Globalization: IMF Key Issues

Key Issues
Globalization

Trade Winds—Has the Spectre of Protectionism Blown Away?

The global crisis has pushed trade reforms off—or at least to the edge of—the political radar screen. But shying away from improving the trade system in these tough economic times seems a little like cutting off your nose to spite your face

Background Information

A Brief Overview of Globalization
As countries "globalize," their citizens benefit
Continued Globalization (2005-Present)
In early 2000s, international capital flows fueled global expansion

Opinion

Strengthening the Asia/IMF Relationship in a Highly Uncertain Global Environment
IMF's Lipton says Asia has a stake in seeing Europe solve its problems
The Evolving Role of the IMF in the Global Economy
IMF's Min Zhu says trade re-orientation, regional integration can boost resilience to downturn

Financial Globalization

Right Fiscal Policies Can Help Fight Income Inequality
Taxes and income transfer policies can help reduce income inequality
India: Linked or De-linked from the Global Economy?
India has become more financially integrated with the global markets than commonly thought

Globalization of Trade

Financial Crises and Emerging Market Trade
How much does access to capital affect the ability of companies to trade?
The Economic Geography of Regional Integration
To be effective, regional integration strategies need to be tailored to the economic geography

Globalization of Labor

Long-Distance Learning Makes the World a Classroom
IMF's distance learning program links students and instructors anywhere in the world
IMF Study Tracks Which Firms Go Global
Relatively few firms and countries make use of world financial markets

Global Regulation of Finance

What Is to Be Done
One key contributor to the global financial crisis was inadequate regulation
The Perimeter of Financial Regulation
Market discipline was ineffective in constraining risk taking outside the banking sector

Crisis jolts globalization process

Economic and financial globalization and the expansion of world trade have brought substantial benefits to countries around the world. But the current financial crisis has put globalization on hold, with capital flows reversing and global trade shrinking.

Some analysts see the drivers of the recent globalization wave getting undermined, with protectionism on the rise.

Even supporters of globalization agree that the benefits of globalization are not without risks—such as those arising from volatile capital movements. The IMF works to help economies manage or reduce these risks, through economic analysis and policy advice and through technical assistance in areas such as macroeconomic policy, financial sector sustainability, and the exchange-rate system.

This page pulls together the IMF’s work on globalization and includes links to key articles, documents, and background information.

Research & Publications

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