28, 2018
Sculpture of the euro outside the European Central Bank, Frankfurt, Germany: Convergence of core inflation towards the ECB’s medium-term objective is likely to be gradual (photo: Alex Domanski/REUTERS/Newscom)
The euro area economy is in its fifth year of recovery, unemployment is close to its pre-crisis level and the output gaps of most countries have closed. Yet, core inflation continues to be low, notwithstanding temporarily high headline inflation due to higher energy prices. Continue reading “Euro Area Inflation: Why Low For So Long?” »
Chart of the Week: Educate Girls and Women to Boost Equality
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” »
Chart of the Week: A Bumpy Road Ahead for Electric Cars
By Christian Bogmans and Lama Kiyasseh
August 13, 2018
Versions in عربي, 中文, Español, Français, 日本語, Português, Русский
Electric car charging station in Berlin, Germany: prices for lithium and cobalt—key ingredients in rechargeable batteries—are rising due limited supply and growing demand for electric cars (photo: Jens Kalaene/Newscom)
The surge in demand for electric cars has been fueled in part by the falling costs of lithium-ion batteries—driven by technological progress—which power everything from electric cars to smartphones. Continue reading “Chart of the Week: A Bumpy Road Ahead for Electric Cars” »
The Long-Term Impact of Brexit on the European Union
By Jiaqian Chen, Christian Ebeke, Li Lin, Haonan Qu, and Jesse Siminitz
August 10, 2018
Versions in Español, Français, Português
A container ship entering the Port of Marseille, France: The UK is among the European Union's largest trading partners, accounting for about 13 percent of its trade in goods and services (photo: Gerard Bottino/Newscom)
When the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, higher barriers to trade, capital flows, and labor mobility will affect output and jobs not only in the UK but also in the remaining 27 EU member states. Continue reading “The Long-Term Impact of Brexit on the European Union” »
Chart of the Week: Equal Pay Remains a Global Issue
By IMFBlog
August 6, 2018
Versions in عربي, 中文, Español, Français, 日本語, Português, Русский
The G7 countries, which are committed to the need for closing the gender gap, have a wage gap average of about 16 percentage points (photo: iStock by GettyImages).
In the battle for the parity of the sexes, some countries have made progress in reducing inequality—such as in access to health care, education, and financial services—but worldwide, men still have more economic opportunities than women. Continue reading “Chart of the Week: Equal Pay Remains a Global Issue” »
Trade and Remittances Within Africa
By Francisco Arizala, Matthieu Bellon, Margaux MacDonald, Montfort Mlachila, and Mustafa Y. Yenice
August 1, 2018
Versions in Français, Português
Countries in sub-Saharan Africa are more closely tied than ever, thanks to rising trade with one another and remittances (photo: AfricaImages/Getty Images by iStock)
Contrary to popular belief, countries in sub-Saharan Africa are more closely tied than ever, thanks to rising trade with one another and remittances—the money people send home when working in another country. Continue reading “Trade and Remittances Within Africa” »
Chart of the Week: The Spread of Ideas and Innovation
By IMFBlog
July 30, 2018
Versions in عربي, Español, Français, 中文, 日本語, Português, Русский
Young woman watches robotic fish in Gangneung, South Korea: the spread of knowledge and technology across counties has intensified because of globalization (photo: Richard Ellis/UPI/Newscom).
Globalization has accelerated the spread of knowledge and technology across borders. This has helped to increase productivity and potential growth in many countries and at the global level. Continue reading “Chart of the Week: The Spread of Ideas and Innovation” »
5 Things You Need to Know About the IMF and the Sustainable Development Goals
By Tony Annett and Chris Lane
July 26, 2018
Version in عربي , 中文, Español, Baˈhasa indoneˈsia, 日本語, Português, Русский
The global economic juggernaut is bumping into the boundaries of environmental safety (photo: Infogram).
Although we live in an age of unparalleled wealth and technological achievement, billions of people are still suffering from poverty, hunger, exclusion, and conflict. Continue reading “5 Things You Need to Know About the IMF and the Sustainable Development Goals” »
Chart of the Week: Top 5 Charts
By IMFBlog
July 25, 2018
People wait while their electric cars charge, in Xiamen, China (photo: Zhang Guojun/Newscom)
Rank has its privileges, the saying goes. This week our editors pull rank and pick their favorite charts from our Chart of the Week series. Continue reading “Chart of the Week: Top 5 Charts” »
Addressing Global Imbalances Requires Cooperation
July 24, 2018
Versions in عربي, 中文, Español, Deutsch, Français, 日本語, Português, Русский
Shoppers in London, United Kingdom: excess deficits remain in some advanced economies (photo: Toby Melville).
- Excess imbalances remain generally unchanged, increasingly concentrated in advanced economies. Their persistence is fueling trade tensions among countries.
- The configuration of imbalances does not pose an imminent danger. Yet, if unaddressed, it could threaten global stability down the road.
Continue reading “Addressing Global Imbalances Requires Cooperation” »
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