During the past financial year, the IMF’s 189 member countries faced a number of pressing challenges. IMF work on these challenges—slower trade, declining productivity, gender inequality, inclusive growth, and debt management—is a central focus of this 2017 Annual Report.

Productivity

FALTERS

Productivity growth—a key driver of living standards—was already in decline in advanced economies before the global financial crisis drove it down sharply. Factors include the waning boom in information and communications technology, partly reflecting an aging workforce, slowing global trade, and weaker human capital accumulation.

Promoting

iNCLUSIVE GROWTH

Despite strong economic growth over the past two decades, income inequality has risen in many countries, in part because of technological change. Governments worldwide are now devoting attention and resources to making growth more inclusive.

Gender

Equality

When women are able to participate more fully in the labor market, countries see major macroeconomic gains. Despite significant progress, female labor force participation remains lower than that of males across most advanced, emerging market, and developing economies.

Helping Members

 Manage Debt

After the drop in oil prices resulted in fiscal deficits in Saudi Arabia, the government asked the IMF to share its expertise in establishing a debt management office. Uruguay partnered with the IMF to help produce a consolidated government balance sheet and identify key mismatches.

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Overview