Economics
IMF approves new programmes in support of weaker economies
Over the past week the fund has given the green light for disbursements in Bosnia, Paraguay, DRC and Mauritania
The IFF China Report 2020: Green finance and fintech
Green finance has been steadily growing over the past few years. As China has come under greater scrutiny about the scope of its projects, the Belt and Road Initiative has evolved to foster sustainability both in terms of debt servicing and…
Pandemics can depress natural rates for multiple decades – SF Fed
Real wages tend to rise gradually for 30 years after pandemics, data stretching back to 1340s shows
The IFF China Report 2020: The Belt and Road Initiative
Over the past six years, China has invested more than $500 billion in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – of which there are now in excess of 150 participating counties and organisations. Leading Chinese and international policy-makers explain how BRI…
Most eurozone states experience fiscal spillovers – ECB paper
Eurozone fiscal policy may be especially effective when rate changes have little impact, paper says
Statisticians grapple with inflation impact of Covid-19
Collecting reliable inflation figures during lockdown is not straightforward
Women affected more by job losses in US lockdown – Kansas Fed
Roughly 60% of job losses were to women in the first half of March, researchers find
Fed banks ramp up Covid-19 surveying
Real-time and weekly surveys reveal deepening economic fallout
Lowe tells Australians to prepare for biggest contraction since 1930s
Uncertainty and movement restrictions have hampered spending and increased unemployment
Mass testing ‘would end crisis’ – Bullard
Government should foot bill for Covid-19 test production, Bullard says
Canadian governor sees ‘robust’ recovery in third quarter
Poloz says major shock to growth will probably be followed by “swift” recovery
IMF approves $1.4 billion transfer for Pakistan
Aid should be used to finance budget and bolster foreign reserves, IMF executive board says
Trump’s NAFTA replacement could harm car production – Dallas Fed research
Authors say Mexico could face biggest loss from USMCA deal
The Belt and Road Initiative 2020 Survey – A more sustainable road to growth?
The third annual Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) survey reveals that central banks view BRI investment as sustainable compared with other forms of external debt, particularly given it is often proportionally less significant. Despite growing global trade…
IMF urges countries to use fiscal firepower against Covid-19
“Do whatever it takes, but make sure to keep the receipts,” says IMF fiscal chief
IMF projects deepest recession since Great Depression
Global growth could contract by between -3% and -6% this year, a combined loss of output of $9 trillion for 2020 and 2021
US must overhaul statistics to fight coronavirus – Minneapolis Fed paper
New methods, laws and cross-sector agreements are necessary to support real-time data analysis, research says
The IFF China Report 2020: China’s opening-up
Extending from east to west, China’s Belt and Road Initiative now encompasses as much as 65% of the world’s countries and a significant portion of global GDP. When first announced, investment was primarily targeted at transport infrastructure – but this…
Transfer season
Trade frictions with the US have caused a mass industrial transfer to China’s neighbours. Zhou Chengjun, IFF Academic Committee member and inspector of the Macro‑prudential Policy Bureau of the People’s Bank of China, says that shouldn’t stop China…
Crises enliven ‘totalitarian temptations’
The coronavirus pandemic will embolden governments and bodies such as the International Monetary Fund to grasp for more power, writes Steve Hanke
World Bank says sub-Saharan Africa destined for first recession in 25 years
Growth could fall as low as -5.1% as largest economies struggle with Covid-19 repercussions
BIS paper finds little evidence of ‘liquidity trap’
Monetary policy remains effective even very close to the lower bound, economists find
Kosovan central bank rolling out response to coronavirus shock
Governor Fehmi Mehmeti says economy is vulnerable but the central bank is taking action
Banque de France predicts 6% economic contraction
Confinement laws have had a significant impact on activity