IMF Topical Work

The IMF is investigating AI's broader impact on economies and societies by gathering global knowledge through surveillance activities, and by convening key actors to share successful policy responses, foster international consensus and harmonize regulations.

The IMF's Fragile States Strategy aims to provide robust, well-tailored, and longer-term support to help these vulnerable countries achieve macroeconomic stability, strengthen resilience, promote sustainable and inclusive growth, and exit fragility.

Open, stable, and transparent trade policies are key for economic growth and resilience and for addressing key global challenges, including climate change, food security, and underdevelopment. The Fund’s longstanding role in international trade and trade policy is rooted in our mandate, which we deliver to countries through analysis and policy advice. These activities are complemented by trade work related to lending and capacity development.

Financial technology—fintech—opens opportunities to boost economic growth, especially for financial inclusion, but policymakers must also address the risks. Read the latest IMF research on these issues, including the future of digital currencies.

The IMF’s latest work on the economic and financial aspects of climate change, including policy advice to our member countries to help them manage risks and capture the opportunities of low-carbon, resilient growth.

Excessive inequality can erode social cohesion, lead to political polarization, lower economic growth and can be detrimental for macroeconomic stability, but IMF policies can be designed to tackle inequality without negative repercussions for growth.

The IMF is committed to the SDGs, and is supporting its members in their implementation in areas relevant to its mandate of financial stability and sustainable and inclusive economic growth. At a broad level, IMF engagement on the SDGs is aligned with the five SDG pillars of people, prosperity, planet, peace

While equality between men and women is in itself an important development goal, women's economic participation is also a part of the growth and stability equation.

Improving governance and fighting corruption could lead to more inclusive and sustainable growth. This webpage has articles, blogs, reports, videos, and more on the IMF's work on this topic.

The Special Drawing Rights (SDR) is an international reserve asset created by the IMF to supplement the official reserves of its member countries.

Effective anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) policies and measures are key to the integrity and stability of the international financial system and member countries’ economies.

The IMF is fully committed to supporting our member countries, particularly the most vulnerable; we have the tools to help; and we are coordinating closely with our partner institutions.

The IMF is adapting and strengthening its economic analysis of countries, known as surveillance. To keep up with the changes in the world, the IMF is modernizing surveillance to help policymakers better prepare for a transforming economic landscape.

IMF’s research on a new approach to help countries respond to fluctuations in international capital flows.