GDP
Satellite night-time light data could forecast US exports – Fed paper
Night-time lights offer a quick and accurate picture of economic activity, researchers say
The IFF China Report 2018: The Belt and Road Initiative
China’s signature Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) now includes 71 countries, with trillions of dollars of investment allocated. Leading Chinese and international policymakers explain how BRI efforts are progressing. This section includes an inaugural…
A route to economic growth – The Belt and Road Initiative 2018 survey
To mark the fifth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the IFF – in collaboration with Central Banking – conducted its inaugural Belt and Road Survey of central banks from more than 25 countries and regions. The survey examines BRI…
The IFF China Report 2018: Post-financial crisis – A decade on
The Global Financial Crisis sparked Group of 20 countries to introduce tough new regulations on financial institutions and instruments. Yet the architecture of the global monetary, economic and financial system has many flaws. What lessons can China…
Growth in the digital economy has scrambled statistics – IMF paper
Countries may have been understating GDP growth, while overstating inflation, IMF analysis reveals, as digital products skew prices
Bank of Uganda warns on debt levels
Debt levels could be closer to 50% of GDP if undisbursed loans are taken into account; government upgrades risk of debt distress to “moderate”
Mongolian central bank opposes interest rate cap
Mongolia has some of the world’s highest interest rates, but the central bank warns caps are not the right solution
Powell strikes cautiously upbeat note in first policy press conference
Federal Open Market Committee shifts economic forecasts up marginally
BoE’s FPC sees risks lurking in global debt markets
Committee highlights “material” global vulnerabilities, particularly in debt markets
Denmark is entering a boom – central bank
The Nordic country is benefiting from the growth in export markets, including the US and eurozone
Algerian monetary financing may stoke inflation, warns IMF
In September 2017, Algiers resorted to central bank financing of budget deficits
Zhou says China is ready for bolder reform
Zhou Xiaochuan comments on further progress with liberalisation and financial market reforms in what is likely to be his last press conference as PBoC governor
Protectionism may have ‘serious consequences’ – Canada’s Lane
US tax reforms may affect Canada’s capacity to attract investment, warns deputy governor
Malaysia central bank dismisses concerns over government cash handout
BNM says cash handout idea was “first mooted” by its board, dismissing the suggestion it was designed to “tempt” the Malaysian people
Researchers develop new index to measure geopolitical risk
Heightened threats slow growth and equities returns in advanced economies, paper finds
Canada effecting a cautious normalisation – deputy governor
Uncertainties related to trade, high debt levels and slower growth may delay new rate hikes
State Bank of Vietnam seeks to rein in credit growth
Target of 17% credit growth this year to contain risks
Bank Negara makes first rate hike since 2014
Bank Negara Malaysia is the first South-east Asian central bank to hike rates this year
Central bank of the year: Bank of Canada
The Canadian central bank has stood out for its ever-improving levels of transparency, forward-looking management and best-practice review of its policy mandate
Bank of Korea on hold amid policy dilemma
Strong won and benign inflation likely to keep the BoK on hold in the first half of 2018
Cyclical price analysis needs major improvements – ECB paper
Researchers say DSGE models’ handling of housing prices is subject to errors
First Romanian policy hike in a decade
Central bank hikes policy rate for the first time since 2008, as inflation exceeds forecasts
Older workforce will reduce Danish growth, central bank says
Reforms to expand labour supply are needed to offset negative effects of demography
Early asset purchases much more successful – BIS paper
Authors find effectiveness falls over time as the shock wears off, questioning the value of long-running quantitative easing