IMF Podcasts

Measuring Money in the Digital Age: Jim Tebrake

Jim Tebrake January 23, 2024

As the global economy becomes increasingly digitalized, effective policy and regulation are critical to ensure a stable and equitable financial system. Jim Tebrake is Deputy Director and heads the data and methodology efforts in the IMF Statistics Department. In this podcast, Tebrake says the world of digital money is changing quickly and statisticians should be prepared to provide the data that policymakers need to respond effectively.

Technology / Artificial intelligence

AI’s Real Risk to Wages: Andrew Berg and Maryam Vaziri

MARYAM VAZIRI, ANDREW BERG December 7, 2023

The pace at which artificial intelligence is transforming jobs is astounding, but while it boasts higher productivity AI is also increasing wage inequality. When workers are replaced by machines, real wages decline, and the owners of capital prosper. So who owns AI and how should its benefits be distributed? The IMFs Andrew Berg and Maryam Vaziri discuss AI’s inequality problem.

Technology / Central banks

Jookyung Ree on the eNaira, One Year After

Jookyung Ree July 20, 2023

Nigeria’s eNaira was the first Central Bank Digital Currency in Africa and only the second in the world when it launched in October 2021, but a growing number of countries across the globe are now planning to follow suit with their own CBDCs. What can they learn from Nigeria’s experience? Jookyung Ree is an economist in the IMF African Department and assigned to Nigeria when the CBDC was introduced. Ree has since studied its impact on the economy and found that existing mobile money networks are proving a challenge to the eNaira’s adoptability.

F&D Magazine

F&D Magazine / Productivity

Nicholas Bloom on why Remote Work is Good for Growth

NICHOLAS BLOOM September 3, 2024

Working from home was not an option for most people before March 11, 2020, when work and home life suddenly collided. Stanford University's Nicholas Bloom was studying the potential impact of remote work long before the pandemic launched it into the mainstream and now has data to suggest businesses should stick to the hybrid working model.

F&D Magazine

Raghuram Rajan on Blazing a New Path to India’s Development

RAGHURAM RAJAN, KRISHNA SRINIVASAN August 15, 2024

For many emerging market economies, moving from an export-oriented strategy with labor-intensive manufacturing to a more sophisticated production process was key to their development. But the world is quickly changing, and former Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan says India need not follow that same path. In this podcast, IMF Asia and Pacific Department Head Krishna Srinivasan and Rajan discuss how India might leverage its growing workforce and pivot from “brawn to brain”.

F&D Magazine / Debt

Mark Aguiar: When Sovereign Debt Breaks its Promise

MARK AGUIAR August 8, 2024

For decades, governments have been tapping into global sovereign debt markets to smooth ups and downs in revenue with the hope that it would help spur investment. But what happens when government borrowing fails to deliver? Mark Aguiar is the Director of the International Economics Section at Princeton University, and his research suggests that sovereign borrowing to stabilize the economy may have the opposite effect.

F&D Magazine / Inclusive growth

Daniel Susskind on Growth: A History and a Reckoning

DANIEL SUSSKIND June 11, 2024

Economic growth is often seen as the core ingredient to social development, but it’s a relatively new idea. So what did pre-growth society look like and how much growth can modern society sustain? In this podcast, Daniel Susskind argues that economic policy should consider the costs of growth more carefully and realign the drivers to better fit with the challenges of our time.

Women in Economics

Women In Economics

Women in Economics: Kate Raworth on Economics for the Living Planet

KATE RAWORTH August 29, 2024

Kate Raworth talks with journalist Rhoda Metcalfe about her alternative economic model Doughnut Economics, which places economic objectives within the social and ecological boundaries of the living planet. Raworth is an ecological economist and the author of Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist.

Women In Economics / Development

Women in Economics: Una Osili on the Resilience of Philanthropy and Why so Few African Women Economists

Una Osili May 21, 2024

When disaster strikes, the knee-jerk reaction is to seek public funds for support, but private donors have the agility that governments often don’t. Una Osili holds the Efroymson Chair in Philanthropy at Indiana University and believes Africa would benefit from more private donors and more African women to manage it. In this podcast, Rhoda Metcalfe asks Dr. Osili about her work and why there aren’t more women economists on the continent.

