International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Comment: Zimbabwe's mystery repayment
Two weeks ago the Zimbabwean government managed to avoid expulsion from the IMF by paying off a large chunk of its debt to the Fund. However, the source of the forex-depleted government's finances remains a mystery.
Macroeconomic challenges with EU accession
The IMF Working Paper "Macroeconomic challenges with EU accession in Southeastern Europe: An overview" published February 2006 reviews key macroeconomic challenges with EU accession in Southeastern Europe (SEE).
IMF Paper on forecasting ECB monetary policy
Monetary policy in the euro area is conducted within a multicountry, multicultural, and multilingual context involving multiple central banking traditions. This IMF Working Paper published February 2006 asks how this heterogeneity affects the ability of…
BoE's King on reform of the IMF
In the speech 'Reform of the International Monetary Fund' given on 20 February Mervyn King of the Bank of England said the IMF urgently needs to reassess its purpose and needs more focus, independence and legitimacy.
Suppressed inflation and money demand in Zimbabwe
This International Monetary Fund Working Paper investigates the divergence between inflation and monetary expansion in Zimbabwe since late 2003.
EU's Almunia says Slovenia meets euro criteria
EU economic and monetary affairs commissioner Joaquin Almunia has said Slovenia stands alone as the only euro entry candidate that currently qualifies for membership of the single currency.
Comment: Indonesia and the IMF
The Indonesian finance minister, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, has indicated that the country is considering the early repayment of its outstanding debt to the IMF. The prospect of early repayment raises some interesting questions and policymakers are likely to…
Comment: The IMF and exchange rate surveillance
The IMF's managing director, Rodrigo de Rato, on Thursday 9 February shed some light on the Fund's thinking over its medium-term strategy in a speech in Rome.
Gerd Hausler notifies IMF of intention to leave
Gerd Hausler, Counsellor and Director of the International Monetary Fund's International Capital Markets Department (ICM), has notified IMF Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato of his intention to return to Europe and has asked to be released from his…
IMF letter to the FT
In this letter to the Financial Times on 8 February, 2006, the IMF's assistant director Ashoka Mody, and the Fund's senior resident representative for central Europe and the Baltics, Christoph Rosenberg, question FT columnist Wolfgang Munchau assertion…
IMF paper on bank regulation
This new IMF working paper argues that "banks will want to influence the bank regulator to favor their interests, and they typically have the means to do so".
IMF survey
The new IMF survey includes an overview of the recent reshuffling of the Fund's financial sector department. IMF Managing Director, Rodrigo de Rato, announced plans to create a new department on February 1, 2006.
New book on South Africa from the IMF
The International Monetary Fund has published a new book entitled, "Post-Apartheid South Africa: The First Ten Years". The authors, Michael Nowak and Luca Ricci, argue that "in successfully navigating the transition from apartheid to democracy, the…
IMF's Rato on global imbalances
In a speech at the University of California at Berkeley last week the International Monetary Fund's managing director, Rodrigo de Rato, said the United States should "tackle its current account deficit by increasing domestic saving". Reducing the fiscal…
Rato at the farewell dinner for Alan Greenspan
In remarks at the farewell dinner for Alan Greenspan on 24 January (published 2 Feb) IMF Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato said there are many reasons to envy Alan: not just his economic savvy and ability to move financial markets with a few well-chosen…
IMF plans to strengthen financial market work
Rodrigo de Rato, Managing Director of the IMF announced proposals on Wednesday 1 February to strengthen the Fund's financial and capital market work by creating a new department that will be a center of excellence for all aspects of financial, capital…
IMF's Krueger on the pursuit of stability & growth
In the speech 'A "continuous adventure": The pursuit of stability and growth in modern economies' given on 30 January Anne Krueger of the IMF said low inflation is a vital element in any macroeconomic framework, and much progress has been made.
IMF approves US$10.2m for Central African Republic
The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund said on Monday 30 January that it has approved a credit of SDR 6.962 million (about US$10.2 million) in Emergency Post-Conflict Assistance for the Central African Republic.
Comment: Talking points in January
January has been an eventful month in central banking circles. Debate intensified at the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan over their monetary policy frameworks, while the Bank of Italy and the State Bank of Pakistan saw new governors taking office…
IMF's Rajan on perspectives on global imbalances
In the speech 'Perspectives on global imbalances' given on 23 January Raghuram Rajan of the IMF called on the US to cut its fiscal deficit to help counteract global imbalances.
IMF paper: Vanishing contagion?
This IMF Paper, published January 2006, says that while a number of emerging market crises were characterized by widespread contagion during the 1990s, more recent crises have been mostly contained within national borders.
IMF's Rajan sees a very promising 2006
The International Monetary Fund's Chief Economist on Friday 20 January predicted better global economic growth in 2006 but warned the European Central Bank against raising interest rates too quickly.
Comment: Ugandan banking takes off
A recent IMF working paper documents the vast improvements in the Ugandan banking sector in recent years, arguing that the extension of the central bank's regulatory capacity and the withdrawal of state control have resulted in efficiency gains.
Comment: Botswana's challenge
After decades of expansion, Botswana's central bank now faces a battle to restore economic stability and its own credibility.