Despite outnumbering men as college graduates within OECD countries, women are still underrepresented at the very top managerial levels, particularly in finance & business. A group of women veterans of Wall street describe how they got to Wall Street, what they found there, and offer advice to young women who want to get there.

Jolyne Caruso, Carla Harris, Anne Miller, Janet Newton, Darin White

Sub-Saharan Africa has just completed one of its best decades of growth since the 1960s. This is because the region has learnt lessons from the past, says Uganda’s finance minister, who is optimistic about the outlook for the continent.

Maria Kiwanuka, Uganda, Finance Minister

More women in sub-Saharan Africa participate in the labor force than in any other region. But, most still face an uphill struggle to make ends meet. For them, the problem isn’t finding work—it’s the kind of work they do.

Mary Hallward-Driemeier, World Bank, Economist

A country’s economic success depends a lot on how educated its population is. But as Rabah Arezki argues in an article in June’s issue of Finance & Development, a highly educated civil service, in particular, can help promote growth for all.

Rabah Arezki, IMF, Research department

Some economists say that a country’s exports can determine its economic fate. But William Maloney rejects the idea that exports play such a critical role. He says it’s not what you export, but how you do it. 

William Maloney, World Bank, economist

With a gradually improving outlook for the global economy, growth in sub-Saharan Africa is set to strengthen to 5.5%, according to the IMF’s latest forecast for the region. But growth patterns vary within the region.

Alfredo Cuevas, IMF, African Department

In recent years, commodity prices have been riding high, and many commodity dependent countries have benefited from these high prices. But this boon is unlikely to last forever: prices may fall, and nations can run out of key commodities.

Jose Ocampo, Columbia University, professor

When a country shifts from being largely based on agrarian economy to being based on services, or industry, it is said to have undergone structural change. Harvard’s Dani Rodrik explains why structural change is so critical to development.

Dani Rodrik, Harvard University, Professor

Although global growth is expected to reach 3.3% this year, and 4% in 2014, the health of the world’s economy is mixed. Olivier Blanchard, Chief Economist at the IMF explains that although the worst is behind us, policymakers still can’t afford to relax.

Olivier Blanchard, IMF, Chief Economist

In the last two decades, many low-income countries have experienced economic take off. But in the 60s and 70s, many of these same countries already boasted robust economic performances, until it all came to an abrupt stop. Can low-income countries keep on growing, this time?

Rupa Duttagupta, IMF, Research Department

When you want to get a better job or achieve personal development, you might choose to increase your skills. This might mean learning something new, or acquiring more education. It’s the same with countries, if they want to climb up the ladder of development, they need to develop their capacity, or “capabilities,” says top economist Ricardo Hausmann.

Ricardo Hausmann, Harvard University

In many countries, governments often subsidize the energy sector keeping the price of power lower than it might otherwise be. The aim is to protect the poor by keeping prices low. But, a new study by the International Monetary Fund suggests that these subsidies don't always have the desired effect.

Trevor Alleyne, IMF, African Department

Supporters of globalization say that globalization creates growth by encouraging people and countries to interact and trade with each other across national borders. But, has the focus on international integration caused policymakers to overlook the need to integrate their national economies?

Romain Wacziarg, University of California, LA

Sub-Saharan economies might be performing well now, but not so long ago, they were mired in debt. During the 70’s, many of them borrowed money to unsustainable levels and found themselves unable to service their debt. Joly explains how they got out of their predicament.

Herve Joly, IMF, African Department

The euro area may be the world’s largest and most well-known regional currency union, but the Eastern Caribbean Economic and Currency Union is an interesting microcosm of its larger European counterpart. The two could learn lessons from each other, suggests an IMF economist.

Alfred Schipke, IMF, formerly Western Hemisphere, now Asia & Pacific Department

The 1944 Bretton Woods conference laid the foundations of the modern international monetary system, but little was known about the exact proceedings of that historic gathering, until now.

Kurt Schuler, economist, U.S. Treasury

Fiscal policy—or the way a government taxes, spends and borrows money—can have a huge impact on reducing inequality. But according to a recent IMF study, that impact has been shrinking over the past decade, as governments scale back social benefits, and make income taxes less progressive.

David Coady, IMF, Fiscal Affairs Department

Sub-Saharan Africa has experienced steady economic growth in recent years spurred, in part, by increased public investment. This government spending can bring many benefits, but it can also be dangerous if the money is spent on poorly chosen projects, or financed by expensive loans which leave a country in debt.

Salifou Issoufou, IMF, Research Department

The features of a fragile state can include political and economic instability, poverty, civil disorder, terrorism, human trafficking, disease, or all of these. But how to identify a fragile state, and what policies can fragile states pursue to become fully functioning nations?

Clare Lockhart, Institute of State Effectiveness and co-author of “Fixing Failed States”

Over the past several decades, advanced economies, especially the United States, have seen a striking rise in inequality. David Autor of MIT, argues that trend is driven by rapidly developing technology, which has made highly educated workers much more valuable, while pushing others out of jobs.

