How Have IMF Priorities Evolved? A Text Mining Approach

Author/Editor:

Gareth Anderson ; Paolo Galang ; Andrea Gamba ; Leandro Medina ; Tianxiao Zheng

Publication Date:

June 4, 2021

Electronic Access:

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Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

Summary:

This paper assess how priorities of the IMF’s membership have evolved over the past two decades, by using text mining techniques on a unique dataset combining IMFC communiqués and constituency statements. Our results reveal significant variation in priorities across time and constituencies. Statements can be characterized by the weight which they place on three key priorities: (i) growth; (ii) debt and development; and (iii) crisis management and quota reform. Sentiment analysis techniques also show that addressing climate change is a topic which is viewed positively by an increasing number of constituencies.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2021/159

Subject:

Frequency:

regular

English

Publication Date:

June 4, 2021

ISBN/ISSN:

9781513573458/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA2021159

Pages:

32

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