The IMF’s latest Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa dedicates an entire chapter on what a drought, an earthquake or a pandemic can do to a country’s economy. In this podcast, lead authors Marshall Mills and Vimal Thakoor say natural disasters have a much bigger impact in sub-Saharan Africa than any other region. Contributors: Marshall Mills: Economist and Mission Chief for Madagascar, IMF African Department. Vimal Thakoor: Economist, IMF African Department....
Nov 16, 2016•12 min
While the benefits of expanding women’s participation in the economy are clear, women around the globe continue to face barriers. In this podcast, Action Aid’s Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda says women bear a disproportionate responsibility for unpaid care work, and ill-thought-out policies often add to that burden. Gumbonzvanda joined a panel on Making Macroeconomics Work for Women at the IMF World-Bank Annual Meetings. Contributors: Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, International Board Chair for Action Aid...
Nov 07, 2016•14 min
In this podcast, IMF Managing Director, Christine Lagarde, and best-selling author Michael Lewis (The Big Short), reflect on lessons learned from the financial crisis and other issues facing the world economy. The discussion took place before a live audience during the IMF World-Bank Annual meetings last month. Contributors: Christine Lagarde: IMF Managing Director. Michael Lewis: Author, columnist and financial journalist.
Nov 02, 2016•14 min
In this podcast, inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil talks about how artificial intelligence is helping overcome human limitations and creating better-paying jobs. Kurzweil participated in a panel discussion entitled Technology, Innovation, and Inclusive Growth , during the 2016 IMF World-Bank Annual Meetings. Contributors: Ray Kurzweil: Inventor, futurist, and author.
Oct 27, 2016•12 min
The IMF's latest regional economic outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa shows growth at its lowest level in more than 20 years. But in this podcast, the African Department’s new Director, Abebe Aemro Selassie, says it’s a mixed story of struggling oil-exporters and strong performers. Contributors: Abebe Aemro Selassie, Director of the IMF’s African Department
Oct 25, 2016•13 min
Le dernier rapport du FMI sur les Perspectives économiques régionales prévoit que le taux de croissance économique de l’Afrique subsaharienne devrait descendre à son plus bas niveau depuis plus de deux décennies. Mais Céline Allard, chef de la division des études régionales au Département Afrique, dit que plusieurs pays continuent de croitre de manière très robuste Contributeurs: Céline Allard, chef de la division des études régionales au Département Afrique du FMI
Oct 25, 2016•14 min
The IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook projects global growth at 3.1 percent in 2016 and 3.4 percent in 2017. In this podcast, IMF Chief Economist Maurice Obstfeld says growth has been too slow for too long. Contributors: Maurice Obstfeld, IMF Chief Economic Counselor
Oct 04, 2016•4 min
Ghana’s economy—once a model for growth in West Africa, took a turn for the worse in 2012. It’s been getting help from the IMF under a 3-year program known as the Extended Credit Facility. The IMF board has approved another US$116m, and under the arrangement Ghana could receive more than US$900m if all targets are met. In this podcast, Joël Toujas-Bernaté, IMF mission chief for Ghana, says the country is making good progress. Contributors: Joël Toujas-Bernaté, IMF Mission Chief for Ghana...
Sep 30, 2016•11 min
While Ethiopia has been experiencing strong growth since the early 2000s, the IMF’s latest review of the country’s economy says low commodity prices and a drought have put growth levels well below 10 percent for the first time in a decade. In this podcast, we speak with Julio Escolano, IMF Mission Chief for Ethiopia, who oversaw the writing of the report. Contributors: Julio Escolano, IMF Mission Chief for Ethiopia.
Sep 29, 2016•11 min
More than 1 million migrants and refugees made their way to Europe last year, 350K from Syria alone. A recent IMF study says people fleeing conflict areas in the Middle-East and North Africa has brought about the biggest refugee crisis since World War 2. In this podcast, the UN’s Kyung-Wha Kang says the 1951 UN convention for refugees is no longer enough. Contributors: Kyung-Wha Kang, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator at the United Natio...