David Autor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The global economy is set to strengthen gradually in 2013, but risks remain. In the latest update to its World Economic Outlook, the IMF projects growth will be 3.5% this year. In this podcast, the IMF chief economist explains that despite the brighter outlook, policymakers need to address risks to the global economy.

Olivier Blanchard, Chief Economist, IMF

World leaders have avoided a collapse of the global economy, but they must now follow through with reforms to avoid a relapse into crisis, says Christine Lagarde, the head of the IMF.

Christine Lagarde, IMF, Managing Director

In the second part of our series on social safety nets in sub-Saharan Africa, we look at practice on the ground. In Burkina Faso, the IMF is working with the government to develop targeted welfare programs. The aim is to identify and help the most vulnerable. But it is still a work-in-progress.

Isabell Adenauer, IMF Africa Department

Globally, over 200 million people are unemployed, according to the IMF.  Many European markets and emerging markets are suffering double-digit jobless rates, and youth and long-term unemployment are at alarming levels.  What skills then do job seekers in a global labor market need to succeed?

Susan Lund, Director of Research, The McKinsey Global Institute

Social safety nets aren’t just charitable handouts, they’re an essential way to ensure growth is sustainable. Safety nets range from cash transfers through health care, to public works programs to create employment. Over the last decade, more countries in sub-Saharan Africa have been adopting social safety nets to help their poorest.

David Coady, IMF Fiscal Affairs Department Lynne Sherburne-Benz, sector manager for social protection in Africa, World Bank.

The volatility and price spikes of raw commodities has affected many regions in recent years—sub-Saharan Africa among them. This is because the price of a commodity can make or break the health of a country in this region. What then can countries do to protect themselves from price shocks?

Jon Shields, IMF, Africa Department

A nation's poverty or prosperity may have as much to do with politics as economics, says Daron Acemoglu. He argues that more democratic countries with inclusive political institutions create sustained prosperity, while “extractive,” authoritarian regimes lead toward poverty.

Daron Acemoglu, economist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, co-author of "Why Nations Fail."

Underdevelopment has often been blamed on  bad policies adopted by national governments. Augustin Fosu has identified four such policies which he believes have been the cause of inefficiency, overregulation and misallocation of resources.

Augustin Fosu, United Nations University, Scholar

Decades after the end of colonial rule in Africa, and more than one hundred years after the official end of the slave trade in the US, the continent remains among the least-developed regions of the globe. But how far is the trade in human beings responsible for Africa’s lack of economic progress?

Nathan Nunn, Harvard University, Professor

In the last two decades, growth has accelerated significantly in most of sub-Saharan Africa. Researchers at the IMF have been exploring whether this high growth has also led to, what economists describe as, “structural transformation” on the continent.

Alun Thomas, IMF, African Department

In recent years, emerging markets and developing countries have proven remarkably resilient in the face of economic slumps. They have bounced back from downturns, and even grown their economies. It turns out there are some common factors to these success stories.

Abdul de Guia Abiad, IMF, research Department

Public-private partnerships can benefit governments, providing a new source of funding for long-term projects, while sharing out risk. Over the past 20 years, more and more countries—many in Africa—have been experimenting with this form of collaboration.

Isabell Adenauer, IMF, African Department

Economic linkages have become ever tighter and increasingly important in a globalized world. In the sub-Saharan region for example, the performance of South Africa and Nigeria—Africa’s two largest economies—can have reverberations far beyond their borders.

Cheikh Anta Gueye, IMF, African Department

Income inequality in the U.S. has soared to its highest level since the Great Depression, and that trend has only deteriorated during the global downturn of recent years. Thomas Piketty has been tracking this growing disparity and says the yawning gap between the haves and have less is bad for growth and bad for society.

Thomas Piketty, Paris School of economics

Despite the sluggish global economy, sub-Saharan Africa has remained resilient, with growth expected to be around 5% this year. But while low-income countries continue to expand, middle-income countries, and particularly those closely linked to European markets, are experiencing a slowdown.

Jon Shield, IMF, African Department

Prospects for the global economy have deteriorated. In its latest world economic forecast, the IMF marked down growth projections to 3.3% this year. Olivier Blanchard, chief economist at the IMF, explains what is holding back the recovery.

Olivier Blanchard, Chief Economist, IMF

As global food and fuel prices begin to rise once more, the IMF's Samya Beidas-Strom explains how the effects of price volatility can be mitigated.

Samya Beidas–Strom, IMF, Research Department

Despite their oil wealth, the countries of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community still struggle with the “Resource Curse”. Sharmini Coorey, Director of the IMF’s Institute for Capacity Development, describes the challenges of managing oil wealth in the region and outlines policies to help overcome them.

