Assiduously tracking the trends and consequences of globalization, the IMF's quarterly magazine Finance & Development has been a major forum for discussing-and dissecting-the policy options and challenges faced by governments in an era when many national decisions transcend borders. This...

This 2002 Annual Report describes world economic and financial developments in FY2002. During FY2002, the IMF faced important new challenges in an unusually unsettled world environment. After a period of strong expansion, the global economy experienced a widespread slowdown during the 2001...

The Annual Report 2000 to the Board of Governors reviews the IMF's activities, policies, and financial position during the financial year (May 1, 1999 through April 30, 2000), as well as developments in the world economy. The Annual Report 2000 highlights the efforts of the IMF, together with...

This 2004 Annual Report highlights that during FY2004, the IMF continued to work with its member countries to foster sustained growth and financial stability—and reduce poverty in its low-income members—through its surveillance activities and policy advice; lending in support of stabilization...

This 2003 Annual Report highlights that during FY2003, the IMF held bilateral (country) discussions with 136 members. It also took a number of steps to enhance the effectiveness of its surveillance and crisis prevention work. Among these efforts, it continued to develop a system to assess...

Assiduously tracking the trends and consequences of globalization, the IMF's quarterly magazine Finance & Development has been a major forum for discussing-and dissecting-the policy options and challenges faced by governments in an era when many national decisions transcend borders. This...

This paper discusses how international financial institutions (IFIs) can deal with new global challenges. The paper highlights that surveillance is the primary responsibility of the IMF. To make it more effective, more attention should be paid to long-term, structural developments that, if left...

This paper discusses principles and functions of the IMF. The IMF is a specialized agency of the United Nations system set up by treaty in 1945 to help promote the health of the world economy. Through its work, the IMF helps to keep the world economy running as smoothly as possible. Its work is...

The global policy agenda that follows recalibrates priorities to meet the new reality we are facing. The IMF also continues to adjust to respond to the rapidly evolving needs of our membership. Our flexibility has been evident over the past two years of the COVID crisis: unprecedented emergency...

This 2001 Annual Report reviews economic developments in the world during FY2000. Output growth in emerging Asia picked up in 2000 as this region continued its recovery from the 1997–98 crisis. The pace of economic expansion, however, slowed from mid-2000, largely as a result of the U.S....