Editor’s Note
The first research summary in this issue surveys research done at the IMF on macroeconomic policies and income distribution. Experience shows that widening income disparities tend to erode the political and social consensus required for the sustainability of macroeconomic and structural reforms, especially in developing countries. The need to understand the linkages between macroeconomic policies and income distribution has, therefore, become an important focus of IMF research.
In light of recent developments in some emerging markets, dollarization—the subject of the second article—is both highly topical and of considerable analytical interest.
The country/area study in this issue covers the euro area. With the advent of European Economic and Monetary Union, IMF surveillance of this area has involved analytical work on issues common to all twelve countries, as well as on areawide issues relating to indicators, instruments, and transmission channels of macroeconomic policies.
The special topic article describes a new IMF website on Balance of Payments Statistics—a useful compilation of data sources and information on conceptual issues related to external sector statistics. Also included in this issue are the summaries of proceedings of two recent IMF conferences, including the second Annual IMF Research Conference.
—Eswar Prasad
In This Issue
Macroeconomic Policies and Income Distribution
Dollarization
IMF Staff Papers Special Issue
Call for Papers
Country/Area Study: The Euro Area
Second Annual IMF Research Conference
Investor Relations Seminar
Visiting Scholars
External Publications by IMF Staff
IMF Working Papers
Special Topic: Balance of Payments Statistics
Front Matter Page
IMF Research Bulletin
Eswar S. Prasad
Editor
Helen Chin
Assistant Editor
Kellett Hannah
Systems Consultant
Choon Lee
Typesetting
Phil Torsani
Graphic Designer
Dawn Heaney
Editorial Assistant
The IMF Research Bulletin (ISSN: 1020-8313) is a quarterly publication in English and is available free of cost. Material from the bulletin may be reprinted with proper attribution. Editorial correspondence may be addressed to The Editor, IMF Research Bulletin, IMF, Room 10-548, Washington, DC 20431 U.S.A. or e-mailed to resbulletin@imf.org. Subscription requests should be addressed to Publication Services, Box X2001, IMF, Washington, DC 20431 U.S.A.; e-mail: publications@imf.org.