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How the Pandemic Widened Global Current Account Balances
2020 was a year of extremes. Travel all but ceased for a period. Oil prices wildly fluctuated. Trade in medical products reached new heights. Household spending shifted to consumer goods rather than services…
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Drawing Further Apart: Widening Gaps in the Global Recovery
The global economic recovery continues, but with a widening gap between advanced economies and many emerging market and developing economies. Our latest global growth forecast of 6 percent for 2021 is unchanged from…
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Taming Market Power Could (also) help Monetary Policy
Some central banks are currently debating whether to tighten monetary policy to fight inflationary pressures, after having eased decisively in response to the COVID-19 shock. In making such decisions, central bankers have to…
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Four Facts about Soaring Consumer Food Prices
Rising world food prices for producers are making headlines and causing concerns among the public. The most recent data show a moderation in consumer food price inflation globally, but as we explain below,…
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How to Attract Private Finance to Africa’s Development
High public debt levels and the uncertain outlook for international aid limit the scope for growth through large public investment programs. The private sector will have to play more of a role in…
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A Proposal to End the COVID-19 Pandemic
Many countries have stepped up in the global fight against the pandemic, as have institutions such as the World Health Organization, the World Bank, Gavi (the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization), the…
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2021 IMF Free Courses for you
IMF is pleased to announce these free online courses on the edX platform starting in May, including its new course on Inclusive Growth (IGx). All courses have a single deadline at the end…
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Why Soaring Stocks Could Be Bad News For The Economy
While it’s had some ups and downs, the stock market has soared to historic heights in recent years. For many, that’s great news: it’s a sign that the economy and their retirement accounts…
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Commercial Real Estate at a Crossroads
Empty office buildings. Reduced store hours. Unbelievably low hotel room rates. All are signs of the times. The containment measures put in place last year in response to the pandemic shuttered businesses and…
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A Beginner’s Guide to CBN’s Ways and Means to the Federal Government of Nigeria
CBN’s financing of the FGN deficits seems to be a structural one and not a one-off event. This is because historical data has shown that the CBN has been financing a huge part…
