IMF

From critical minerals to electricity companies, governments are expanding control over strategic sectors in a new era of intervention, Nicholas Mulder writes in F&D magazine.

www.imf.org/en/publications/fandd/issues/2026/06/t…

3 days ago | [YT] | 29

IMF

⛑️ 𝗔𝗶𝗱 𝗜𝘀 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗯-𝗦𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮.

Aid has long helped finance essential services across sub-Saharan Africa, from health and education to humanitarian support. But funding is now falling quickly, putting added pressure on countries that already have limited fiscal space, rising debt, and few alternative sources of financing.

Governments face difficult trade-offs. Protecting high-impact programs, broadening financing options, and strengthening domestic revenue and spending systems will be critical to growth, resilience and development outcomes for years to come.

Read our latest Country Focus : www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2026/06/22/aid-is-fal…

4 days ago | [YT] | 25

IMF

💳 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗧𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲

Tokenization is often described as a technological upgrade enabling faster settlement, cheaper payments, and programmable assets. But it is a lot more.

It could make payments and financial transactions faster by allowing trading, clearing, and settlement to happen at the same time. But greater speed also means problems could spread more quickly, with less time for banks, markets, and regulators to respond.

Our latest blog looks at how tokenization could change the financial system and why clear rules will be important to make it safer, more connected, and more reliable.

Read more: www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2026/07/02/tokenizat…

5 days ago | [YT] | 17

IMF

🌍 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀?

The energy shock from the war in the Middle East has prompted nearly 900 policy measures across about 170 countries.

A new IMF Global Policy Tracker shows many governments are choosing untargeted, costly responses that mirror the 2022 playbook. But conditions are different now with higher debt burdens and tighter fiscal space.

Broad-based subsidies and tax cuts are expensive, and many measures described as temporary lack clear expiration dates. The fiscally responsible path is to allow prices to adjust and keep interventions temporary and targeted.

In an uncertain, shock-prone world, keeping powder dry matters as much as acting quickly. The principle remains simple: protect people, not prices.

Read our new blog: www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2026/06/18/the-energ…

6 days ago | [YT] | 24

IMF

🏦 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲’𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵

Europe has plenty of savings and no shortage of promising ideas. But too often, funding stays within national borders instead of reaching the young and innovative companies that need it to grow.

Our Chart of the Week blog explains how deeper banking and venture capital markets could help connect savings with high-potential businesses, support innovation, and boost long-term growth. Financial reforms, deeper venture capital markets and greater availability of long-term risk capital could raise EU GDP by close to 3 percent over time, and even more when paired with reforms that make it easier for businesses to start, grow, and scale.

Read more: www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2026/07/14/financial…

1 week ago | [YT] | 24

IMF

🤖 𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗜’𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗯-𝗦𝗮𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮

AI could help farmers raise yields, small businesses become more productive, and governments improve public services across sub-Saharan Africa. But how much the region gains will depend on how prepared countries are to adopt and use the technology.

At current levels of readiness, AI could add only 0.2 percent to regional GDP over the next decade. With stronger adoption, that gain could rise to about 4 percent. Reliable power, affordable internet, digital skills, and trusted rules will be essential to closing that gap.

Read our latest Country Focus blog to learn more: www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2026/07/21/cf-africa-…

1 week ago | [YT] | 15

IMF

🛢️ 𝗢𝗶𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗼𝘄

The war in the Middle East caused the largest disruption to the global oil market in decades, closing the Strait of Hormuz and cutting off a fifth of global oil consumption. But prices rose less than expected as lower demand, higher production outside the Gulf, and inventory drawdowns helped absorb the shock.

Those buffers are now running low. Rebuilding inventories, diversifying energy sources and routes, and keeping consumer support targeted and temporary will be essential to strengthen resilience before the next energy shock.

Read more: www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2026/07/14/the-oil-m…

1 week ago | [YT] | 20

IMF

The surge of investment in AI echoes the 1990s dot-com boom.

Optimism is lifting stock valuations and boosting consumption via capital gains. This could push the real neutral interest rate upwards and require interest rate hikes, as in the late 1990s.

Markets also could drop, especially if AI doesn’t meet lofty profit expectations. That would dent wealth and consumption, with potentially adverse effects for the financial system. www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2025/10/14/global-ec…

9 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 248

IMF

Are you a photographer or visual storyteller based in Thailand with a vision to share with the world? ⁠
⁠
As we prepare to convene our membership in Thailand for the 2026 Annual Meetings, the IMF wants to showcase visual artists who can best portray the economic and cultural vibrancy that defines our host country. Thailand represents a compelling example of economic dynamism within Asia's broader economic transformation ⁠
⁠
Six successful applicants will receive $4,000 commissions to develop photographic projects centered on economic growth, entrepreneurship, and collaboration. We are interested in stories that demonstrate how Thailand's rich cultural heritage and modern innovation can thrive together and deliver a vibrant and resilient economic future. ⁠
⁠
Applications close August 31, 2025. Show the world your Thailand.⁠ imf.org/en/News/Seminars/Campaigns/2025/07/29/Thai…

11 months ago | [YT] | 88

IMF

Our Chart of the Week shows data centers could consume 1,500 terawatt-hours by 2030, 1.5 times more than electric vehicles. Policymakers must balance AI's economic potential with energy sustainability through diversified strategies and pricing mechanisms. www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2025/05/13/ai-needs-…

1 year ago | [YT] | 721