IMF Blogs

Latest Blogs

Foreign direct investment

United States Is World's Top Destination for Foreign Direct Investment

December 7, 2022

The move comes amid a decline in offshore financial centers’ share of global FDI

Energy transition

Climate Security and Energy Security Must Go Hand-in-Hand

December 1, 2022

Finance & Development magazine examines where the green energy transition stands amid geopolitical tensions

Climate change

Bridging Data Gaps Can Help Tackle the Climate Crisis

November 28, 2022

A new data gaps initiative will play an important role in addressing climate-related data deficits

Climate

Climate change

Bridging Data Gaps Can Help Tackle the Climate Crisis

November 28, 2022

Bo Li, Bert Kroese

A new data gaps initiative will play an important role in addressing climate-related data deficits

Climate change

How Blended Finance Can Support Climate Transition in Emerging and Developing Economies

November 15, 2022

Innovative instruments and equity finance are needed to enhance risk-sharing through public-private partnerships and maximize the impact of scarce public funds

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Climate change

How Fiscal Policy Can Help Middle East, Central Asia Reduce Emissions

November 6, 2022

Early rollout of climate-mitigation strategies will help countries meet their Paris Agreement commitments and smooth the low-carbon transition

Climate change

Getting Back on Track to Net Zero: Three Critical Priorities for COP27

November 4, 2022

The devastation and destruction of climate change will only worsen if we fail to act now

Climate change

Methane Emissions Must Fall for World to Hit Temperature Targets

November 2, 2022

Fees are a promising and practical solution, especially those that build off existing business taxes common for extractive industries and agriculture

Global Economy

Economic growth

Slowing Global Economic Growth is Increasingly Evident, High-Frequency Data Show

November 13, 2022

Tryggvi Gudmundsson

While there are multiple headwinds weighing on growth, further policy tightening is expected amid the need to bring down elevated inflation

Economic growth

Asia and the World Face Growing Risks From Economic Fragmentation

October 27, 2022

Policymakers must act decisively to avoid the harm from fraying ties, and ensure trade remains an engine of growth

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Economic growth

Europe Must Address a Toxic Mix of High Inflation and Flagging Growth

October 23, 2022

Authorities must tighten macroeconomic policies to bring down inflation, while helping vulnerable households and viable firms cope with the energy crisis

Economic growth

Latest Global Growth Forecasts Show Challenges Facing Economies

October 19, 2022

The global deceleration will be broad-based, with many economies poised to contract, and the outlook remains uncertain

Economic growth

Latin America Faces a Third Shock as Global Financial Conditions Tighten

October 13, 2022

Growth momentum continues but scarcer and costlier financing will slow the region’s economies, while inflation remains high. Policy priorities are to restore price stability and maintain fiscal sustainability while protecting vulnerable groups

Digital Money & Fintech

Fintech

Africa’s Growing Crypto Market Needs Better Regulations

November 22, 2022

The risks from crypto assets are evident—it’s time to regulate

Fintech

Crypto is More in Line with Asian Equities, Highlighting Need for Regulation

August 21, 2022

Crypto trading volume, and co-movement with equity markets, has surged in the region.

Fintech

More African Central Banks Are Exploring Digital Currencies

June 24, 2022

Several sub-Saharan African central banks are exploring or in the pilot phase of a digital currency, following Nigeria’s October introduction of e-Naira. Nigeria was the second country after the Bahamas to roll out a CBDC.

Fintech

How Crypto and CBDCs Can Use Less Energy Than Existing Payment Systems

June 17, 2022

Environmentally conscious design can make a major difference in the energy efficiency of digital currencies.

Fintech

Crypto Prices Move More in Sync With Stocks, Posing New Risks

January 11, 2022

There’s a growing interconnectedness between virtual assets and financial markets.

Fintech

Making Electronic Money Safer in the Digital Age

December 14, 2021

As e-money use grows, regulators need to focus on consumer protection and the integrity of the overall payments system.

