Global Economic Monitoring Branch (GEMB)

The World Economic Situation and Prospects as of mid-2022, set to be released on 18 May 2022, will delve into the multitude of local, regional, and global economic consequences of the current war in Ukraine. The war, which erupted in February 2022, has ...

Inflation is rising in many developing countries, driven by higher energy and food prices, supply chain disruptions and, in some cases, release of pent-up demand. Many central banks have responded with significant interest rate hikes.

The Ukraine war may lead to global, regional and national crises on multiple fronts: a refugee crisis; energy, metals and food price shocks; disruptions in global trade; and distress in financial markets.

Forthcoming changes in US monetary policy will have significant impacts on countries’ net international investment positions, likely pushing some least developed countries to greater indebtedness.

The world has emerged from the depths of a paralyzing economic crisis, but recovery remains fragile amid the lingering pandemic, persistent labour market challenges, ongoing supply-chain disruptions and rising inflation.

Favourable terms of trade provide much needed policy room to combat the pandemic and advance transformative reforms that can sustainably reduce poverty and inequality.

Despite unemployment remaining above pre-pandemic levels, advanced economies are confronted with labour shortages. Ageing population, migration patterns, low wages and concerns about workplace safety explain the phenomenon.

The October Monthly Briefing takes a closer look at the results of the most recent bank lending survey by the European Central Bank (ECB), which provides some insights into the shape of economic activity in the euro area.

Unconventional monetary policy measures have played a crucial part in central banks’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Large-scale quantitative easing has led to an unprecedented expansion of developed country central bank balanced sheets.