Women In Economics

Women in Economics: Olivia Mitchell on Retirement Reality

March 28, 2024

With life expectancy steadily rising and pension systems doomed to fall short, the prospects for an early retirement are fading fast. Olivia Mitchell wrote the book on retirement and modern pension research and has spent her career helping people improve their financial literacy. Mitchell is a Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She sat down with journalist Rhoda Metcalfe to discuss the challenges of today’s economy for Americans planning their golden years.

Women In Economics / Labor

Women in Economics: Juliet Schor on the Benefits of a 4-Day Week

Juliet Schor February 1, 2024

Productivity has been the driving force behind the five- sometimes six-day workweek, but there is a growing body of evidence that shows a shorter week is equally, if not more productive in many respects. Juliet Schor is a champion of the four-day week and led the charge in the early 90s with her book The Overworked American. Journalist Rhoda Metcalfe spoke with Juliet Schor about her four-day week mission, as part of our special Women in Economics series.

FINANCIAL MARKETS

Financial Stability / Financial sector stability

Global Financial Stability: Financial Markets Navigate Uncertainty

Jason Wu, Nassira Abbas October 22, 2024

As inflation and interest rates continue to decline and the likelihood of a recession slowly fades, the latest Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR) warns of several factors that could upend the recovery, including the disconnect between market buoyancy and heightened uncertainty. Jason Wu and Nassira Abbas lead the IMF’s work on financial stability. In this podcast, they say while the near-term risks appear contained, medium-term prospects remain a concern.

Financial Stability / Central banks

Nigeria Bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso: Regaining Stability and Trust

Olayemi Cardoso June 21, 2024

Nigeria’s new administration has set out on an ambitious reform path to stabilize its currency, regain market confidence, and tame inflation. In this podcast, Governor Oleyemi Cardoso and IMF Africa Department head, Abebe Aemro Selassie discuss the role of Nigeria’s central bank in restoring macroeconomic stability.

Financial Stability

Global Financial Stability: Fragilities Along Disinflation’s Last Mile

FABIO NATALUCCI, Jason Wu April 16, 2024

As inflation slowly subsides and optimism pervades financial markets, the latest Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR) warns of potential setbacks. The IMF's Fabio Natalucci and Jason Wu discuss potential risks to the much anticipated soft landing.

Financial Stability

Jamaica’s Nigel Clarke: Stability First then Growth

November 2, 2023

Jamaica's Finance Minister, Nigel Clarke, discusses the country's strong track record of investing in institutions and prioritizing macroeconomic stability with IMF Western Hemisphere Department head, Rodrigo Valdés. The conversation took place as part of the Governor Talks series held during the Annual Meetings in Marrakech.

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

Outlooks / Labor

Reforms amid Great Expectations: Sub-Saharan Africa’s Outlook

WENJIE CHEN, ANDREW TIFFIN November 13, 2024

With sub-Saharan Africa soon to have one of the largest working-age populations in the world, removing barriers to business growth and encouraging higher productivity industries will help provide the employment opportunities it needs. Wenjie Chen and Andrew Tiffin produce the Regional Economic Outlook for sub-Saharan Africa. In this podcast, they say implementing reforms that create suﬃcient jobs will improve prospects for the region.

Outlooks / Labor

Reforms amid Great Expectations: Sub-Saharan Africa’s Outlook

WENJIE CHEN, ANDREW TIFFIN November 13, 2024

With sub-Saharan Africa soon to have one of the largest working-age populations in the world, removing barriers to business growth and encouraging higher productivity industries will help provide the employment opportunities it needs. Wenjie Chen and Andrew Tiffin produce the Regional Economic Outlook for sub-Saharan Africa. In this podcast, they say implementing reforms that create suﬃcient jobs will improve prospects for the region.

Outlooks

Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas on the Global Outlook: Steady but Slow

Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas May 2, 2024

The World Economic Outlook is more than projected growth rates. The research behind those projections tells the story of how 190 countries, slowly but steadily, found their way through the fog of the past few years to emerge a testament to the resilience of the global economy. IMF Chief Economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas says the fears of a global recession have not materialized but the path ahead is not without obstacles.

