Chart of the WeekLatin America’s Inflation Challenge
Inflation has surged in the largest economies of Latin America, prompting large central banks in the region to raise interest rates before economic activity has fully recovered.
Cooperation Critical to Reducing Divergent Paths to Recovery in Middle East and Central Asia
By Jihad Azour
The road to recovery for the Middle East and Central Asia region will hinge on containment measures, access to and distribution of vaccines, the scope of policies to support growth, and measures to mitigate economic scarring from the pandemic. […]
Chart of the WeekWhen Inequality is High, Pandemics Can Fuel Social Unrest
By Tahsin Saadi Sedik and Rui Xu
In the months and years following previous pandemics, the countries most affected saw a rise in social unrest. […]
Building an Inclusive Recovery in the Middle East and Central Asia
By Jihad Azour and Joyce Wong
Countries in the Middle East and Central Asia face with COVID-19 a public health emergency unlike any seen in our lifetime, along with an unprecedented economic downturn. […]
Chart of the WeekTrade as a Tool for an Efficient Recovery
By Jesus Gonzalez-Garcia and Yuanchen Yang
As economies now look for paths to recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, new evidence reaffirms that policies for more open and trade-integrated economies could significantly benefit domestic competition and ultimately may help lower costs for consumers in emerging and developing economies. […]
Safeguarding Africa’s Food Security in the Age of COVID-19
By Pritha Mitra and Seung Mo Choi
Food security in sub-Saharan Africa is under threat. The ability of many Africans to access sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs has been disrupted by successive natural disasters and epidemics. […]
Chart of the WeekEurope’s Wage-Price Puzzle
Does higher wage growth fuel inflation? In Europe, that has historically been the case. […]
Chart of the Week: Words Count for Central Bank Communications in Latin America
By Juan Yepez
October 15, 2018
Effective central bank communications are essential in guiding market expectations (photo: lionvision/iStock)
When it comes to central banks in Latin America, sometimes words can speak louder than actions. […]
Chart of the Week: Oil Prices & Energy Subsidies
By IMFBlog
November 27, 2017
Versions in 中文(Chinese); Español (Spanish), Français (French), 日本語 (Japanese)
Universal fuel and energy subsidies have been prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, but they have substantial drawbacks (photo: Reuters/Newscom).
Reforms in some mostly oil-exporting countries, along with lower international fuel prices since 2014, have reduced the size of fuel subsidies in sub-Saharan Africa, and they need to do more given the recent rise in international fuel prices.
Universal fuel and energy subsidies have been prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, but they have substantial drawbacks. They tend to benefit the rich rather than the poor, foster fuel overconsumption, and crowd out more productive government spending. […]
Navigating Through Global Cross Currents: Latest Outlook for Latin America and the Caribbean
By Versions in Português (Portuguese), and Español (Spanish)
The global landscape has changed since our last update in October 2016. These changes have been mainly shaped by:
- An anticipated shift in the U.S. policy mix, higher growth and inflation, and a stronger dollar. In the United States—while potential policy changes remain uncertain—fiscal policy is likely to become expansionary, while monetary policy is expected to tighten faster than previously expected because of stronger demand and inflation pressures. As a result, growth is projected to rise to 2.3 percent in 2017 and 2.5 percent in 2018—a cumulative increase in GDP of ½ percentage point relative to the October forecast. The expected change in the policy mix and growth has led to an increase in global long-term interest rates, a stronger dollar in real effective terms, and a moderation of capital flows to Latin America.
- Improved outlook for other advanced economies and China for 2017–18, reflecting somewhat stronger activity in the second half of 2016 as well as projected policy stimulus.
- Some recovery in commodity prices, especially metal and oil prices, on the back of strong infrastructure and real […]