Global Economic Prospects, January 2019 : Darkening Skies

The outlook for the global economy has darkened. Global financing conditions have tightened, industrial production hasmoderated, trade tensions have intensified, and some large emerging market and developing economies have experiencedsignificant financial market stress. Faced with these headwinds, the recovery in emerging market and developingeconomies has lost momentum. Downside risks have become more acute and include the possibility of disorderly financialmarket movements and an escalation of trade disputes. Debt vulnerabilities in emerging market and developing economies,particularly low-income countries, have increased. More frequent severe weather events would raise the possibility of largeswings in international food prices, which could deepen poverty. In this difficult environment, it is of paramount importancefor emerging market and developing economies to rebuild policy buffers while laying a stronger foundation for futuregrowth by boosting human capital, promoting trade integration, and addressing the challenges associated with informality