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Business and Economics > Production and Operations Management

You are looking at 1 - 10 of 12 items for :

  • Type: Journal Issue x
  • Departmental Papers x
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Cover Departmental Papers
Accelerating Innovation and Digitalization in Asia to Boost Productivity
Ms. Era Dabla-Norris
,
Mr. Tidiane Kinda
,
Kaustubh Chahande
,
Hua Chai
,
Yadian Chen
,
Alessia De Stefani
,
Yosuke Kido
,
Fan Qi
, and
Alexandre Sollaci
COVID-19 hit on the back of weakening productivity growth in many advanced and emerging Asian countries, a trend that could be exacerbated by the pandemic. Interestingly, productivity growth in the region was slowing even amid increased innovation effort, as proxied by spending on research and development (R&D) and number of patents. A key element underpinning this disconnect is the growing dispersion in productivity growth, innovation effort, and digitalization across and within sectors. Asia has risen to become an innovation powerhouse, contributing to more than half of world patents. The rise of Asia as an innovation hub has been driven by a few frontier countries that have experienced a sharp increase in digital and computer-related patents, supported by solid R&D spending and a large share of researchers in the labor force. Within countries, R&D has become more concentrated in a smaller share of firms in frontier Asia. Empirical evidence using firm-level data highlight that the high concentration in R&D is associated with large dispersion in productivity. External exposure to competition and innovation, including through trade, supports innovation and help close productivity gaps for firms closer to the frontier. Non-frontier Asian developing countries have benefited from technology diffusion through a higher share of imported high-technology goods and by granting more patents to non-residents, supported by improvements in human capital and digital infrastructure. For these countries, further integration to the international economy, including global value chains, greater entrepreneurship, and expanding innovative labour supply could support productivity by encouraging innovation, including process innovation which is associated with larger productivity at the firm-level. Policies to foster innovation, reduce productivity gaps, and ultimately boost aggregate productivity can be grouped into two buckets. For countries close to the technological frontier, R&D tax credits and grants, business-university R&D collaboration, and lower trade barriers would support broader-based innovation and help close productivity gaps. For countries farther from the frontier, further improvements in digital infrastructure, skilled labor force, openness to trade and FDI, and patent protection, could promote resource reallocation to the most productive firms and enhance incentives for technological adoption, supporting diffusion and higher productivity.
Keywords:
Innovation digitalization technological diffusion productivity dispersion aggregate productivity growth; B. firm Heterogeneity; firm productivity distribution; productivity dispersion; capital-intensive firm; firm size; Productivity; Digitalization; Total factor productivity; Emerging technologies; Asia and Pacific; Global
Cover Departmental Papers
Taking Stock of IMF Capacity Development on Monetary Policy Forecasting and Policy Analysis Systems
Nils Mæhle
,
Tibor Hlédik
,
Mikhail Pranovich
,
Carina Selander
, and
Mikhail Pranovich
This paper takes stock of forecasting and policy analysis system capacity development (FPAS CD), drawing extensively on the experience and lessons learned from developing FPAS capacity in the central banks. By sharing the insights gained during FPAS CD delivery and outlining the typical tools developed in the process, the paper aims to facilitate the understanding of FPAS CD within the IMF and to inform future CD on building macroeconomic frameworks. As such, the paper offers a qualitative assessment of the experience with FPAS CD delivery and the use of FPAS in the decision-making process in central banks.
Keywords:
Forecasting and Policy Analysis System; FPAS; Central Banks; policy analysis system; monetary policy forecasting; IMF Library; capital markets department; FPAS capacity; Central bank policy rate; Exchange rates; Market interest rates; Output gap; Inflation; Sub-Saharan Africa; Europe; Africa
Cover Departmental Papers
"Low for Long" and Risk-Taking
Mr. Tobias Adrian
The COVID-19 pandemic is causing an unprecedented worldwide economic contraction, leading central banks to reduce interest rates to historically low levels and making unconventional monetary policies—including “low for long” interest rates and asset purchases—increasingly common. Arguably, however, the policies implemented are efficient because they encourage increased risk-taking, and they may have, if unintentionally, increase medium- and long-run macro-financial vulnerabilities. This paper argues that the resulting trade-offs need to be carefully accounted for in monetary policy models and outlines how that can be achieved in practice.
