IMF Podcasts

Les Autorités Malagasy et les services du FMI sont arrivés à un accord de principe sur un programme économique valable jusqu'à fin 2019, ouvrant la voie à une croissance soutenue et inclusive. Les politiques envisagées dans ce cadre pourraient bénéficier d'un concours de $310 millions de dollars. Dans ce podcast, Marshall Mills, chef de Mission pour le Madagascar, discute les points essentiels du...

The IMF says Madagascar has built a good track record since it's reengagement in 2014, showing the country is capable of sustaining recent reforms that have improved its economic outlook. In this podcast, Mission Chief, Marshall Mills talks about a new IMF program for Madagascar that includes US$ 310 million over three years.   Contributors: Marshall Mills, IMF Mission Chief for Madagascar

Abhijit Banerjee, has worked in dozens of countries trying to better understand the economics of poverty. He argues anti-poverty policies often fail because of inadequate understanding of the decisions poor people make. Banerjee Participated in a seminar on Sustainable Economic Development during the IMF World-Bank Spring meetings. In this podcast, we discuss why so little is known about a billion...

It's vital to address the economic challenges of women and girls in order to fix the economic challenges of nations. This was the main theme of a seminar called Getting Down to Business: Women, Work, and the Global Economy , held during the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings. In this podcast, Oxfam International's Winnie Byanyima talks about the increasing statistical evidence that shows women's contr...

Monetary rivalry is a fact of life in the world economy, says Benjamin Cohen, professor of International Political Economy at the University of California and author of Currency Power: Understanding Monetary Rivalry . In this podcast, Cohen explains why currencies become internationalized, and examines the relationship between world currencies and State power. Contributors: Benjamin Cohen, Profess...

South Africa faces significant challenges and needs decisive action to revive growth, the IMF said in its latest economic review. While the report acknowledges considerable economic and social progress, it shows income inequality and unemployment are unacceptably high. In this podcast, we speak with Laura Papi, IMF Mission Chief for South Africa. Contributors: Laura Papi, IMF Mission Chief for Sou...

Many of the world's bigger banks are reevaluating their relationships with banks in smaller riskier countries, making it harder for businesses and people to move money across borders. The process is commonly known as De-Risking. IMF Staff have recently published a research paper entitled The Withdrawal of Correspondent Banking Relationships . In this podcast, we speak with coauthor Yan Liu. Contri...

Europe is struggling to cope with millions of asylum seekers from conflict zones in the Middle East. In this podcast, Ian Bremmer, president of the global political risk research firm Eurasia Group, says the biggest challenges behind the refugee crisis are more political than economic. Bremmer participated in a seminar entitled Conflicts and the Refugee Crisis: An International Call for Action at...

Billions of uncollected tax dollars in developing countries could be used to lift more people out of poverty. In this podcast, Eric Postel, USAID's Associate Administrator explains how redoubled efforts to improve tax systems worldwide are making a difference. Postel participated in seminar entitled Collect More & Spend Better at the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in April. Contributors: Eric Post...

If high commodity prices alone drove recent advances in Africa, the prospects for further gains seem dim. But in this podcast, Steven Radelet, says the reality is more complex, and the outlook is more varied than many now suggest. Radelet's article, Africa's Rise- Interrupted? is published in the June 2016 issue of Finance and Development magazine. Contributors: Steven Radelet, holds the Donald F....

Slumping Chinese demand has African economies scrambling to find alternate sources of revenue. In this podcast, we speak with Roger Nord, Deputy Director of the African Department in the IMF, and coauthor of A Fork in the Road , published in the June 2016 issue of Finance and Development magazine. Contributors: Roger Nord, IMF Deputy Director, African Department

Of the 5 million people fleeing civil war in Syria, more than a million have ended up in Jordan. The refugee crisis has hit host countries like Jordan hard. Imad Fakhoury, Jordan's minister of planning, joined a seminar about Conflicts and the Refugee Crisis , at the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings. In this podcast, Fakhoury talks about the impacts of the refugee crisis on Jordan. Contributors: Ima...

