United States: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the United States
United States: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the United States

Author: International Monetary

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2021-07-22

Total Pages: 92

ISBN-13: 1513591819

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The new administration’s policies have put the U.S. economy on a strong footing. An effective vaccine rollout has put the number of new COVID-19 cases on a firmly downward path. At the same time, unprecedented fiscal support is quickly restoring the economy back to full employment and generating positive outward spillovers to the world economy. These efforts have not been costless: the path for public debt is far higher; the current account deficit has grown; and very accommodative financial conditions have led to increased corporate and nonbank leverage and rising valuations across a range of assets. The pandemic continues to weigh heavily on those at the lower end of the income distribution, exposing longstanding inequities in access to quality healthcare and education (many of which have an important gender and racial dimension).

Republic of Slovenia: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Republic of Slovenia
Republic of Slovenia: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Republic of Slovenia

Author: International Monetary

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2021-05-25

Total Pages: 62

ISBN-13: 1513573004

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The pandemic is inflicting much suffering, which has been met with swift, substantial, and well-coordinated policy responses. The anti-crisis measures have helped preserve jobs, provide liquidity to companies and income support to the vulnerable groups. They averted a larger decline in output and kept unemployment under control. After contracting by 5.5 percent in 2020, real GDP is projected to grow by 3.9 percent in 2021 and 4.5 percent in 2022, as vaccinations help achieve herd immunity. However, risks to the outlook are large and tilted to the downside, given the epidemiological situation.

Federated States of Micronesia: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Federated States of Micronesia
Federated States of Micronesia: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Federated States of Micronesia

Author: International Monetary

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2021-11

Total Pages: 81

ISBN-13: 1616350938

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The COVID-19 pandemic and related containment measures have put severe strains on the economy. The economic policy response has been strong and generally appropriate, helping counter the negative effects of the pandemic. Nevertheless, as the international borders remain shut, the economic contraction is likely to deepen in FY2021. A slow recovery is expected for FY2022 driven by a gradual border reopening. The FSM is facing significant medium-term uncertainty, owing to the possible expiration of grants and other assistance provided under the Compact Agreement with the United States. The FSM is also highly vulnerable to climate change-induced natural disasters.

Luxembourg: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Luxembourg
Luxembourg: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Luxembourg

Author: International Monetary

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2021-05-25

Total Pages: 79

ISBN-13: 1513572997

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The economic impact of the pandemic has been much milder than initially foreseen, still the outlook remains challenging. The economy, dominated by financial services, adapted quickly to telework and benefited from unprecedented policy support, both domestically and globally. Uncertainty is unusually high, dominated by the virus dynamics in the short term, with downside risks relating to a sharp rise in global risk premia, deglobalization trends, and changes in international taxation.

Malawi: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Malawi
Malawi: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Malawi

Author: International Monetary

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2021-12-20

Total Pages: 112

ISBN-13: 1616354887

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Malawi, a fragile state with one of the highest incidences of poverty, food insecurity and frequent weather-related shocks, has been severely affected by the pandemic. There are signs of gradual recovery and daily COVID-19 positive cases remain relatively low: real GDP growth in 2021 is projected to pick up to 2.2 percent from 0.9 percent in 2020 helped by a good harvest. However, inflation is expected to increase to 9 percent in 2021 from 8.6 percent in 2020, driven by increases in prices of fuel, fertilizer and food, leaving real per capita growth in the negative region.

People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China

Author: International Monetary Fund. Asia and Pacific Dept

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2017-08-15

Total Pages: 77

ISBN-13: 1484314727

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This Selected Issues paper examines the drivers and prospects for high levels of savings in China. China has one of the highest levels of national savings in the world, which is at the heart of its external and internal imbalances. High and rising household savings have mainly resulted from demographic changes as a result of the one-child policy and the breakdown of the social safety net during the transition from a planned to a market economy. Demographic changes will put downward pressure on national savings. Policy efforts to strengthen the social safety net and reduce income inequality are also needed to reduce savings further and faster and to boost consumption.

Rising Corporate Market Power
Rising Corporate Market Power

Author: Ufuk Akcigit

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2021-03-15

Total Pages: 34

ISBN-13: 1513512080

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Corporate market power has risen in recent decades, and new estimates in this note suggest that the likely wave of small and medium-sized enterprise bankruptcies from the ongoing pandemic will further strengthen market concentration. Whether and how policymakers should address this issue is hotly debated. This note provides new evidence on the policy relevance of rising market power and highlights possible implications for the design of competition policy frameworks and macroeconomic policies.

Thailand: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Thailand
Thailand: 2021 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Thailand

Author: International Monetary

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2021-06-03

Total Pages: 104

ISBN-13: 1513573020

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

A nascent recovery is underway in Thailand following the COVID-19 downturn. Ample policy buffers, underpinned by judicious management of public finances, allowed the authorities to implement a multipronged package of fiscal, monetary, and financial policies to mitigate the COVID-19 impact on households, businesses, and the financial system. This, together with rigorous containment measures, led to a successful flattening of the infection curve during most of 2020. Nevertheless, the pandemic has taken a large toll on the economy, potentially inducing long-term scarring and increasing inequality.

Fiscal Monitor, April 2021
Fiscal Monitor, April 2021

Author: International Monetary Fund

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2021-04-07

Total Pages: 122

ISBN-13: 1513571559

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The April 2021 edition of the Fiscal Monitor focuses on tailoring fiscal responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and adopting policies to reduce inequality and gaps

COVID-19 She-Cession: The Employment Penalty of Taking Care of Young Children
COVID-19 She-Cession: The Employment Penalty of Taking Care of Young Children

Author: Ms.Stefania Fabrizio

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2021-03-04

Total Pages: 33

ISBN-13: 151357115X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The COVID-19 outbreak and the measures to contain the virus have caused severe disruptions to labor supply and demand worldwide. Understanding who is bearing the burden of the crisis and what drives it is crucial for designing policies going forward. Using the U.S. monthly Current Population Survey data, this paper analyzes differences in employment responses between men and women. The main finding is that less educated women with young children were the most adversely affected during the first nine months of the crisis.The loss of employment of women with young children due to the burden of additional childcare is estimated to account for 45 percent of the increase in the employment gender gap, and to reduce total output by 0.36 percent between April and November 2020.