World Economic Situation and Prospects: April 2023 Briefing, No. 171
Is the monetary tightening cycle in developing countries coming to an end?
Monetary policy challenges in developing economies
With the banking sector turmoil rattling global financial markets in recent weeks, all eyes have been fixed on the United States Federal Reserve (Fed). By deciding to raise its key policy rate by another 25 basis points in late March, the Fed signaled that the fight against inflation was not over yet, while underscoring confidence in the resilience of the domestic banking sector. The latest rate hike?the ninth during the past 12 months?brings the target range of the fed fund rate to 4.75?5.00 per…
World Economic Situation and Prospects: April 2023 Briefing, No. 171
Economic consequences of the lingering war in Ukraine
After a year, the war in Ukraine is still raging, imposing a heavy human toll, causing a massive devastation in the conflict area, and posing a grave threat to global security. The economic impact of the war is reverberating worldwide, contributing to inflationary pressures, and impeding the post-pandemic recovery. The war led to elevated energy prices and exacerbated food shortages in many regions. The repercussions of the conflict are being felt both in developed economies, especially in Europe, which has been confronted with skyrocketing energy prices, threats to its energy security, and inflow of the Ukrainian refugees, and in…
World Economic Situation and Prospects: March 2023 Briefing, No. 170
The world economy faces multiple mutually reinforcing shocks
A series of severe and mutually reinforcing shocks hit the world economy in 2022, as it approached the mid-point for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. While the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to reverberate worldwide, the war in Ukraine unleashed a new crisis, disrupting food and energy markets and exacerbating food insecurity and malnutrition in many developing countries. High inflation is eroding real incomes, triggering a global cost-of-living crisis that has pushed millions into poverty and economic hardship. At the same time, the climate crisis is taking a heavy toll on many countries,…
World Economic Situation and Prospects: February 2023 Briefing, No. 169
Multiple shocks to the world economy
The world continues to confront multiple, inter-connected crises. Amid a slow recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is facing a food and energy crisis exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, with record high inflation unleashing a cost-of-living crisis. Developing countries are struggling over the costs of imports and debt servicing, and a climate crisis continues to wreak havoc on the most vulnerable countries and populations.
"This is not the time for short-term thinking or knee-jerk fiscal austerity that exacerbates inequality, increases suffering and could put the SDGs farther out of reach."
- Ant?nio Guterres
Secretary-General…
World Economic Situation and Prospects 2023
Anchoring inflation expectations becomes even more crucial to fight inflation in 2023
The world economy faced a steep rise in the inflation rate in 2022, with rising inflation observed in both developed and developing economies. A series of global events triggered and aggravated the current global inflation surge. Recovering demand after the COVID-19 crisis against various supply constraints easily created upward pressures on prices. The war in Ukraine constrained supply and triggered higher commodity prices globally, particularly food and energy items. The appreciation of the US dollar vis-?-vis many currencies also contributed to the global inflation trend by raising the costs of imports…
World Economic Situation and Prospects: January 2023 Briefing, No. 168