Keywords:
Monetary Policy; Risk-Taking; Financial Stability; NKV model; monetary-policy decision makers; growth distribution; rule in the NKV framework; augmented monetary-policy rule; NKV framework; decision makers; monetary policy making; monetary-policy transmission mechanism; financial risk; Financial sector risk; Output gap; Production growth; Macroprudential policy; Macroprudential policy instruments; Global
Cover Departmental Papers
Is South Asia Ready for Take Off?: A Sustainable and Inclusive Growth Agenda
Ms. Manuela Goretti
,
Mr. Daisaku Kihara
,
Mr. Ranil M Salgado
, and
Ms. Anne Marie Gulde
Since the mid-1980s, durable reforms coupled with prudent macroeconomic management have brought steady progress to the South Asia region, making it one of the world’s fastest growing regions. Real GDP growth has steadily increased from an average of about 3 percent in the 1970s to 7 percent over the last decade. Although growth trajectories varied across countries, reforms supported strong per capita income growth in the region, lifting over 200 million people out of poverty in the last three decades. Today, South Asia accounts for one-fifth of the world’s population and, thanks to India’s increasing performance, contributes to over 15 percent of global growth. Looking ahead, the authors find that South Asia is poised to play an even bigger role in the global economy, in both relative and absolute terms. India has overtaken China as the fastest growing large economy and South Asia’s contribution to global growth is set to increase, while more mature economies decelerate. Greater economic diversification, with an expansion of the service sector, improvements in education, and a still sizable demographic dividend are among the key elements underpinning this performance. Based on demographic trends, more than 150 million people in the region are expected to enter the labor market by 2030. This young and large workforce can be South Asia’s strength, if supported by a successful high-quality and job-rich growth strategy. Amid a changing global economic landscape, the authors argue that South Asia will need to leverage on all sectors of the economy in a balanced way, supporting improvements in agricultural productivity and a sustainable expansion of manufacturing, while promoting higher-skill services, to achieve this goal.
Keywords:
DPPP; DP; India; economy; IMF staff calculation; service sector; South Asia region; FDI liberalization; growth strategy; employment elasticity; liberalization path; pro-business reform; reform scenario; export-led growth; Labor force; Income; Productivity; South Asia; Global; Asia and Pacific
Cover Departmental Papers
Demographic Headwinds in Central and Eastern Europe
Cristina Batog
,
Ernesto Crivelli
,
Ms. Anna Ilyina
,
Zoltan Jakab
,
Mr. Jaewoo Lee
,
Anvar Musayev
,
Iva Petrova
,
Mr. Alasdair Scott
,
Ms. Anna Shabunina
,
Andreas Tudyka
,
Xin Cindy Xu
, and
Ruifeng Zhang
The populations of Central and Eastern European (CESEE) countries—with the exception of Turkey—are expected to decrease significantly over the next 30 years, driven by low or negative net birth rates and outward migration. These changes will have significant implications for growth, living standards and fiscal sustainability.
Keywords:
DPPP; DP; CESEE country; labor market; public spending; current account; workforce aging; labor force; retirement age; IMF staff calculation; CESEE economy; CESEE workforce; baseline labor force scenario; EU country; per capita income; CESEE population; physical capital; workforce cohort; Aging; Labor force; Total factor productivity; Western Europe; Europe; Eastern Europe; Baltics; Global
Cover Departmental Papers
Reassessing the Role of State-Owned Enterprises in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe
Christine J. Richmond
,
Ms. Dora Benedek
,
Ezequiel Cabezon
,
Bobana Cegar
,
Mr. Peter Dohlman
,
Michelle Hassine
,
Beata Jajko
,
Piotr Kopyrski
,
Maksym Markevych
,
Mr. Jacques A Miniane
,
Mr. Francisco J Parodi
,
Gabor Pula
,
Mr. James Roaf
,
Min Kyu Song
,
Mariya Sviderskaya
,
Ms. Rima A Turk
, and
Mr. Sebastian Weber
The Central, Eastern, and South Eastern European (CESEE) region is ripe for a reassessment of the role of the state in economic activity. The rapid income convergence with Western Europe of the early 2000s was not always equally shared across society, and it has now slowed dramatically in many countries of the region.
Keywords:
DPPP; DP; private sector; CESEE country; country authorities; economic activity; return on assets; ownership policy; IMF staff calculation; return on equity; holding company; support SOEs; country authority datum; composite index; aluminum company Hydro Aluminum A.S.; company Hydro Aluminum A.S.; SOE performance; government interference; Public enterprises; Privatization; Corporate governance; Employment; Global; Eastern Europe; SOE governance; CESEE region SOB; SOE presence; governance index; Total factor productivity; Europe
Cover Departmental Papers
Structural Transformation in Employment and Productivity: What Can Africa Hope For?