Sharmini Coorey, IMF, Institute for Capacity Development

China’s current account surplus has declined dramatically over recent years. Many economists believe this signals a much needed rebalancing of the world’s second largest economy toward domestic sources of growth. So, what’s the reason behind this drop and what does it mean for the rest of Asia?

Malhar Nabar and Olaf Unteroberdoerster, IMF, Asia and Pacific Department

Financial crises have been with us for hundreds of years. From the currency crisis of the Roman Empire to more recent events such as the 2008 financial meltdown, financial crises have been pervasive in market economies. Gary Gorton argues that crises are inevitable, but that with the right policies, their effects can be mitigated.

Gary Gorton, Professor, Yale school of management

India and China have enjoyed some of the world's fastest economic growth in recent years. But to keep up the momentum, they must undertake some reforms, says an IMF economist.

James Walsh, IMF, Asian and Pacific Department

Kemal Dervis says three fundamental trends characterize today’s world economy: convergence of emerging and advanced economies’ economic growth; interdependence of countries’ fortunes; and divergence of incomes within countries.

Kemal Dervis, Vice President and Director of Global Economy and Development at the Brookings Institution

Demetrios Papademetriou explains how the global movement of workers will change as the economic crisis continues in advanced economies. Immigration policy in these countries is likely to become much more selective.

Demetrios Papademetriou, President, Migration Policy Institute

For economist Carmen Reinhart, crises are often the result of over confidence in the economic and financial system. In the recently published "Occupy Handbook", she warns that policymakers must avoid the blind optimism of the "this-time-is-different-syndrome”.

Carmen Reinhart, Senior Fellow, the Peterson Institute for International Economics

Historically, countries that are rich in mineral and commodity resources, like oil, copper or coffee, for example, have had lower rates of growth compared to nations which don't enjoy those advantages. It's a phenomenon dubbed the "nature resource curse." Jeffrey Frankel outlines ways he believes the natural resource curse can be mitigated or even avoided.

Jeffrey Frankel, economist, National Bureau of Economic Research

Two and a half years after the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti, have conditions in the poorest country in the western hemisphere improved? In this podcast, the IMF mission chief for Haiti explains how the country is slowly healing.

Boileau Loko, IMF, Mission chief for Haiti

After a period of high growth between 2007 and 2010 , Malawi’s economic situation took a turn for the worst. Between 2010 and 2011, growth fell two percent from 6 and a half percent. But since April this year, when a new administration took office, the country has been enjoying renewed stability and revitalized relations with partners.

Tsidi Tsikata, IMF, Mission chief for Malawi

China’s growth is moderating, but it’s not all bad. The IMF’s most recent thinking on the world’s second largest economy

Markus Rodlauer, IMF, Mission chief for China

Sub-Saharan Africa has come a long way. Ten years ago, it was labeled the “hopeless continent” by one leading publication, but today, Africa is considered by many as a rising power. In this podcast, Thierry Tanoh, who has just left as Vice president of the International Finance Corporation, shares his insights on the prospects for Africa’s development.

Thierry Tanoh, ex-Vice President for sub-Saharan African and Latin American region, International Finance Corporation

As the trend towards increasing inequality continues, most attention is focused at the extremes: those who are paid at the top of the pay scale, and others who only manage to scrape by. But a former IMF Chief Economist says we should really be worried about “the missing middle.”

Raghuram Rajan, Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business

How to find the best tortillas while traveling in Mexico? Why is American food so bad today? Is agribusiness good for the global economy? Prolific author, blogger and economist Tyler Cowen takes on these questions--and many more--in his new book, “An Economist Gets Lunch,” reviewed in June’s F&D magazine.

Tyler Cowen, economist and author of “An Economist Gets Lunch”

Côte d’Ivoire has been granted over seven billion dollars in debt relief. This represents more than 60 percent of the country’s external debt, and will help create a more sustainable future.

Doris Ross, IMF mission chief for Côte d’Ivoire

In California, a prisoner can pay to upgrade his cell, women are paid to carry a pregnancy, businesses pay to advertise on people’s bodies. Is this moral? Sandal believes we need to prevent market values from reaching spheres of life where they don’t belong.

Michael Sandel, Harvard professor and author of “What Money Can’t Buy”

From the jammed streets of Beijing, China, to the conflicts in the Mideast and on Capitol Hill, the quest to secure energy supplies has shaped global politics and economics, says one of the world’s leading energy experts.

Daniel Yergin, author and energy expert

Martin Wolf, columnist for the Financial Times and contributor to the Occupy Handbook, explains the challenges to reforming the economic system.

Martin Wolf, contributor to the “Occupy Handbook”

Why are some countries rich and others poor? James Robinson argues that the wealth of a country is most closely tied to how far the average person is able to share in its overall economic growth. But he warns that there is always a tendency for a small minority to try and concentrate power and wealth in its hands.

James Robinson, co-author of “Why Nations Fail”

Over the past decade, oil prices have increased fourfold, reaching levels only seen in the 1970s. But the global economy has been resilient in the face of these spikes. Jorg Decressin of the IMF Research Department explains.

