How Countries Can Diversify Their Exports
Four economy-wide factors—governance, education, infrastructure, and trade policy—relate closely to more varied and complex exports across countries […]
To Safeguard Global Financial Stability, Boost the Resilience of Investment Funds
By Tobias Adrian, Antonio Garcia Pascual, Ranjit Singh, and Jay Surti
عربي, 中文, Español, 日本語, Português, Русский
Investment funds were hit hard by the pandemic; their response amplified its adverse impact on financial markets and capital flows. […]
How to Tax in Asia’s Digital Age
By Era Dabla-Norris, Ruud De Mooij, Andrew Hodge, and Dinar Prihardini
New global reforms will change where tech giants pay taxes in Asia and make the international tax system more robust. […]
The Climate Issue
By Gita Bhatt
In Ernest Hemingway’s novel The Sun Also Rises, a character is asked how he went bankrupt. “Two ways,” he answers. “Gradually, then suddenly.”
It’s the same with climate change. The damage is becoming less and less gradual, and unless we take action, the world could suddenly reach an irreversible tipping point.
We now know the problem is much worse than we once thought. It requires not incremental change, but radical overhaul—roughly halving carbon emissions each decade through 2050. Getting there demands that we rapidly shift to renewables, build new electricity networks, increase energy efficiency, and embrace low-carbon transport. Cheaper renewable […]
Your Top 5 Back-to-School Blogs
By IMFBlog
What’s on your mind as you (or your kids) head back to school?
To help you stay on top of the news and policy debates from the past few months, our IMFBlog editors have put together a list of our top reads on economics and finance.
Our list of blogs gives you a snapshot on the state of the global economy, a glimpse at the new world of cryptocurrencies, and some insight into the phenomenon of rising prices.
A Shot in the Arm—How Special Drawing Rights Can Help Struggling Countries
By IMFBlog
The largest allocation of Special Drawing Rights, or SDRs, in history—about $650 billion—came into effect earlier this week. The allocation is a significant shot in the arm for the world and, if used wisely, a unique opportunity to combat this unprecedented crisis.
The SDR allocation will provide additional liquidity to the global economic system—supplementing countries’ foreign exchange reserves and reducing their reliance on more expensive domestic or external debt. Countries can use the space provided by the SDR allocation to support their economies and step up their fight against the crisis.
SDRs are being distributed to countries in […]
From the History Books: The Rethinking of the International Monetary System
Fifty years ago, the world changed. On August 15, 1971, US President Richard Nixon slammed shut the “gold window,” suspending dollar convertibility. Although it was not Nixon’s intention, this act effectively marked the end of the Bretton Woods system of fixed exchange rates. […]
Coming Together
By Vitor Gaspar and Gita Gopinath
عربي, Español, Français, Português, Русский
Differences in vaccine access and the ability to deploy policy support are creating a growing divergence between advanced economies from many emerging market and developing economies. Faced with high deficits and historic levels of debt, countries with limited access to financing are walking a fiscal tightrope between providing adequate support and preserving financial stability. […]
