Productivity | IMF Blog

No Time to Stand Still: Strengthening Global Growth and Building Inclusive Economies

July 5, 2017

Versions in عربي (Arabic), 中文 (Chinese), Français (French), Deutsch (German), 日本語 (Japanese), Русский (Russian), and Español (Spanish)

The port of Hamburg, Germany: G20 leaders meet to discuss policies to strengthen the global economic recovery (photo: Markus Lange/robertharding/Newscom)

Nearly sixty years ago, a little-known band called the Beatles arrived in Hamburg, got a haircut, recorded their first song, and found their sound.

Taking a cue from the Fab Four, world leaders gathering for the Group of Twenty Summit this week can make the most of their time in Hamburg—and leave Germany with a sound plan to strengthen global growth.

Continue reading “No Time to Stand Still: Strengthening Global Growth and Building Inclusive Economies” »

By IMFBlog| July 5th, 2017|Advanced Economies, aging, Asia, developing countries, Economic outlook, Economic research, Emerging Markets, G-20, Global Governance, inclusive growth, Inequality, International Monetary Fund, jobs, technology, U.S.|0 Comments

Fintech: Capturing the Benefits, Avoiding the Risks

By Christine Lagarde

June 20, 2017

Versions in عربي (Arabic), 中文 (Chinese), Français (French), 日本語 (Japanese), Русский (Russian), and Español (Spanish)

A signboard at a store in Guangzhou, China, lists various forms of mobile payment (photo: Imagine China/Newscom)

When you send an email, it takes one click of the mouse to deliver a message next door or across the planet. Gone are the days of special airmail stationery and colorful stamps to send letters abroad.

International payments are different. Destination still matters. You might use cash to pay for a cup of tea at a local shop, but not to order tea leaves from distant Sri Lanka. Depending on the carrier, the tea leaves might arrive before the seller can access the payment. Continue reading “Fintech: Capturing the Benefits, Avoiding the Risks” »

By IMFBlog| June 20th, 2017|Advanced Economies, capital flows, capital markets, Economic outlook, Economic research, education, Emerging Markets, exports, Globalization, IMF, imports, inclusive growth, Investment, labor markets, productivity, technology, Transition|0 Comments

Chart of the Week: The Productivity Puzzle

By iMFdirect

Technological change seems to be happening faster than ever. The prospect of driverless cars, robot lawyers, and 3D-printed human organs becoming commonplace suggests a new wave of technological progress. Continue reading “Chart of the Week: The Productivity Puzzle” »

By IMFBlog| March 13th, 2017|Advanced Economies, Economic research, growth, IMF, jobs, Uncategorized|0 Comments

The Case for Fiscal Policy to Support Structural Reforms

By Angana Banerji, Era Dabla-Norris, Romain Duval, and Davide Furceri

Versions in 中文 (Chinese), Français (French),Deutsch (German), Русский (Russian), and Español (Spanish)

Many advanced countries need structural reforms to make their economies more productive and raise long-term living standards. Our new research shows that provided countries can afford it, fiscal policy, through spending or tax incentives, can help governments overcome some obstacles to the reforms, particularly in the early stages. Continue reading “The Case for Fiscal Policy to Support Structural Reforms” »

By IMFBlog| March 13th, 2017|Advanced Economies, Fiscal policy, International Monetary Fund, labor markets, structural reforms, Uncategorized|0 Comments

Why Productivity Growth is Faltering in Aging Europe and Japan

By iMFdirect

Many countries are experiencing a combination of declining birth rates and increasing longevity. In other words, their populations are aging. And graying populations pose serious issues for people, policymakers, and society. Continue reading “Why Productivity Growth is Faltering in Aging Europe and Japan” »

By IMFBlog| December 9th, 2016|Advanced Economies, growth, health, International Monetary Fund, jobs|0 Comments

No Victory Lap Yet: U.S. Wage Growth Elusive

stephan-danninger By Stephan Danninger

The U.S. labor market seems to have finally healed. The unemployment rate has been below 5 percent for some time and job growth is steady. And more Americans are coming back to the labor market—in other words, labor participation is increasing. Yet, despite a bump-up in 2015, wage growth so far this year—compared to the 2000s—is still disappointingly low (see Chart 1). This is worrying because consumer spending, which makes up the majority of U.S. economic output, cannot continue at the current pace unless wages grow. Continue reading “No Victory Lap Yet: U.S. Wage Growth Elusive” »

By IMFBlog| September 20th, 2016|growth, International Monetary Fund, labor markets, Uncategorized, unemployment|0 Comments

The Euro Area Workforce is Aging, Costing Growth

By Shekhar Aiyar, Christian Ebeke, and Xiaobo Shao

Versions in Français (French), and Español (Spanish)

In parallel to the aging of the general population, the workforce in the euro area is also growing older. This could cause productivity growth to decline in the years ahead, raising another policy challenge for governments already dealing with legacies from the crisis such as high unemployment and debt. Continue reading “The Euro Area Workforce is Aging, Costing Growth” »

By IMFBlog| August 17th, 2016|Advanced Economies, Employment, euro zone, growth, IMF, International Monetary Fund, Uncategorized|0 Comments

The U.S. Economy: Above 2, Below 5, and 4 P’s

Lagarde.2015MDPORTRAIT4_114x128

By Christine Lagarde

Version in Español (Spanish)

The U.S. economy is in good shape, despite some setbacks in very recent months. The latest IMF review of the U.S. economy can be summed up in three numbers: above 2, below 5, and 4. What does that mean?

Continue reading “The U.S. Economy: Above 2, Below 5, and 4 P’s” »

By IMFBlog| June 22nd, 2016|Advanced Economies, Economic research, Financial markets, growth, IMF, International Monetary Fund, labor markets, monetary policy, U.S., Uncategorized|0 Comments

Greece: Toward a Workable Program

poul-thomsen1 By Poul M. Thomsen

Versions in عربي (Arabic), Español, Français, and ελληνικά (Greek)

Having successfully pulled Greece from the brink last summer and subsequently stabilized the economy, the government of Alexis Tsipras is now discussing with its European partners and the IMF a comprehensive multi-year program that can secure a lasting recovery and make debt sustainable. While discussions continue, there have been some misperceptions about the International Monetary Fund’s views and role in the process. I thought it would be useful to clarify issues.

Continue reading “Greece: Toward a Workable Program” »

By IMFBlog| February 11th, 2016|Debt Relief, Government, IMF, International Monetary Fund|0 Comments

The Time is Nigh: How Reforms Can Bring Back Productivity Growth in Emerging Markets

By Era Dabla-Norris and Kalpana Kochar

(Version in Español)

The era of remarkable growth in many emerging market economies fueled by cheap money and high commodity prices may very well be coming to an end.

The slowdown reflects not just inadequate global demand, but also structural factors that are rendering previous growth engines less effective, and the fact that economic “good times” reduced the incentives to implement further reforms to enhance productivity. With the end of the period of favorable global financing and trade conditions, the time is nigh for governments to make strong efforts to increase productivity—the essential foundation of sustainable growth and rising living standards. Continue reading “The Time is Nigh: How Reforms Can Bring Back Productivity Growth in Emerging Markets” »

By IMFBlog| December 18th, 2013|Asia, Economic research, Emerging Markets, Employment, Finance, Financial regulation, growth, IMF, International Monetary Fund, Latin America, Uncategorized|1 Comment

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