Jorg Decressin, IMF Research Department

In the June issue of Finance & Development we review “The Occupy Handbook”.  In this podcast, one of the contributors to the book explains why inequality is at the heart of the global crisis.

Robin Wells, economist and author of “Principles of Economics”

Despite the weaker global economic environment, sub-Saharan Africa is expected to continue growing strongly in 2012, according to the IMF. In its latest Regional Economic Outlook for Africa, the IMF says the region’s robust growth is because it is relatively isolated from negative factors pulling down many other countries.

Antoinette Sayeh, Director, IMF Africa Department

Foreign direct investment has been booming globally. In 2007 it reached a peak of $2 trillion. Money from Brazil, Russia, India and China to low-income countries—especially those in sub-Saharan Africa—is flowing especially quickly, fueling growth and development.

Montfort Mlachila, IMF African Department

Nigeria’s charismatic finance minister talks about Nigeria’s vigorous growth, the reforms Africa needs to continue powering ahead, and that failed bid for the World Bank presidency.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Finance Minister, Nigeria

We look beyond the headlines of the IMF’s World Economic Outlook, and analyze how a potential increase in oil prices, large household debt, or volatile commodity prices could  derail the fragile recovery. Rebecca Kaufman reports.

Olivier Blanchard, Chief Economist, IMF
Rupa Duttagupta, economist, Research Dept
Daniel Leigh, economist, Research Dept

Earlier this week, we heard from IMF experts about their expectations for the world economy. Now, with the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in full gear, we asked journalists from around the world for views. What does the state of the global economy look like, and what do they see are the biggest risks out there?

The global economy has entered a “timid” recovery but still faces high risks, with some dark clouds on the horizon, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said at the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington DC.

Christine Lagarde, IMF Managing Director

Prospects for the global economy are slowly improving, but another crisis in Europe, or a spike in oil prices could undermine the fragile global recovery, warns Olivier Blanchard, Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund, in this interview to mark the release of IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook.

Olivier Blanchard, Chief Economist, IMF

Chinese investment in Sub-Saharan Africa has been on the rise in recent years, peaking in 2008 at more than $5 billion dollars. Although not without some controversy, the increasing investment is having a mojor impact on African growth. But will it continue?

Antoinette Sayeh, Director, IMF Africa Dept

Many blame the financial sector for the current economic downturn, but in his new book, Robert Shiller aims to change our way of thinking about the much maligned industry.

Robert Shiller, author of “Finance and the Good Society”

Remittances have become an increasingly important source of financing in the developing world. So how can money sent home by migrant workers best be used in the fight against global poverty?

Kangni Kpodar, IMF, Fiscal Affairs Dept

Despite struggling with the effects of the European debt crisis, political turmoil in Cote d'Ivoire and a severe drought in the Sahel, the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) promises to prove its resilience in the coming year. After growing less that 1% in 2011, the IMF estimates growth to rebound to 7% this year.

Herve Joly, IMF, African Dept

Ahead of a conference jointly hosted by IMF and the government of Samoa in Apia on March 23, IMF Deputy Managing Director Min Zhu talks about how the Pacific region can promote inclusive growth and build resilience to shocks.

Min Zhu, Deputy Managing Director, IMF
Patrizia Tumbarello, Chief, Pacific Islands Unit, IMF

Over the last few years, many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have benefited from the rise in commodity prices. But being wealthy in natural resources brings its own problems. The IMF is to host a conference in Kinshasa to discuss how these problems might be overcome.

Roger Nord, IMF, African Dept.

Hunger is a chronic problem in the Sahel. But now a widespread drought has wiped out crops and made the food situation worse. Millions are at risk. Is the international community taking enough notice?

Eric Munoz, Oxfam America
Jacques Higgins, World Food Program
Christian Josz, IMF
Meera Shaka, World Bank
John Staatz, Michigan State University

To coincide with the release of March’s Finance & Development, we interview one of the contributors to this quarter’s magazine, Philip Coggan.  In a new book, Coggan argues that the extraordinary rise in debt levels in recent years will reshape our world order.

Philip Coggan, author of “Paper Promises: Debt, Money, and the New World Order”

As the East African Community considers an ever closer union, the EAC and the Fund co-host a conference to discuss benefits of regional integration and future macroeconomic challenges faced by the region.

Naoyuki Shinohara, IMF, Deputy Managing Director

Over the last decade, the East African Community has enjoyed some of the fastest growth rates in the world. To continue on its growth path, IMF economists suggest the region can learn lessons from other countries which have enjoyed rapid development.

Catherine McAuliffe, IMF, African Dept.

A drought is threatening to bring hunger to millions of people in the Sahel—a belt of grassland and savanna running across Africa under the Sahara desert. We look at how one country, Mali, is coping with a looming food emergency.

