This article is published in association with IMF. Julie Cooper The Efficiency Trap Imagine stepping into a leadership role and feeling like you’ve walked into a swamp. Every step is measured. Every movement is resisted. Progress feels agonizing. Decisions crawl. Approvals get stuck in layers of bureaucracy. It’s frustrating—like trying to run through quicksand. If you’ve […]The Hidden Strength of Government Inefficiency: Why Slow Systems Save Us
May 6, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Julie Cooper The Efficiency Trap Imagine stepping into a leadership role and feeling like you’ve walked into a swamp. Every step is measured. Every movement is resisted. Progress feels agonizing. Decisions crawl. Approvals get stuck in layers of bureaucracy. It’s frustrating—like trying to run through quicksand. If you’ve […]Afghanistan’s socioeconomic crisis deepens amid crackdown on women’s rights
May 2, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. In Afghanistan, 75 per cent of the population struggles to meet their daily needs; with female-headed households, rural communities and internally displaced persons being most affected, the UN development agency (UNDP) has noted in a new report. As the Afghan economy faces stalled local production and weak […]Where Budgets Meet Gender Equality: Insights from PEFA Data
April 29, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Gender inequality is a persistent challenge across countries, regardless of income level. Among various policy tools aimed at addressing these disparities, Gender Responsive Public Financial Management (GRPFM) has gained traction as a promising approach. GRPFM integrates gender considerations into budgetary processes, aiming to allocate public resources in ways […]As budgets shrink, UN Peacekeeping looks to the future
April 28, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. With just weeks to go before a key ministerial meeting in Berlin, the UN and Germany have reaffirmed their commitment to peacekeeping – a vital tool for global stability that must now adapt to dwindling resources. “This is a particularly timely meeting,” said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General […]Largely eradicated diseases at risk of returning due to budget cuts
April 25, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Vaccines have saved around 150 million lives over the past 50 years, but that progress is now under threat. Cuts to global health funding are leading to a rise in outbreaks of diseases that vaccines had nearly wiped out, the UN health agency, WHO, is warning on […]Asia’s megacities at a crossroads as climate and population challenges grow
April 22, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Asia’s sprawling megacities – which are driving economic growth – face an uncertain future as rising temperatures, aging populations and unplanned urban development tests their resilience. Seven of the ten most populous cities in the world are in Asia, with Tokyo, Delhi, Shanghai and Dhaka topping the […]Global growth on recessionary path amid trade tensions and uncertainty
April 18, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. The world economy is on a recessionary trajectory as global growth is expected to slow to 2.3 per cent this year due to escalating trade tensions and uncertainty, the UN trade and development body, UNCTAD, said in a new report published on Wednesday. The projection is below […]How to Build Public Support for Energy Subsidy and Pension Reforms
April 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Era Dabla-Norris, Davide Furceri, Mauricio Soto Many countries struggle with low economic growth and high debt and will need bold fiscal actions to restore their finances. Two significant areas for potential savings are energy subsidies and pension systems. However, reforms in both areas can be unpopular with the public. Public […]Emerging Markets Face a Perfect Storm
April 15, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Kanan Mammadov Emerging economies are bracing for what could become a new sovereign debt crisis. Developing countries are set to pay a record $400 billion in external debt service in 2024 (World Economic Forum), a burden that threatens to divert resources from crucial development needs. From 2020 to 2023, there were 15 […]How Rising Geopolitical Risks Weigh on Asset Prices
April 15, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Salih Fendoglu, Mahvash S. Qureshi, Felix Suntheim Heightened tensions can hurt stock markets, raise government borrowing costs, and pose risks to financial stability Global geopolitical risks remain elevated, raising concerns about their potential impact on economic and financial stability. Shocks such as wars, diplomatic tensions, or terrorism can disrupt cross-border trade […]EU and UAE agree to launch free trade talks
April 11, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Today, President von der Leyen held a cordial phone call with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates. During their discussion, they agreed to launch negotiations on a free trade agreement. This marks a positive step forward […]New screening rules for foreign investment in the EU
April 9, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Parliament. On Tuesday, the International Trade Committee adopted revised rules for screening foreign investments in the EU. Under the new rules, more sectors, such as media services, critical raw materials and transport infrastructure, will be subject to mandatory screening by Member States, in order to […]Seven Success Mantras for Public Financial Management Reforms
April 3, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Antonio Blasco, Srinivas Gurazada Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) assessment reports offer a comprehensive 360-degree view of Public Financial Management (PFM), utilizing robust evidence-based scoring methodology. While producing a high-quality PEFA assessment report is largely a technical exercise, decisions on reform actions necessarily need to go beyond […]Southeast Asia’s Economies Can Gain Most by Packaging Ambitious Reforms
March 28, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Anne-Charlotte Paret Onorato Combining overhauls in areas including business and external regulation, governance, and human development can boost output levels by 3 percent over four years. Anne-Charlotte Paret Onorato March 25, 2025 Southeast Asia’s major economies have made major strides over the last couple of decades. The largest have seen […]Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy: Lessons from Singapore’s Experience
March 19, 2025 by 3 Comments
This article is published in association with IMF. In 2023, Uganda launched an ambitious growth strategy to expand its economy from USD 50 billion to USD 500 billion by 2040. This ‘ten-fold growth strategy’ is anchored on agro-industrialization, tourism, mineral development, and science and technology innovation (ATMS) to accelerate growth. Achieving this bold ambition could elevate […]How Sound Economic Policy Can Help Prevent Conflict
March 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Macroeconomic policy can play a key role in preventing armed conflict, in turn saving lives and avoiding injuries, forced displacement and migration, and vast damage to the economy. That’s according to new IMF research, based on policy simulations incorporating machine learning-based predictions of conflict. The paper finds that every […]Boosting Growth and Prosperity in South Africa