Outlooks

Wenjie Chen on Sub-Saharan Africa’s Latest Outlook

WENJIE CHEN April 25, 2024

Sub-Saharan Africa is slowly emerging from four turbulent years with higher growth expected for nearly two thirds of countries. But while inflation has almost halved and debt has broadly stabilized, economies still face financing shortages and impending debt repayments. Wenjie Chen is deputy head of the team that publishes the Regional Economic Outlook for sub-Saharan Africa. In this podcast, she says the surging global demand for minerals could help the region overcome the ongoing funding squeeze.

Development

Women In Economics / Development

Women in Economics: Una Osili on the Resilience of Philanthropy and Why so Few African Women Economists

Una Osili May 21, 2024

When disaster strikes, the knee-jerk reaction is to seek public funds for support, but private donors have the agility that governments often don’t. Una Osili holds the Efroymson Chair in Philanthropy at Indiana University and believes Africa would benefit from more private donors and more African women to manage it. In this podcast, Rhoda Metcalfe asks Dr. Osili about her work and why there aren’t more women economists on the continent.

Global / Development

Kristalina Georgieva: Building Bridges to Strong Future Growth

KRISTALINA GEORGIEVA October 6, 2023

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva kicked off the 2023 Annual Meetings in Marrakech with her customary curtain raiser speech from Cote d’Ivoire. It’s the first time since 1973 that the Annual Meetings are held in Africa and Georgieva says it’s an opportunity to pave the way to the next 50 years.

Women In Economics / Development

Women in Economics: Seema Jayachandran: Change Attitudes Change Lives

Seema Jayachandran November 25, 2022

Economic progress improves lives, but it can also clash with some of the bigger development problems we face, like gender equality and the environment.

Development

Oral Williams: How Technical Assistance Translates into Better Lives

Oral Williams July 15, 2021

Strong institutions are key to a country's long-term development, and a third of the IMF's operating budget goes toward helping governments build the institutional capacity they need to fulfill their development goals.

Climate Change

Climate Goals and Debt: A Fiscal Balancing Act

Christine Richmond, Raphael Lam November 28, 2023

Global warming is wreaking havoc on so many levels, but climate action is costly and presents policymakers with difficult tradeoffs. High debt, rising interest rates, and weaker growth prospects make public finances harder to balance and climate goals harder to achieve. Economists Christine Richmond and Raphael Lam work on climate policy and the annual publications of the IMF Fiscal Monitor. In this podcast, they say governments now face a policy trilemma between achieving climate goals, fiscal sustainability, and political feasibility.

Climate Change / Environmental policy

Ian Parry: Carbon Pricing and the Power of a Good Idea

IAN PARRY November 21, 2023

Carbon pricing is steadily emerging as one of the most viable solutions to reducing global emissions, but shedding its contentious past to build a global consensus is still a work in progress. Ian Parry is the principal environmental fiscal policy expert in the IMF Fiscal Affairs Department and has made it his mission to present- on behalf of the institution, the benefits of incorporating climate risks into the cost of doing business through a carbon tax.

Climate Change

Nadia Fettah and Jihad Azour: Morocco Gives Voice to the Global South

Nadia Fettah May 26, 2023

Like so many countries across the Middle East and North Africa, Morocco faced successive shocks over the past three years including a devastating drought. But the country managed well thanks to an aggressive reform agenda.

Climate Change / Fintech

Helping African Farmers from the Sky

Hamza Rkha Chaham May 9, 2023

Agricultural productivity in Africa has lagged behind for decades, and now climate change is making things worse. But for Hamza Rkha Chaham, the prospect of helping African farmers increase crop yields prompted him to launch a startup that is transforming lives.

BEHIND THE MIC

Bruce Edwards

International Monetary Fund

Bruce Edwards produces the IMF podcast program. He's an award-winning audio producer and journalist who's covered armed conflicts, social unrest, and natural disasters from all corners of the world. He believes economists have an important role in solving the world's problems and aspires to showcase their research in every IMF podcast.

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