Christian Josz, IMF, Africa Dept.

Africans suffer some of the weakest infrastructure in the world—a reality holding the continent back from further growth and prosperity. For decades, governments in the region had few options for funding major infrastructure projects. It's all different now. But that's not necessarily a good thing.

Andrew Berg, IMF Research dept.

Poland was granted a precautionary loan under the IMF's Flexible Credit Line in 2010 but hasn't needed to draw on the funds. How did Poland manage to weather the global crisis with some of the highest growth rates in Europe?

Mark Allen, IMF representative for eastern and central Europe

The International Monetary Fund has sharply cut its forecast for world growth this year. In an interview to mark the publication of an update to its World Economic Outlook, the Chief Economist to the IMF, Olivier Blanchard, said the euro area is likely to fall into a mild recession affecting the rest of the world. Jennifer Beckman reports.

Olivier Blanchard, Chief Economist, IMF

Corruption exists the world over, but it affects developing countries disproportionately. One economist points to the role played by the political order. He says some systems of government are better able to fend off corruption.

Rabah Arezki, economist, IMF

Kenya, one of Africa's most dynamic economies, has been powered by a boom in the Information Technology sector. Kariuku Gathitu is a young Kenyan entrepreneur and founder of a software company specializing in mobile money transfers. In this podcast, he shares his insights about doing business in one of the fastest growing economies in Africa.

Kariuki Gathitu, Zege Technologies, Kenya

Most African countries are expected to continue growing in 2012. But grim economic prospects in many parts of the world threaten this positive outlook. Roger Nord of the IMF's African Department identifies the challenges facing Africa this year.

Roger Nord, IMF, Africa department

The 1990s was a momentous time for the IMF. The organization oversaw the transition of many former Eastern bloc countries into market economies, played an important role in the aftermath of major capital account crises, all the while, introducing historic reforms back at headquarters. The IMF’s official historian talks about this tumultuous era

James Boughton, IMF, historian

Christine Lagarde is set to visit Africa for the first time since her appointment as Managing Director of the IMF. In this podcast, she explains the purpose of her trip to Nigeria and Niger and the deep partnership between the IMF and the continent.

Christine Lagarde, IMF Managing Director

After the dire food shortages almost 25 years ago in Ethiopia, American aid helped implement an early warning system aimed at forecasting likely food emergencies. So why wasn't the disaster in the Horn of Africa foreseen?

Mwangi Kimenyi, Brookings Institute
Josette Sheeran, UN World Food Program
Ray Offenheiser, Oxfam America
Njuguna Ndung'u, Kenyan Central Bank Governor

For the last three decades, in many countries, the rich have become ever richer, while the vast majority have seen their incomes stagnate. This increasing income inequality has been coupled with ever greater debt burdens. How did we get to this point? IMF economists believe they have some answers, drawing a link between higher inequality and increased debt.

Michael Kumhof, IMF Research Dept

Does economic growth improve life for all? Many economists are coming to the conclusion that rather than simply growing the economic pie, we need to consider how the economic pie is shared. So how to ensure that we all grow together?

François Bourguignon : Paris School of Economics
Rodrigo Garcia-Verdu: IMF
Joseph Stiglitz: Columbia university
Ray Offenheiser: Oxfam America
Josette Sheeran: United Nations World Food Program
Alun Thomas: IMF

China is swiftly closing in on the United States as the world's largest economy. The Asian nation's growth rate is several times that of the US, and China's economy could be the world's largest within a decade, according to Arvind Subramanian. In a new book, he envisages a world dominated by China's overwhelming economic power.

Arvind Subramanian, Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics

Over the last three decades, in many parts of the world, the rich have got much richer, while just about everyone else has had very modest income growth. In this podcast, two IMF economists warn that inequality undermines growth.

Jonathan Ostry and Andrew Berg, IMF, Research Dept.

To coincide with the release of her new book, "Grand Pursuit: the Story of Economic Genius", reviewed in this December's "Finance and Development" magazine, we interview author Sylvia Nasar and historian Robert Skidelsky on a key figure of modern economics, John Maynard Keynes.

Sylvia Nasar, author
Robert Skidelsky, historian

In recent months, the cost of basic staples has increased sharply, leaving many low-income countries struggling to buy food for their populations. What can poor countries can do to protect their people from surging food prices?

Abhijit Banerjee, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Worldwide, the rate of unemployment among people aged 15–24 years old, stands at over 13 percent, according to the International Labor Organization.

Mwase Nkunde: IMF
Shantayanan Devarajan: World bank
John May: World bank
Eduardo Bos: World Bank
Johannes Muller: IMF

Over the last decade, many countries in sub-Saharan Africa have experienced much higher growth than in the past. But have those gains been shared equally by all? Two Fund economists discuss how far economic growth in Africa has improved the lives of the poor.

Rodrigo Garcia-Verdu and Alun Thomas, IMF, African Dept.