Sep 15, 2016•7 min
The United Nations estimates the global creative economy in 2011 generated more than $600 billion. In this podcast we speak with Patrick Kabanda, who says a country’s cultural wealth presents a huge development opportunity. Kabanda is author of Music Going for a Song published in the September 2016 edition of Finance & Development Magazine . Contributors: Patrick Kabanda, Consultant for the office of the Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at the World Bank...
Sep 09, 2016•10 min
As robotic technology becomes more sophisticated, robots could soon become perfect substitutes for human labor. In this podcast, IMF economist Andy Berg says the robot revolution could lead to greater inequality. Berg is coauthor of Robots, Growth, and Inequality published in the September 2016 edition of Finance & Development Magazine . Contributors: Andy Berg, Deputy Director of the IMF’s Institute for Capacity Development...
Aug 31, 2016•13 min
Taxes are what governments rely on to provide the public goods and services that support economic growth. In this podcast, DG DEVCO’s Klaus Rudischhauser, says some countries with millions of inhabitants have only a few hundred tax payers. Rudischhauser participated in a Spring Meeting’s seminar on Capacity Development entitled Collect More & Spend Better Contributors: Klaus Rudischhauser, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission’s International Cooperation and Development (DG DEVC...
Aug 26, 2016•9 min
Les Autorités Malagasy et les services du FMI sont arrivés à un accord de principe sur un programme économique valable jusqu’à fin 2019, ouvrant la voie à une croissance soutenue et inclusive. Les politiques envisagées dans ce cadre pourraient bénéficier d’un concours de $310 millions de dollars. Dans ce podcast, Marshall Mills, chef de Mission pour le Madagascar, discute les points essentiels du nouveau programme. Contributors: Marshall Mills, chef de Mission du FMI pour le Madagascar...
Aug 19, 2016•9 min
The IMF says Madagascar has built a good track record since it’s reengagement in 2014, showing the country is capable of sustaining recent reforms that have improved its economic outlook. In this podcast, Mission Chief, Marshall Mills talks about a new IMF program for Madagascar that includes US$ 310 million over three years. Contributors: Marshall Mills, IMF Mission Chief for Madagascar
Aug 19, 2016•9 min
Abhijit Banerjee, has worked in dozens of countries trying to better understand the economics of poverty. He argues anti-poverty policies often fail because of inadequate understanding of the decisions poor people make. Banerjee Participated in a seminar on Sustainable Economic Development during the IMF World-Bank Spring meetings. In this podcast, we discuss why so little is known about a billion poor people in the world. Contributors: Abhijit Banerjee, Ford Foundation International Professor o...
Aug 12, 2016•10 min
It’s vital to address the economic challenges of women and girls in order to fix the economic challenges of nations. This was the main theme of a seminar called Getting Down to Business: Women, Work, and the Global Economy , held during the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings. In this podcast, Oxfam International’s Winnie Byanyima talks about the increasing statistical evidence that shows women's contributions to the global economy are invaluable. Contributors: Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of ...
Jul 28, 2016•9 min
Monetary rivalry is a fact of life in the world economy, says Benjamin Cohen, professor of International Political Economy at the University of California and author of Currency Power: Understanding Monetary Rivalry . In this podcast, Cohen explains why currencies become internationalized, and examines the relationship between world currencies and State power. Contributors: Benjamin Cohen, Professor of International Political Economy at the University of California
Jul 22, 2016•11 min
South Africa faces significant challenges and needs decisive action to revive growth, the IMF said in its latest economic review. While the report acknowledges considerable economic and social progress, it shows income inequality and unemployment are unacceptably high. In this podcast, we speak with Laura Papi, IMF Mission Chief for South Africa. Contributors: Laura Papi, IMF Mission Chief for South Africa
Jul 06, 2016•8 min
Many of the world’s bigger banks are reevaluating their relationships with banks in smaller riskier countries, making it harder for businesses and people to move money across borders. The process is commonly known as De-Risking. IMF Staff have recently published a research paper entitled The Withdrawal of Correspondent Banking Relationships . In this podcast, we speak with coauthor Yan Liu. Contributors: Yan Liu, Assistant General Counsel in the IMF’s legal Department....