As Nigeria's Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun is charged with navigating Africa's largest oil producer through the biggest oil price slump in decades. In this podcast, Adeosun talks about the need to diversify government revenues, and how inclusive growth can stem rising insecurity. Adeosun joined a panel discussion about sub-Saharan Africa during the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings. Contributors: Ke...

La dernière édition des Perspectives économiques régionales,prévoit que l'Afrique subsaharienne va connaître une deuxième annéedifficile à cause des multiples chocs qui frappent la région. Dansce podcast, Céline Allard, chef de la division des étudesrégionales au Département Afrique du FMI, discute les pointsessentiels du rapport. Contributors: Céline Allard, chef de la division des étudesrégional...

The IMF's latest regional economic outlook for Sub-SaharanAfrica predicts a second difficult year as the region is hit bymultiple shocks. In this podcast, co-author Céline Allard, says thesteep decline in commodity prices and tighter financing conditionshave put many large economies under severe strain. Contributors: Céline Allard, Head of the Regional StudiesDivision in the IMF's African Departme...

In this Podcast, we speak with Raghu Rajan, India's central bank governor about the Global Financial Safety Net. Rajan is charged with securing monetary stability in one of the world's largest Emerging Market economies, at a time when others are stumbling in the face of difficult global economic trends. Rajan participated in a seminar entitled Fortifying the Global Financial Safety Net , during th...

The new World Economic Outlook anticipates a slight acceleration in growth this year, from 3.1 to 3.2 percent, followed by 3.5 percent growth in 2017. But IMF Chief Economist Maurice Obstfeld says projections continue to be progressively less optimistic over time.  Contributors: Maurice Obstfeld, IMF Chief Economic Counselor

While many economists would argue public investment projects in highly efficient countries have a greater impact on growth, recent research by some IMF economists shows that’s not necessarily the case. In this podcast we speak with the IMF’s Andy Berg, who suggests the impact on growth from public investment spending is similar in both high and low-efficiency countries.  Contributors: Andy Berg, a...

Dans son dernier bilan, le FMI signale que l’économie gabonaise a été durement touchée par la chute des cours du pétrole. Dans ce podcast, nous nous entretenons avec Montfort Mlachila, chef de mission du FMI pour le Gabon. Il souligne que le pays peut accroître sa résilience et redynamiser la croissance en diversifiant son économie. Montfort Mlachila, Chef de mission du FMI pour le Gabon.

The IMF’s most recent review of Gabon’s economy shows it’s been hit hard by the oil price decline. In this podcast, we speak with IMF Mission Chief for Gabon, Montfort Mlachila, who says the country can build resilience and revive growth by diversifying its economy. Contributors: Montfort Mlachila, IMF Mission Chief for Gabon

While it was widely expected that globalization would reduce inequality, income disparities between skilled and unskilled workers has only increased in recent years. In this podcast we ask Nobel Laureate Eric Maskin, why the global markets haven’t offered better economic opportunities for the world’s poorest.  Contributors: Eric Maskin, Professor at Harvard University, and 2007 Nobel Laureate.

On this International Woman’s Day, we speak with Nigerian economist Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Best known for her two terms as Nigeria’s Finance Minister and for her work as a Managing Director at the World Bank, Dr. Okonjo Iweala is always looking for ways to help bridge the gender gap. Contributors: Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,

More than a million migrants have entered Europe this year according to the International Organization for Migration. In this podcast, we speak with Professor Barry Chiswick who says language acquisition is key to immigrant success. Chiswick says language skills among immigrants are a form of human capital, and can substantially increase potential earnings.   Contributors:  Barry Chiswick, Profess...

While many economies around the world should benefit from a growing US economy, a strong US dollar is seldom good news for emerging markets. In this podcast, we talk to IMF Senior Economist Nicolas Magud, coauthor of an article entitled Collateral Damage, published in the December 2015 issue of Finance and Development magazine.

The fabled mountain Kingdom of Lesotho achieved strong growth in recent years, but the IMF's latest economic review shows growth rates have dropped. In this podcast, IMF mission chief for Lesotho, David Dunn, says slower growth in neighboring South Africa has significantly reduced Lesotho's government revenues.