Inflation

How Fiscal Restraint Can Help Fight Inflation

November 21, 2022

Fiscal policy can ease the task of monetary policy in reducing inflation while mitigating risks to financial stability

Inflation

Africa’s Inflation Among Region’s Most Urgent Challenges

October 20, 2022

Tackling inflation while supporting growth and protecting the vulnerable warrants careful and vigilant monetary policy tightening

Inflation

Wage-Price Spiral Risks Appear Contained Despite High Inflation

October 5, 2022

Analysis suggests a sustained acceleration of wages and prices is unlikely

Inflation

Africa Food Prices Are Soaring Amid High Import Reliance

September 27, 2022

Factors include the region’s heavy reliance on food imports and changes in food consumption and incomes.

Inflation

How Food and Energy are Driving the Global Inflation Surge

September 12, 2022

Rapid increases in food prices have been one of the main drivers of quickening inflation around the world, as our Chart of the Week shows.

Inflation

Shifting Global Winds Pose Challenges to Latin America

July 27, 2022

The region continued its strong recovery in early 2022, but decelerating economic activity and persistent inflation will test its resilience.

Financial Markets

Financial markets

Market Liquidity Strains Signal Heightened Global Financial Stability Risk

October 27, 2022

A deterioration in market liquidity has amplified price swings

Financial markets

Global Current Account Balances Widen Amid War and Pandemic

August 4, 2022

The war in Ukraine and resulting increase in commodity prices are expected to contribute to a further widening this year.

Financial markets

Capital Markets Regulation Is Stronger, but Some Gaps Still Must be Closed

June 29, 2022

Countries have made substantial progress toward implementing capital markets regulatory reform, but important gaps remain and new challenges have raised the bar.

Financial markets

Dollar Dominance and the Rise of Nontraditional Reserve Currencies

June 1, 2022

The greenback’s share of global foreign-exchange reserves has extended a two-decade decline, but it’s still used more than all other currencies combined.

Financial markets

Private Debt to Weigh on Global Economic Recovery

April 18, 2022

A record rise in private debt could slow the economic recovery, but the drag on growth will vary across countries and within them.

Financial markets

Emerging-Market Banks’ Government Debt Holdings Pose Financial Stability Risks

April 18, 2022

Banks’ holdings of sovereign debt rise to a record as governments spend to cushion pandemic impact.

Gender Gap

Gender

How to Close Gender Gaps and Grow the Global Economy

September 8, 2022

Capturing the dividends from women’s economic equity. Too many women are locked out of economic opportunities, which is not only unfair but also harms growth and resilience for all.

Gender

Gender Budgeting Is More Widespread But Implementation Remains a Challenge

March 8, 2022

The pandemic has deepened long-standing gender gaps, with women continuing to bear the burden of unpaid work. By structuring spending and taxation in ways that advance gender equality—a process called gender budgeting—governments can help close the gap.

Gender

How Empowering Women Supports Economic Growth

March 7, 2022

International Women’s Day, first recognized by the United Nations in 1977, grew from early 1900s labor movements for better working conditions and women’s right to work.

Gender

How Domestic Violence is a Threat to Economic Development

November 24, 2021

Gender

Women in Economics

August 6, 2021

Gender

COVID-19: The Moms Emergency

April 30, 2021

Inclusive Growth

Inclusive growth

Africa’s Rapid Economic Growth Hasn’t Fully Closed Income Gaps

September 21, 2022

Habtamu Fuje, Jiaxiong Yao

Despite decades of rapid growth, regional inequalities in sub-Saharan Africa persist.

Inclusive growth

Where Are the World’s Fastest Roads?

June 15, 2022

Finance and Development Magazine

The magazine publishes cutting-edge analysis & insight on the latest trends & research in international finance, economics, & development.

fandd

Inclusive growth

Fragile and Conflict-Affected Economies Are Falling Further Behind

January 21, 2022

Even before the pandemic, fragile and conflict-affected states (FCS) already confronted some of the greatest challenges among the world’s economies.

Inclusive growth

Joint Action Needed to Secure the Recovery

October 27, 2021

G20 should lead in sharing vaccine doses, helping developing countries financially, and committing to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by mid-century.

Inclusive growth

How To Escape The Perils of Fragility

August 3, 2021

Already facing huge development needs, the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating the challenges facing fragile and conflict states—a group of currently about 40 countries trapped in cycles of low administrative capacity, political instability, conflict, and weak economic performance.