Group of Twenty - Ministerial Meeting
IMF Note on Global Economic Policies and Prospects — Executive Summary
March 19, 2009
About the Executive Summary
The Following executive summary is from a note by the Staff of the IMF prepared for the March 13-14, 2009 meeting in London of the Group of Twenty Ministers and Central Bank Governors. Read the Full text 
Executive Summary
Global economic activity is falling—with advanced economies registering their sharpest declines in the post-war era—notwithstanding forceful policy efforts.
According to the latest IMF forecast, global activity is expected to decline by around ½ to 1 percent in 2009 on an annual average basis, before recovering gradually in the course of 2010.
Turning around global growth will depend critically on more concerted policy actions to stabilize financial conditions as well as sustained strong policy support to bolster demand.
- Restoring confidence is key to resolving the crisis, and this calls for tackling head-on problems in the financial sector. Policymakers must resolve urgently balance sheet uncertainty by dealing aggressively with distressed assets and recapitalizing viable institutions.
- Since financial market strains are global, greater international policy cooperation is crucial for restoring market trust. Monetary policy should be eased further by reducing policy rates where possible, and supporting credit creation more directly.
Delays in implementing comprehensive policies to stabilize financial conditions would result in a further intensification of the negative feedback loops between the real economy and the financial system, leading to an even deeper and prolonged recession.
Two additional issues will have a significant impact on the outlook: the effectiveness of the fiscal policy response to the crisis; and external financing risks and banking sector vulnerabilities in emerging economies.
- The estimated growth and employment effects from the fiscal stimulus announced so far, including from the operation of automatic stabilizers, are estimated to be large. Discretionary fiscal stimulus being provided by G-20 countries is sizeable, but falls short of the 2 percent of aggregate GDP in 2009 and 2010 recommended by the Fund, particularly in 2010. Given the likely protracted nature of the downturn, countries with fiscal room should plan to sustain stimulus in 2010.
- Upfront government financing needs related to financial sector support are sizeable, but this support is critical to stabilize the financial system and for restoring confidence. At the same time, reinforcing fiscal credibility is paramount. Thus, fiscal support needs to be anchored by a sustainable medium-term fiscal framework.
- Capital account pressures are intensifying for many emerging economies, amidst a contraction in cross-border lending. Some governments may have to support domestic corporates unable to raise financing to fulfill their rollover needs. Emerging economy banks, especially in emerging Europe, may need to be recapitalized in view of prospective losses. As the crisis prolongs, an increasing number of emerging economies will find room for policy maneuver becoming increasingly limited. Large-scale official support is likely to be needed from bilateral and multilateral sources.