International Monetary Fund (IMF)
IMF ups eurozone growth forecast
The IMF's European department director, Michael Deppler, said on 28 November that the Fund has raised its eurozone growth forecast for both this year and next.
SA's Trevor Manuel to lead G20
South Africa's veteran finance minister, Trevor Manuel, has called on the group of 20 (G20) finance ministers and central bank governors to "build windmills in the calm of current global financial stability."
Focus on distortions - Blanchard
In his Mundell-Fleming Lecture, MIT economist Oliver Blanchard suggests that the outcome of potential government intervention to address current global imbalances is uncertain.
European reforms of global importance - de Rato
In this speech the International Monetary Fund's managing director, Rodrigo de Rato, suggests that deregulation and financial sector reform in Europe will benefit the continent's economy, and contribute to resolving tensions and potential global problems.
IMF's Rato says more rate rises may be needed
International Monetary Fund managing director Rodrigo de Rato said in an interview with Bloomberg on Friday 17 November that central banks may need to increase interest rates further to keep inflation under wraps, amid faster global economic growth.
Iraqi central bank officials get skills boost
A five-day workshop offering training to officials from the Central Bank of Iraq was launched Monday 13 November in Bahrain.
Economic woes await next Congo president
According to this article published Thursday 9 November by AFX, whoever emerges winner of Congo's recent presidential election will have a hard time wooing back citizens who have given up on institutions in favour of a giant shadow economy.
IMF's Lipsky calls for SA vigilance on rates
South Africa has responded "appropriately" to rising inflationary pressure but needs to remain vigilant, IMF first deputy managing director John Lipsky said on Tuesday 7 November.
Transmission mechanisms of monetary policy-Armenia
The IMF Working Paper "Transmission mechanisms of monetary policy in Armenia: Evidence from VAR analysis" examines monetary policy transmission in Armenia in light of the authorities' intention to shift to an inflation-targeting regime over the medium…
Canada's Dodge on prospering in the global economy
In the speech 'Prospering in today's global economy: Challenges for open economies such as Australia and Canada' given on 6 November David Dodge of the Bank of Canada said the IMF should be able to bluntly tell governments when their policies hurt other…
IMF's Leipold says France can do better
Despite a positive assessment of France's economic performance and policies, the country "needs to do better" the IMF said.
IMF paper on integration of the securities market
The IMF Working Paper "Integration of the securities market infrastructure in the European Union: Policy and regulatory issues" examines the impact of ongoing cross-border integration of securities market infrastructure in the European Union.
It's the imbalances, stupid
Rachel Lomax, a deputy governor of the Bank of England, dismissed suggestions that the International Monetary Fund had outlived its usefulness in a speech in London on Wednesday 1 November.
Bond markets as conduits for capital flows
The IMF Working Paper "Bond markets as conduits for capital flows: How does Asia compare?" finds that Europe is more financially integrated than other regions, while Asia already seems to have made more progress on this front than Latin America and other…
Paper on influences of demand for IMF resources
The main objective of the IMF Working Paper "How does the global economic environment influence the demand for IMF resources" is to quantify the relationship between the global economic environment and the number of Stand-By Arrangements (SBAs).
Iraq central bank officials to train in Bahrain
Sixteen high-ranking officials from Iraq's central bank are to undergo advanced training at the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance, the Gulf Daily News reported on Tuesday 31 October.
IMF's Ahmed on modernizing the IMF for the 21st C
In the speech 'Modernizing the IMF for the 21st Century' given on 18 October Masood Ahmed of the IMF said the past decade or so has been a particularly challenging one for the Fund and for the 184 countries which are its members.
IMF paper on a Pacific Island common currency
The IMF Working Paper "Pacific Island countries - Possible common currency arrangement" paper examines the potential advantages and disadvantages of adopting a common currency arrangement among the six IMF member Pacific island countries that have their…
Optimal reserve levels in emerging markets
The International Monetary Fund Working Paper "The optimal level of international reserves for emerging market countries: Formulas and applications" presents a model of the optimal level of international reserves for a small open economy that is…
IMF's Rato proposes Murilo Portugal as deputy
Rodrigo de Rato, managing director of the International Monetary Fund proposed the appointment of Murilo Portugal to the position of deputy managing director on Monday 23 October.
IMF paper on currency unions
Against the background of the theory of optimum currency areas, the IMF paper "Beauty queens and wallflowers - Currency unions in the Middle East and Central Asia" analyzes possible sequences for establishing a currency union (CU) in the Middle East and…
Empirical evidence for central bank autonomy
The International Monetary Fund Working Paper "Measures of central bank autonomy: Empirical evidence for OECD, developing, and emerging market economies" presents an update of the Grilli-Masciandaro-Tabellini (GMT) index of central bank (CB) autonomy,…
The measurement of central bank autonomy
The International Monetary Fund Working Paper "The measurement of central bank autonomy: Survey of models, indicators, and empirical evidence" presents a survey of the literature on the measurement of central bank autonomy.
ECB should not look far ahead on rates - IMF
IMF chief economist Raghuram Rajan warned the European Central Bank on Wednesday 18 October not to have a predetermined plan for further increases in eurozone rates but to base decisions on economic data.