Over recent decades, labor’s share of GDP has declined steadily in many countries. The International Labour Organization suggests that reforming the labor market could halt that downturn and, at the same time, help reduce inequality.
The uneven distribution of wealth is one of the most debated issues in contemporary politics and economics. In a recently published, best-selling book, Thomas Piketty, explains the historical forces which have resulted in this inequality, and why a global tax on wealth could be the solution.
News of rising inequality is, more often than not, met with much handwringing. But, the growing gap between the super rich and the rest has also been accompanied by the lifting of millions out of poverty.
The future continues to look bright for sub-Saharan Africa, with robust growth expected to accelerate next year. But the IMF also warns of possible threats to the continent’s economy coming from outside the region.
Rising inequality around the world is becoming a cause of increasing concern. The IMF is contributing to the debate by suggesting how governments might use tax and spending to reduce the gap between the haves and the have lesses...without slowing down growth.
Why are some countries richer than others? The key may lie in the agricultural sector, says one expert, who suggests that low agricultural productivity may be keeping poor countries in a state of arrested development.
The frequency of natural disasters has increased, and its usually poorer countries that are more affected than the developed. But IMF economists say the right policies can be soften their devastating impact. By Nicole Laframboise, Deputy Division Chief, IMF’s Western Hemisphere Department
Over the next two decades, global energy consumption is expected to increase by more than 40 percent, according to the Chief Economist of BP, who describes some of the likely tectonic shifts in the energy sector of the future.
Economists use models to try to make sense of economic trends and shape policies. But, since the financial meltdown of 2008, many have criticized what they see as an overreliance on these models which failed to predict the crisis. The former President of the European Central Bank suggests ways these models might be improved.
Unemployment benefits deter job seekers from accepting work, say critics. But do they? One expert weighs the evidence.
Traditionally, humanitarian workers and development specialists were seen as inhabiting two different worlds, but one expert calls for some joined up thinking to help the people of fragile states.
La croissance de l’économie mondiale devrait s’accélérer cette année, selon le Fonds monétaire international. C’est ce qui ressort de la dernière mise à jour des Perspectives de l’économie mondiale du FMI. Le FMI table sur une croissance mondiale voisine de 3,7 % cette année, qui passerait à 3,9 % en 2015.
Global growth is expected to increase this year, says the International Monetary Fund in its latest report on the health of the global economy. The IMF forecasts global growth to average 3.7 percent in 2014―up from 3 percent in 2013―and to rise to 3.9 percent in 2015.
Africa is one of the fastest growing regions in the world, but the persistence of youth unemployment threatens this progress. Some see this growth without jobs as a ticking time bomb. Lamido Sanusi, the Governor of the central bank of Nigeria explains how to tackle this issue.
Zambia has enjoyed rapid growth in recent years, but the size of its fiscal deficit looms large over its future, says the IMF in a new report on the state of this south African economy.
“A rising tide lifts all boats.” That may be true on the oceans, but it’s not always the case when it comes to economic growth. But, countries can choose to pursue economic policies that will benefit all—rich and poor alike.
After a decade of strong growth, many emerging markets have experienced an economic slowdown. Martin Wolf, chief economics commentator at the Financial Times, explains how these economies might restore momentum.
In a wide ranging interview, the chief economist of the African development bank gave his thoughts on the African middle class, the state of data in Africa and the continent’ stellar economic performance.
The recent slowing growth in emerging markets may continue for the foreseeable future says economist Tim Adams. At a recent seminar on "Emerging Markets: Restoring the Momentum", Adams suggested that this change could be a good thing, heralding more balanced and sustainable growth.
Dans son dernier rapport sur les perspectives économiques de l’Afrique subsaharienne, le Fonds monétaire international prévoit pour la région une croissance de 6 % en 2014, contre 5 % prévus pour cette année. La région bénéficie de l’amélioration de la conjoncture aux niveaux local et mondial.
In the latest economic outlook for sub-Saharan Africa, the International Monetary Fund expects growth to reach 6% in 2014, up from the 5% expected this year. The region is benefiting from improved domestic and global conditions.
Water is the one resource we cannot live without. Yet, in some parts of the world, it remains inaccessible to many. To coincide with his article (http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2013/09/Gleick.htm) in September’s “Finance & Development,” Peter Gleick argues that we need to radically change how we consume this vital resource.
Le FMI prévoit une croissance de 2,9 % de l'économie mondiale cette année, soit moins que les 3,2 % enregistrés l'année dernière. La croissance sera vraisemblablement tirée par les économies avancées, tandis que les pays émergents afficheront des résultats moins bons que prévu.
Before the global financial crisis, the economies of central, eastern and southeastern Europe were expected to converge to the levels of their richer, western neighbors. But since the crisis, growth has been disappointing. How then to return this region to greater prosperity?
As US politicians race against the clock to avoid the United States defaulting on its debt, Martin Wolf describes what the debt ceiling is, and its implications for the global economy.
In the latest update to its World Economic Outlook, the IMF says it expects the world's economy to grow by 2.9 percent this year—below the 3.2 percent recorded last year. Growth is likely to be driven by advanced economies, while the performance of emerging markets will be weaker than expected.
Despite its many achievements since the transition to majority rule, South Africa struggles with low growth, widespread unemployment, and sharp social tensions. The IMF says Africa’s largest economy needs to pursue structural reforms to boost growth and create jobs for a growing population.
The 26-odd countries in the Caribbean may be small, but they are facing many of the same challenges confronting larger nations. These include the need to create more jobs and ensure that any growth is spread across a wide cross section of society. The countries of the Caribbean and various international organizations are meeting in the Bahamas to discuss how to capture that elusive growth.
Kenya is one of the success stories of Africa’s economic resurgence. Just a few short years after the global financial crisis caused a sharp economic downturn, the country has rebounded, and earned a reputation as one of the continent’s frontier economies. With this strong performance in mind, the Kenya and the IMF will co-host a conference to discuss the country's prospects.
Myanmar has made impressive strides in opening and liberalizing the economy, boosting growth and the economic outlook, but the formerly isolated country still faces some challenges.
