Featured analysis

All in-depth research & reports

Issue Brief

Jan 16, 2024

Developing an agenda for international financial institutions and central bank digital currency

By Greg Brownstein and Utsav Saksena

Is the emerging architecture appropriate, effective, and sufficient to manage the global transition to digital money? This report focuses on three domains: financial stability, development and financial inclusion, and global payment systems.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Jan 16, 2024

Governance reform of the Bretton Woods Institutions

By Sienna Nordquist and Joel Christoph

The paper emphasizes the need for a governance reform roadmap at the IMF and World Bank focusing on quota reallocation, diplomatic efforts, and a commitment to diversity and democratic principles.

Economy & Business European Union

Issue Brief

Jan 16, 2024

Navigating subsidy reform at the WTO

By Sona Muzikarova and Sophia Busch

The legitimacy of the World Trade Organization is in question. The United States and its allies, and leaders in the organization, can better wield its potential to address global issues, specifically to reduce inefficiencies from fragmentation caused by subsidies.

Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform
Educational authorities bring forward the end of the school year for students due to high temperatures as a result of climate change, in Ciudad Juarez

Issue Brief

Jan 9, 2024

Climate change prioritization in low-income and developing countries

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou and Henry Evans

This policy brief examines the impact of climate change on education, health, and other development priorities for low-income and developing countries.

Africa Americas

Report

Nov 17, 2023

Relying on old enemies: The challenge of Taiwan’s economic ties to China

By Jeremy Mark, Niels Graham

This economic challenge will be just as important to Taiwan’s economic and political well-being as the imperative to strengthen military capabilities and alliances in the Asia-Pacific, especially as Taiwanese companies join other multinationals in de-risking their investments in China.

China Economy & Business
Cash machine ATM queue Melbourne Australia

Issue Brief

Nov 2, 2023

Asking the right questions: Can digital currency enable financial inclusion?

By Ananya Kumar

Cryptocurrencies and CBDCs have the potential to enhance financial inclusion. However, the lack of quantitative data makes it challenging to evaluate their impact. To assess their financial inclusion capacity, this paper builds a rubric for policymakers which includes layers of consideration.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Oct 9, 2023

The Bretton Woods institutions under geopolitical fragmentation

By Martin Mühleisen

Given China’s current resource advantage, Western countries need to make better use of the IMF and World Bank where doing so is in their interest. If applied more broadly, this approach could provide incentives for other governments to return to multilateral institutions, instead of China, for support.

China Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Oct 9, 2023

How the IMF can navigate great power rivalry

By Hung Tran

Fragmentation resulting from geopolitical competition between large economies is posing a serious challenge to the fulfillment of IMF’s core missions. Here’s how it can respond.

China Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Oct 9, 2023

Reimagining Africa’s role in revitalizing the global economy

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou

The African continent potential to revitalize the world economy and reverse the downward trend in global growth. However, for this to materialize, it needs substantial investments in its physical and social infrastructure.

Africa China

Issue Brief

Oct 9, 2023

Less is more: Fewer reports would improve the IMF’s global surveillance

By Tamim Bayoumi

To improve its global analysis, the IMF should consolidate its conjunctural analysis into a single, shorter, and more pointed report.

Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform