This paper presents statistical analysis supporting stylized facts about sovereign wealth funds (SWFs). It discusses the forces leading to the growth of SWFs, including the role of fuel exports and ongoing current account surpluses, and large hoarding of international reserves. It analyzes the...

We study the curious patterns of gold holding and trading by central banks during 1979-2010. With the exception of several discrete step adjustments, central banks keep maintaining passive stocks of gold, independently of the patterns of the real price of gold. We also observe the...

This paper presents statistical analysis supporting stylized facts about sovereign wealth funds (SWFs). It discusses the forces leading to the growth of SWFs, including the role of fuel exports and ongoing current account surpluses, and large hoarding of international reserves. It analyzes the...

The global economy is losing steam. After a weak start in the beginning of this year, world production accelerated again in the second quarter of 2018. However, the recent expansion probably overstates its underlying momentum. At the same time, the expansion is becoming less even as compared to...

World economic growth is moderating accompanied by a broad-based deterioration in economic sentiment. Following a temporary pick up in the second quarter, global activity slowed down significantly in the third quarter and sentiment indicators point towards a further deceleration towards the end...

World economic growth has picked up from the sluggish pace registered at the start of the year. We expect global growth at PPP exchange rates to accelerate to 3.5 and 3.6 percent in 2017 and 2018, respectively, up from 3.1 percent this year. Growth in advanced economies will continue at a...

In spring 2022, world economic growth came to a standstill amid high inflation, persistent supply bottlenecks and elevated uncertainty. In many countries real wages are declining significantly dampening private consumption even though extra savings accumulated during the pandemic are still...