The IMF is optimistic about the prospects for Sub-Saharan Africa, and expects regional growth to be around 5 percent in the coming year. But commodity price swings, inflation and the risk of a global downturn threaten this outlook. The Director of the IMF's Africa Department identifies the latest key economic trends in the region and how they will affect its people.

Antoinette Sayeh, Director, IMF African Dept

The IMF has opened a new technical assistance center in Mauritius which will allow member countries in southern Africa to leverage IMF know-how. The opening of the African Regional Technical Assistance Center South (Afritac) is in response to growing demand for IMF expertise.

Antoinette Sayeh, Director, IMF African Dept

There are many economic pitfalls associated with being a resource-rich country: high inflation, Dutch disease, and volatile commodity prices, to name a few. But there are also political dangers. A top political scientist explains why political factors are as important as the economic.

Michael Ross, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

The discovery of oil off the coast of Ghana back in 2007 was met with joy in the country. But Ghana was also determined not to fall victim to the corruption and conflict which has bedeviled other oil-rich countries. So, four years on, how much progress has this west African country made?

Mohammed Amin Adam, "Publish What You Pay, Ghana"

For over half a century, gross domestic product has been used as the single most important measure of a country’s progress. But, according to Joseph Stiglitz, GDP fails to reflect a nation’s overall well-being. The Nobel laureate argues for more inclusive growth.

Joseph Stiglitz, Economist, Columbia University

Severe droughts, combined with an increase in the global prices for basic staples, have led to desperate food shortages in the Horn of Africa. In this podcast, Josette Sheeran, the head of the United Nations World Food Program describes the conditions she witnessed during her recent visit to the region.

Josette Sheeran, United Nations World Food Program

Low-income countries rich in natural resources have performed worse economically than might be expected, falling prey to conflict, corruption, or overdependence on that resource. Paul Collier, a leading academic in the field of development, believes countries can learn from the past to successfully ride "the commodity tiger."

Paul Collier, University of Oxford

In recent years, commodity prices have surged and fallen dramatically. To try and help low-income countries who have been hit hard by this volatility, the IMF has developed a new tool to anticipate the impact of price fluctuations.Further infomation

Hugh BredenkampIMF, Strategy, Policy and Review Dept

After years of falling tax revenues and increasing spending, governments are now facing the prospect of having to slash, often record, deficits. In this podcast, to coincide with an article in the latest issue of Finance & Development magazine, the IMF’s Prakash Loungani explains who’s hit hardest in the face of government cutbacks.

Prakash Loungani, Advisor, IMF Research Dept

For the September issue of Finance & Development magazine, Dilip Ratha, a leading economist on migration, looks at the contribution made by overseas Africans, and presents a strategy to harness the wealth and skills of this powerful group.

Dilip Ratha, Economist, Migration and Remittances Unit, World Bank

Severe droughts are gripping the Horn of Africa, leaving millions needing emergency assistance. Antoinette Sayeh, director of the Africa Department at the IMF, speaks about the Fund’s response to the crisis.

Antoinette Sayeh, Director, IMF, African Dept

Inequality is on the rise. Globally, the gap between the rich and the rest has been growing. This September's Finance and Development magazine takes up the theme of inequality. It includes an article by economist and author of a history of global inequality, Branko Milanovic. He explains some of the reasons for the increasing gap between the haves and the have-nots.

Branko Milanovic, Author of "The Haves and Have-Nots"

During her first ever news conference as the IMF's new Managing Director, Christiane Lagarde said that the challenges facing the global economy prompted her to take up her duties immediately. Speaking to journalists, she explained what she saw as the priorities confronting the Fund.

Christine Lagarde, IMF Managing Director

Natural resource wealth can be a double-edged sword. So how can countries avoid the "curse" which may accompany their natural wealth? In the second of this two-part series, we explore the conditions, which contribute to the successful management of natural resources, and can lead to economic growth.

Jeffrey Frankel, Harvard University
Roger Nord, IMF
Philip Daniel, IMF

Historically, countries rich in natural resources have had slower growth than resource-poor countries. This paradox has often been attributed to the "natural resource curse." In the first of this two-part series, we look at the reasons behind this "curse," and investigate why natural resources often fail to create prosperity.

Jeffrey Frankel, Harvard University
Leslie Lipschitz: IMF institute
Roger Nord, IMF

Each year billions of dollars in proceeds from criminal activity are "laundered." It is estimated that the amounts involved could be as much as two to five percent of the world's GDP. In this podcast, a member of the IMF explains how the Fund is contributing to the international fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.

Jody Myers, IMF Legal Dept
Moderator: Jacob Fenston

Mozambique has had one of highest growth rates in Sub-Saharan Africa over the past two decades. But the increased riches aren't being enjoyed by all. The government is now aiming for "inclusive growth"—something which the IMF is increasingly pursuing in ITS work in Sub-Saharan Africa. But what is "inclusive growth", and how to achieve it?

