IMF says global debt levels face ‘Great Election Year’ risk

The path towards sustainable government debt levels around the world is under threat this year from the sheer number of elections taking place, the IMF said Wednesday in a new report. “History suggests, and empirical evidence confirms, that governments tend to spend more and or tax less in election year,” Vitor Gaspar, the head of … Read more

Kristalina Georgieva selected for second term as IMF managing director

The International Monetary Fund’s executive board on Friday selected Bulgarian economist Kristalina Georgieva to serve as managing director for a second five-year term, starting on Oct. 1 this year, the global lender said. “The Board commended Ms. Georgieva’s strong and agile leadership during her term, navigating a series of major global shocks,” it said in … Read more

South Sudan On Top With $492 GDP Per Capita

South Sudan has severely limited economic growth and development. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released a report highlighting the world’s poorest countries based on GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP). While GDP is a measure of a country’s total economic output, PPP takes into account the cost of living, providing a … Read more

Egypt hikes interest rates by 600 basis points, pound crumbles to record low

Yousef Gamal El-Din | CNBC Egypt’s pound hit a record low against the dollar on Wednesday after its central bank hiked interest rates by 600 points and devalued the currency. The steps were meant to facilitate an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, which is expected to confirm the extension of its current $3 billion … Read more

Treating China as ‘un-investable’ would be the wrong call: strategist

Visitors near Yuyuan Bazaar in Shanghai, China, on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. Raul Ariano | Bloomberg | Getty Images Even as China’s economy is facing difficulties, treating it as un-investable like some analysts have suggested would not be the right call, John Bilton, head of global multi-asset strategy at JPMorgan Asset Management, told CNBC’s “Squawk … Read more

IMF warns AI to hit almost 40% of global employment, worsen inequality

A pedestrian walks past the TATA pop up store with a poster reading ‘The Future is AI’ ahead of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. The annual Davos gathering of political leaders, top executives and celebrities runs from January 15 to 19. Photographer: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg via Getty Images … Read more