Ms. Louise Fox
,
Mr. Alun H. Thomas
, and
Cleary Haines
This paper provides the most complete analysis of the structural transformation among low- and low-middle-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa to date.
Keywords:
DPPP; DP; Sub-Saharan Africa; share; employment share; wage employment; employment transformation; employment structure; type category; employment transition; Employment; Labor force; Productivity; Agricultural sector; Labor productivity; East Asia; Africa; South Asia; Asia and Pacific
Cover Departmental Papers
Cyclical Behavior of Fiscal Policy among Sub-Saharan African Countries
Mr. Tetsuya Konuki
and
Mr. Mauricio Villafuerte
Excessively procyclical fiscal policy can be harmful. This paper investigates to what extent the fiscal policies of sub-Saharan African countries were procyclical in recent years and the reasons for the degree of fiscal procyclicality among these countries. It finds that a tendency for procyclical fiscal policy was particularly pronounced among oil exporters and after the global financial crisis. It also finds a statistically significant causal link running from deeper financial markets and higher reserves coverage to lower fiscal policy procyclicality. Fiscal rules supported by strong political commitment and institutions seem to be key to facilitating progress for deeper financial markets and stronger reserves coverage.
Keywords:
DPPP; DP; country; price; GDP; fiscal policy stance; resource fund; fiscal policy principle; Nonresource output gaps; African country; fiscal policy Procyclicality; countercyclical fiscal policies; fiscal policy in the region; resource revenue; way fiscal policy; fiscal policy management; fiscal policy anchor; Fiscal stance; Procyclical fiscal policy; Output gap; Procyclicality; Sub-Saharan Africa; Global
Cover Departmental Papers
Avoiding the New Mediocre: Raising Long-Term Growth in the Middle East and Central Asia
Ms. Pritha Mitra
,
Amr Hosny
,
Gohar Minasyan
,
Mr. Mark Fischer
, and
Gohar Abajyan
Raising the Middle East and Central Asia’s long-term growth prospects is critical for meeting the region's pressing need for jobs and higher living standards.
Keywords:
DPPP; DP; physical capital; GCC MENAP; exporter; oil exporter; oil importer; physical capital accumulation; foreign direct investment; physical capital growth; employment growth; Productivity; Oil; Employment; Capital accumulation; Oil prices; Middle East and Central Asia; Global
Cover Departmental Papers
Ireland: Lessons from Its Recovery from the Bank-Sovereign Loop
International Monetary Fund
Ireland’s major property bubble burst at the same time as the global financial crisis erupted, plunging the country into a severe recession in 2008–10. Public debt climbed rapidly as revenues collapsed and as banks’ rising loan losses increasingly required public support. Following the Greek crisis in spring 2010 and emerging tensions in the euro area, the last act in the process saw the operation of the “sovereign-bank loop”—a vicious cycle where uncertainty about banks’ health fed into doubts around the sustainability of public debt, which only added to fears about the banks. The government lost access to market financing at manageable interest rates, and Ireland entered into a three-year program supported by €67.5 billion of financial assistance from the European Union (EU) and IMF in late 2010. Ireland’s program therefore had three main goals: restoring the viability of the banking system; putting the public finances on a sustainable path and returning to market funding; and restarting economic recovery including by improving growth potential. A large bank recapitalization in early 2011 helped stabilize deposits and other bank funding. The government’s access to market financing was progressively regained from mid 2012, enabling Ireland to exit the program at the end of 2013 and rely fully on market financing at highly favorable terms. The first signs of recovery were seen in strong job creation starting in the second half of 2012, and Ireland’s recent economic figures have surpassed even the most optimistic expectations, with growth of about 5 percent in 2014. Seeking to draw lessons for Ireland, the EU, and the IMF, as well as other countries facing similar challenges, the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI), the Centre for Economic Policy and Research (CEPR), and the IMF organized a conference titled “Ireland—Lessons from Its Recovery from the Bank-Sovereign Loop.” Held on January 19, 2015, at the historic Dublin Castle, it brought together Irish government representatives, European officials, academics, journalists, private sector representatives, and other stakeholders, as well as the IMF’s Managing Director. The conference discussions were anchored by three papers by leading international academics and moderated by journalists familiar with the issues. The event concluded with a high-level panel discussion by senior policymakers.
Keywords:
DPPP; DP; potential GDP; output gap; senior debt; cash injection; banking system; central bank; fiscal policy; financial crisis; Fiscal consolidation; Commercial banks; Loans; Potential output; Europe; Global