Johannes Mueller, IMF African Dept
Moderator: Jacob Fenston

Japan's earthquake and tsunami earlier this year sent economic reverberations around the globe. As the Japanese begin the long process of rebuilding, and to coincide with an article to be published in June's Finance and Development magazine, one IMF economist offers his thoughts on how the world's third largest economy might use this opportunity to secure its long-term fiscal future.

Kenneth Kang, IMF Asia Dept
Moderator: Hyun-Sung Khang, IMF

Failure is not necessarily a bad thing, according to Tim Harford. In his new book, Adapt, reviewed in the IMF's F&D magazine, Harford argues the world is so complex that only through trial and error can we find solutions to the problems confronting us. In conversation with Simon Johnson, Harford says we need to allow more room for failure in the financial sector.

Tim Harford, Financial Times economics correspondent
Simon Johnson, Former IMF chief economist

China has a swelling elderly population. People over the age of 60 now account for 13.3% of the population, up nearly 3% since 2000—a trend fueled, in part, by the one-child policy. To mark the "Costs of Aging" theme in the June issue of Finance & Development magazine, we look at the implications of growing numbers of elderly in the world's most populous nation.

Philip O'Keefe , Lead Economist for China, World Bank
Moderator, Jacob Fenston

Policies designed to pull the poor out of poverty can end up being, at worst, ineffective, at best, actively harmful. Developmental economist, Esther Duflo believes that just as one would test a new drug, social policy ideas should be subject to randomized control trials.

Esther Duflo, Poverty Action Lab, MIT
Moderator:, Hyun-Sung Khang

"Success always starts with failure" suggests Tim Harford, author of a new book entitled "Adapt". In this conversation with former IMF Chief Economist, Simon Johnson, Harford explains why the path to success often involves failure, experimentation, and adaptation.

Tim Harford, Financial Times economics correspondent
Simon Johnson, Former IMF Chief Economist

Another year of strong growth is predicted for most of the 29 low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The IMF's latest Regional Economic Outlook projects that these countries' output will expand on average by 6 percent in 2011, compared with last year's 5½ percent pace. But risks remain from rising oil prices and lingering uncertainties in the global outlook.

Antoinette Sayeh, IMF head of African Dept
Narrator: Lika Gueye

The Middle East and North Africa have the highest youth unemployment rates in the world – around 23 percent in 2009, according to the International Labor Organization. The region also has some of the world's highest percentage of young within their populations. As Jacob Fenston reports, addressing joblessness in the region will require major structural changes.

Narrator: Jacob Fenston

Food prices were up over forty percent in early 2011 compared to the same time last year, according to the IMF. They are at about the same level as during the 2008 crisis when price increases led to food riots around the world. The IMF's Jacob Fenston investigates the impact of price rises and measures that countries are taking to cushion their people and farmers.

Narrator: Jacob Fenston

Zambia weathered the global financial crisis strongly, but the central African nation faces major challenges in the future. These include ensuring a steady stream of tax revenues from its mining industry, and compensating for diminishing funds from traditional donors. But the Zambian finance minister says he is optimistic about his country's future and is welcoming new investors.

Situmbeko Musokotwane, Zambian Finance Minister
Moderator: Yanmei Xie

Food prices are near record highs worldwide. In parts of sub-Saharan Africa for example, maize prices have increased by up to 20 to 30 percent in the past three months alone, according to World Bank figures. One NGO representative says these price spikes not only hurt the most vulnerable in society, they also foment unrest.

Peter Jeranyama, president of the Association of African Agricultural Professionals in the Diaspora
Moderator: Jacob Fenston

More than 40 million additional people have been pushed into poverty by recent food price rises, say the World Bank. But amid the bleakness, Rwanda is proving a shining example of good agricultural practices. The country's agriculture Minister, Agnes Kalibata, says her country is helping its small-scale farmers, and so insulating the tiny African republic from price spikes.

Agnes Kalibata, Rwanda's Agriculture Minister
Moderator: Jacob Fenston

Even before the unrest which swept through north Africa and the Middle East, the IMF was warning that Tunisia needed to undertake major structural reforms to address high rates of joblessness. The unemployment rate in this north African state is estimated at over 13 percent, but as one youth activist explains, the situation is even worse for the young.

Samar Samir Mezghanni, writer and youth activist
Moderator: Jacob Fenston

Despite recent economic growth, unemployment and underemployment rates in north Africa and the Middle East are among the highest in the world. Young people, who make up much of the population, are the hardest hit. One former IMF economist says the lack of job prospects contributed to the recent unrest in the region.

Mounir Rached, former IMF economist, Vice-president of the Lebanese Economic Association
Moderator: Jacob Fenston

Dominique Strauss-Kahn has said the world is recovering from the global economic downturn but "it was not the recovery we want." At the start of the annual IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings, he called for urgent action on the challenges confronting future growth, including rising food and fuel prices and high unemployment.