March 11, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Improving the business environment, strengthening governance, and reforming the labor market are among the keys to economic success South Africa is well-positioned to confront significant longstanding challenges that have been holding the economy back: declining real per-capital income, persistent unemployment, pervasive poverty, and one of the highest inequality […]EIB mobilises capital markets for gender equality and women’s economic empowerment
March 6, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank has announced the extension of its Sustainability Awareness Bond (SAB) to cover two new social objectives: “gender equality” and “women’s economic empowerment”. It comes ahead of International Women’s Day at the EIB Group Forum which has brought together partners from national finance […]How Talent Fuels Growth
March 6, 2025 by 1 Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Gita Bhatt Every great leap in human progress—from the printing press to the steam engine to the semiconductor—has been driven by ideas. But ideas do not emerge in a vacuum; they come from people. And among them, it is often the most talented minds that push the boundaries […]EBRD’s 2025 growth forecast for Türkiye unchanged
February 27, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) expects Türkiye’s economy to grow by 3 per cent in 2025, unchanged from its September 2024 forecast. The Bank expects the Turkish economy to then grow by 3.5 per cent in 2026. These forecasts were published today in […]EBRD revises down Ukraine’s 2025 growth forecast
February 27, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. Ukraine’s economy, which grew 3.0 per cent in 2024 despite the pressures of Russia’s full-scale war, is forecast to grow 3.5 per cent in 2025 and strengthen further to 5.0 per cent in 2026 provided that an agreement to suspend fighting is reached this year, says […]Growth slows in EBRD regions amid fragmenting trade and investment
February 27, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has revised its regional economic forecast for 2025 downwards by 0.3 percentage points relative to its September 2024 outlook. Growth across the economies where the Bank invests is now expected to average 3.2 per cent this year, before […]EBRD and UK align efforts to mobilise private capital
February 25, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with EBRD. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the UK government are joining forces to support private capital mobilisation and stimulate growth in developing countries and the United Kingdom. EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso and UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves today welcomed UK-based businesses, […]Rising Rates May Trigger Financial Instability, Complicating Fight Against Inflation
February 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Katharina Bergant, Mai Hakamada, Divya Kirti, Rui C. Mano Before the pandemic, investors worried about how persistently low inflation and interest rates would crimp bank profits. Paradoxically, they also worried about bank profitability when post-COVID reopening sent inflation and central bank interest rates soaring. The failure of Silicon […]Statement on the US reciprocal tariff policy
February 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. The European Commission views President Trump’s proposed “reciprocal” trade policy as a step in the wrong direction. The EU remains committed to an open and predictable global trading system that benefits all partners. The EU maintains some of the lowest tariffs in the world […]Strengthening medium-term fiscal frameworks in Southern Africa
February 11, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Governments across Sub-Saharan Africa are grappling with the fiscal trilemma: containing debt, meeting development needs through increased spending, and managing resistance to tax hikes. According to the October 2024 World Economic Outlook, while debt-to-GDP ratios are projected to decline, they remain elevated due to persistent risks, including macroeconomic […]Accrual Accounting and Transition Economy Countries
February 5, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Accounting reform is a ‘hot topic’ and pressure exists from international organisations like the World Bank and IMF and consultants, for countries to adopt the international accrual standards of public sector accounting (IPSASs). Countries are attracted by the broad promises of accrual accounting, including increased transparency, better decision […]EIB Group achieves record results in 2024, targets €95 billion in investments for 2025
February 3, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with European Investment Bank. The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group signed €89 billion in new financing last year. The Group made more investments than ever before to strengthen EU energy security, mobilising over €100 billion for projects in new and upgraded infrastructure such as grids and interconnectors, renewables, net-zero industries, efficiency and […]What Measures can Developing Countries Take to Curb Rising Debt Levels?
January 29, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Talal Rafi Over 3 billion people live in 48 developing countries where their governments pay more on interest payments than on either education or health. That is almost half the world’s population. Education and health are key areas of spending if governments want to increase the productivity of […]As One Cycle Ends, Another Begins Amid Growing Divergence
January 20, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas We project global growth will remain steady at 3.3 percent this year and next, broadly aligned with potential growth that has substantially weakened since before the pandemic. Inflation is declining, to 4.2 percent this year and 3.5 percent next year, in a return to central bank […]Negotiators conclude on modernised Global Agreement with Mexico
January 18, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission. Political negotiations have concluded to modernise the EU’s Global Agreement with Mexico, following political engagement between Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič and Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard. The agreement puts in place an ambitious and modern framework to deepen and […]Economic recovery is losing steam, warns UN labour agency
January 17, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with United Nations. Geopolitical tensions, the rising costs of climate change and unresolved debt issues are putting labour markets under pressure, according to a new report from the International Labour Organization (ILO) published on Thursday. The newly released World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2025, sheds light on the deceleration […]Côte d’Ivoire: Fostering Economic Transformation and Adapting to Climate Change
January 15, 2025 by Leave a Comment
This article is published in association with IMF. Côte d’Ivoire has become a pillar of growth and stability for the region, thanks to its impressive economic resilience and commitment to reform, but efforts to address certain challenges need to be maintained. The Ivoirien economy has performed strongly over the past decade, with GDP growth averaging 6.4 […]
