## IMF Global Policy Tracker: How Countries are Responding to the Economic Impact of the War in the Middle East

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [IMF Global Policy Tracker: How Countries are Responding to the Economic Impact of the War in the Middle East](https://www.imf.org/en/imf-global-policy-tracker)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/imf-global-policy-tracker/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/imf-global-policy-tracker/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/imf-global-policy-tracker/bundle-manifest.json)

---

### Overview
- The IMF Global Policy Tracker is a high-frequency, cross-country database of economic policy measures announced in response to the war in the Middle East since February 2026.
- The data is compiled using AI-enabled web scanning and country teams inputs.
- The tracker is updated periodically; last updated Sept. 2026.

### Key statistics and coverage
- 1,216 Policy measures
- 175 Countries covered
- 9 Policy categories tracked

### What is being tracked (policy taxonomy)
- Trade: Export bans for fossil fuel, export taxes
- Real - Demand / Supply: Release of reserves, rationing, remote work and travel restrictions
- Financial measures: Liquidity provision, macro-prudential measures
- Foreign Exchange Intervention (FXI): fx interventions, currency swap arrangements
- Monetary measures: Policy rate decisions (hike, hold, cut)
- Pricing Measures: Fuel price caps and price monitoring
- Fiscal - Below the line: State-backed loans to companies
- Fiscal - Revenue: Reduction of fuel excise duty, broad-based tax cut
- Fiscal - Spending: Subsidies to energy producers, distributors, and transfers to households

### Patterns and evolution of measures
- Fiscal measures have dominated the response so far, but the policy mix varies by region.
- The tracker enables consistent classification of every measure to support comparability across countries and over time.
- Visualizations in the tracker include "Composition Of Measures By Period (Number Of Tracked Measures)" and "Breakdown By Region (Distribution Of Measures)" to show how measures evolved over time.

### Purpose and use
- Enables high-frequency monitoring of a broad range of policy actions in one consistent taxonomy.
- Supports cross-country and over-time comparisons of policy responses to the energy shock stemming from the war in the Middle East.

---


## References

- [Read the blog](https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2026/10/01/blog-how-countries-are-adapting-as-the-global-energy-shock-persists)
- [The Oil Market Absorbed the War Shock, but Buffers Are Running Low](https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2026/04/14/war-darkens-global-economic-outlook-and-reshapes-policy-priorities)
- [The Energy Shock Is Testing Government Budgets](https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2026/06/18/the-energy-shock-is-testing-government-budgets)
- [Global Economy Endures War Shock—So Far](https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2026/06/15/global-economy-endures-war-shock-so-far)
- [What Drives Policy Responses to the 2026 Energy Shock? First Evidence from the IMF Global Policy Tracker](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2026/10/01/what-drives-policy-responses-to-the-2026-energy-shock-first-evidence-from-the-imf-global-580075)
- [Global Economy in Crosscurrents of War and Technology](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/weo/issues/2026/07/08/world-economic-outlook-update-july-2026)
- [World Economic Outlook: Global Economy in the Shadow of War](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/weo/issues/2026/04/14/world-economic-outlook-april-2026)
- [Fiscal Monitor - Policy under Pressure: High Debt, Rising Risks](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/fm/issues/2026/04/15/fiscal-monitor-april-2026)
- [Global Financial Markets Confront the War in the Middle East and Amplification Risks](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/gfsr/issues/2026/04/14/global-financial-stability-report-april-2026)
- [War in the Middle East: Economic Spillovers and Policy Challenges](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/reo/meca/issues/2026/04/16/regional-economic-outlook-middle-east-central-asia-april-2026)
- [Read Statement](https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2026/07/08/pr26243-joint-statement-by-heads-of-iea-imf-wbg-and-wto)
- [Joint Statement by the Heads of the International Energy Agency, International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group and World Trade Organization](https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2026/05/29/pr26176-joint-statement-by-heads-of-iea-imf-wbg-and-wto)
- [IMF Commodities tracker](https://www.imf.org/en/research/commodity-prices)
- [here.](https://www.imf.org/en/about/copyright-and-terms)

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/imf-global-policy-tracker_