Dominique Strauss Kahn, IMF Managing Director

A successful private sector is essential for economic takeoff but in Sub-Saharan Africa private businessmen and women face particular constraints. These include the lack of basic infrastructure, burdensome bureaucracy, and the absence of supportative business networks.

Vijaya Ramachandran, Ctr for Global Development

Since the global economic crisis, the kingdom of Swaziland has seen the amount of revenue into its state coffers fall by a third. With one of the highest public wage bills in Africa, the authorities in the country have now requested a "staff-monitored program" with the Fund to help the country return to financial health.

Joannes Mongardini, IMF African Dept.

West Africa's economic recovery from the global financial crisis is now being threatened by the prolonged political crisis in Côte d'Ivoire. The economic impact of disputed national elections is being felt most keenly the WAEMU whose members face the financial fallout and are bearing the strain of fleeing refugees.

Norbert Funke, IMF African Dept

The only two things that are certain in life are death and taxes, according to Benjamin Franklin, one of America's founding fathers. True or not, many developing countries are still finding it a challenge to set up an efficient, effective tax system.

Mark Plant, IMF African Dept.

A group of eminent experts has proposed reforms to the international monetary and financial system, to avoid a repeat of the financial crisis which triggered the worst slump in over half a century.

Michel Camdessus, Former Head of the IMF

With double-digit growth over recent years, Islamic finance has generated increasing interest around the world. It is serving previously underbanked populations. Governments in Sub-Saharan Africa, are now looking at Islamic finance as a new source of funding.

Amadou Sy, IMF Monetary and Capital Markets Dept

What happens when a money loses its value? the author recounts the chaos in Germany in the inter-war years when a currency died, a national economy perished and the population suffered. Fergusson says "there are parallels with events taking place today".

Adam Fergusson, Author

Global food prices hit record high last month, according to the UN's Food & Agriculture Organization. They have surpassed the levels during the 2007-08 food crisis when surging prices sparked unrest in many countries. What is behind this upward pressure for Sub-Saharan Africa?

Shaun Roache, IMF African Dept.
Hassan Zaman, World Bank

Most Sub-Saharan countries have recovered rapidly from the global financial crisis, with a projected grow of 5½ % this year. The Fund warns in its World Economic Outlook update that rising world food prices could undermine the sense of recovery, specially the urban poor.

Abebe Selassie, IMF African Dept

The global economy will grow by about 4½% this year, says the IMF. In an update of the "World Economic Outlook", action is still needed to address key issues which threaten global growth including high unemployment and banking issues in advanced economies.

Olivier Blanchard, IMF chief economist

Guinea Bissau is on the brink of a "new beginning," according to the IMF. This West African country has recently had 87 percent of its external debt cancelled. That means less money spent on servicing debt and more money available for health, education, and investment.

Paulo Drummond, IMF / Guinea Bissau

Asia is expected to post an average of 7 percent growth in 2011. But this year, the region will need to continue managing its exit from stimulus programs and the large capital inflows pouring into the area, says one of the IMF's leading economists.

Anoop Singh, IMF Asia and Pacific Dept 

Togo has qualified for over $1.8 billion of debt relief—equivalent to 80 percent of its external debt. The IMF created the "HIPC" Initiative, designed to release the poorest nations from the cycle of endless interest payments on unsustainable debt.

Roger Nord, IMF African Dept.

Surging property prices in China have raised fears that the country is in the grip of a growing property bubble. With China acting as a key engine of world recovery, any real estate slump would have global implications.

Ashvin Ahuja, IMF Asia Pacific Dept

A new book "Emerging Africa" identifies five key factors that are powering the continent's rise.

Steve Radelet, author of "Emerging Africa"

The IMF is set to double the amount of training to member states in the Middle East, with the opening of a new center to train officials from Arab League countries.

Abdelhadi Yousef, IMF Institute

The IMF has come out with its regular assessment of the economic outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa, with predictions that the region can expect to return to precrisis levels of growth.

Christopher Lane, IMF deputy division chief

The IMF is optimistic about the economic prospects for Sub-Saharan Africa, with expectations of growth across many different sectors.

Antoinette Sayeh, IMF Head of African Dept.

Over the last decade and a half, Africa has seen a surge in exports, with new trading relations being formed with different parts of the world.

Nagwa Riad, IMF Strategy, Policy, & Review Dept.
Frank Lakwijk, Africa Senior economist

After teetering on the verge of economic collapse, over the last year and a half Mongolia has witnessed a remarkable recovery.

Steve Barnett, IMF Mongolia Mission Chief

What, if any, are the benefits of foreign aid? Two economists pit their radically different views against eachother.

Andrew Berg, IMF Research
Arvind Subramanian,Peterson Institute

Former IMF Chief economist Raghuram Rajan introduces his new book: an analysis of what he sees as the underlying causes of the global crisis.

Raghuram Rajan, University of Chicago