Jun 30, 2016•10 min
Europe is struggling to cope with millions of asylum seekers from conflict zones in the Middle East. In this podcast, Ian Bremmer, president of the global political risk research firm Eurasia Group, says the biggest challenges behind the refugee crisis are more political than economic. Bremmer participated in a seminar entitled Conflicts and the Refugee Crisis: An International Call for Action at the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in April. Contributors: Ian Bremmer, President and Founder of Eur...
Jun 17, 2016•12 min
Billions of uncollected tax dollars in developing countries could be used to lift more people out of poverty. In this podcast, Eric Postel, USAID’s Associate Administrator explains how redoubled efforts to improve tax systems worldwide are making a difference. Postel participated in seminar entitled Collect More & Spend Better at the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in April. Contributors: Eric Postel, Associate Administrator at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)...
Jun 09, 2016•9 min
If high commodity prices alone drove recent advances in Africa, the prospects for further gains seem dim. But in this podcast, Steven Radelet, says the reality is more complex, and the outlook is more varied than many now suggest. Radelet’s article, Africa’s Rise- Interrupted? is published in the June 2016 issue of Finance and Development magazine. Contributors: Steven Radelet, holds the Donald F. McHenry Chair in Global Human Development, and is Director of the Global Human Development Program ...
Jun 03, 2016•12 min
Slumping Chinese demand has African economies scrambling to find alternate sources of revenue. In this podcast, we speak with Roger Nord, Deputy Director of the African Department in the IMF, and coauthor of A Fork in the Road , published in the June 2016 issue of Finance and Development magazine. Contributors: Roger Nord, IMF Deputy Director, African Department
May 26, 2016•9 min
Of the 5 million people fleeing civil war in Syria, more than a million have ended up in Jordan. The refugee crisis has hit host countries like Jordan hard. Imad Fakhoury, Jordan’s minister of planning, joined a seminar about Conflicts and the Refugee Crisis , at the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings. In this podcast, Fakhoury talks about the impacts of the refugee crisis on Jordan. Contributors: Imad Fakhoury, Jordan’s Minister of Planning and International Cooperation...
May 20, 2016•11 min
As Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun is charged with navigating Africa’s largest oil producer through the biggest oil price slump in decades. In this podcast, Adeosun talks about the need to diversify government revenues, and how inclusive growth can stem rising insecurity. Adeosun joined a panel discussion about sub-Saharan Africa during the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings. Contributors: Kemi Adeosun, Nigeria’s Finance Minister
May 13, 2016•8 min
La dernière édition des Perspectives économiques régionales,prévoit que l’Afrique subsaharienne va connaître une deuxième annéedifficile à cause des multiples chocs qui frappent la région. Dansce podcast, Céline Allard, chef de la division des étudesrégionales au Département Afrique du FMI, discute les pointsessentiels du rapport. Contributors: Céline Allard, chef de la division des étudesrégionales au Département Afrique du FMI
Apr 28, 2016•12 min
The IMF's latest regional economic outlook for Sub-SaharanAfrica predicts a second difficult year as the region is hit bymultiple shocks. In this podcast, co-author Céline Allard, says thesteep decline in commodity prices and tighter financing conditionshave put many large economies under severe strain. Contributors: Céline Allard, Head of the Regional StudiesDivision in the IMF’s African Department
Apr 28, 2016•12 min
In this Podcast, we speak with Raghu Rajan, India’s central bank governor about the Global Financial Safety Net. Rajan is charged with securing monetary stability in one of the world’s largest Emerging Market economies, at a time when others are stumbling in the face of difficult global economic trends. Rajan participated in a seminar entitled Fortifying the Global Financial Safety Net , during the IMF-World Bank Spring meetings. Contributors: Raghuram Rajan, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Indi...
Apr 27, 2016•11 min
The new World Economic Outlook anticipates a slight acceleration in growth this year, from 3.1 to 3.2 percent, followed by 3.5 percent growth in 2017. But IMF Chief Economist Maurice Obstfeld says projections continue to be progressively less optimistic over time. Contributors: Maurice Obstfeld, IMF Chief Economic Counselor
Apr 12, 2016•6 min
