Listen to the brightest minds in the field of economics and development discuss their latest research and deconstruct global economic trends. IMF Podcasts are also available on digital platforms such as iTunes, SoundCloud and Libsyn, and free to use for broadcasters, educators and institutions.
Stranded: Inequality, House Prices leaving People Trapped
September 27, 2019
More people are getting stuck in decaying metro areas unable to move to locations with better prospects. (iStock by Getty Images/pixelfit)
Migration is on the front burner these days. We hear a lot about people moving from one country to the next, fleeing conflict or seeking a better life. But what about the movement of people within a country? Economist Tamim Bayoumi says a well-functioning economy has people moving around to maximize their own welfare and in turn maximize the system; a basic tenant of market economics. Bayoumi is coauthor of Stranded! How Rising Inequality Suppressed US Migration and Hurt Those "Left Behind. In this podcast, Bayoumi says increasing house price and income inequality has reduced long distance migration, the type most linked to jobs.
Tamim Bayoumi is Deputy Director in the IMF’s Strategy, Policy and Review Department.
The Value of Whales and Every Other Breath
September 15, 2019
Whales absorb more carbon than rain forests and help produce half of the planet's oxygen supply. (iStock by Getty Images/jamesteohart)
July was the hottest month on record according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Scientific research now indicates more clearly than ever that our growing carbon footprint is warming the planet at an alarming rate and threatening our ecosystems. In this podcast, economist Ralph Chami, and whale conservationist Michael Fishbach, explain the carbon capture potential of whales and how supporting international efforts to restore whale populations around the world is one of the simplest ways to fight climate change.
You can also read Ralph Chami's article Whales Fight Climate Change in the online edition of Finance and Development Magazine.
Ralph Chami is an Assistant Director in the IMF's Institute for Capacity Development, and Michael Fishbach is the Executive Director of the Great Whale Conservancy.
Nicola Pierri: Good Hospitals Healthy Economy
August 30, 2019
Quality health care keeps people and the economy healthy. (iStock by Getty Images/shapecharge)
Being diagnosed with a serious illness is a shock to the system, and treatment and recovery can mean major disruptions in a person's life. But illness also takes millions of people out of the labor force every year, and the quality of the care they receive can determine the extent to which this is a shock to the economy. IMF economist Nicola Pierri, with coauthors Anne-Line Koch Helso and Adelina Yanyue Wang have published a research paper on The Economic Impact of Healthcare Quality. In this podcast, Pierri says low quality hospitals can wind up being very costly to both people and the economy at large.
Nicola Pierri is an economist in the IMF's Research Department.
Raghuram Rajan: Markets and State Leave Community Behind
August 16, 2019
In The Third Pillar, Raghuram Rajan says empowering local communities will make globalization work for more people. (IMF photo)
In his latest book, Raghuram Rajan examines the relationship between the state, markets and communities, and argues localism is the answer to globalization. Rajan is a distinguished professor of finance at the University of Chicago, former head of India's central bank and former Chief Economist at the IMF, where he was invited to talk about The Third Pillar: How Markets and the State Leave the Community Behind
Raghuram Rajan is a distinguished professor of finance at the University of Chicago, former head of India's central bank and former IMF Chief Economist.
Electronic Invoicing Reform in Peru Paying Off
August 9, 2019
Mandatory e-invoicing in Peru is helping increase firm sales and tax revenues.
The use of digital technologies is transforming how tax administrations operate, helping to improve efficiency and service delivery. A striking example has been Peru's adoption of electronic invoicing, which allows the automatic transfer of billing information between firms and the tax authority. Drawn by its potential to strengthen tax compliance and reduce costs, Peru is among more than 50 countries around the world to have implemented e-invoicing and many others are preparing to follow suit. IMF economists Salma Khalid and Matthieu Bellon have been studying the impact of Peru's mandatory e-invoicing reform that started back in 2014. Their research paper will be published this fall.
Salma Khalid is an economist in the Western Hemisphere Department and Matthieu Bellon is an economist in the Fiscal Affairs Department at the IMF.