Unemployment benefits deter job seekers from accepting work, say critics. But do they? One expert weighs the evidence.

Traditionally, humanitarian workers and development specialists were seen as inhabiting two different worlds, but one expert calls for some joined up thinking to help the people of fragile states.

La croissance de l’économie mondiale devrait s’accélérer cette année, selon le Fonds monétaire international. C’est ce qui ressort de la dernière mise à jour des Perspectives de l’économie mondiale du FMI. Le FMI table sur une croissance mondiale voisine de 3,7 % cette année, qui passerait à 3,9 % en 2015.

Global growth is expected to increase this year, says the International Monetary Fund in its latest report on the health of the global economy. The IMF forecasts global growth to average 3.7 percent in 2014―up from 3 percent in 2013―and to rise to 3.9 percent in 2015.

Africa is one of the fastest growing regions in the world, but the persistence of youth unemployment threatens this progress. Some see this growth without jobs as a ticking time bomb. Lamido Sanusi, the Governor of the central bank of Nigeria explains how to tackle this issue.

Zambia has enjoyed rapid growth in recent years, but the size of its fiscal deficit looms large over its future, says the IMF in a new report on the state of this south African economy.

“A rising tide lifts all boats.” That may be true on the oceans, but it’s not always the case when it comes to economic growth. But, countries can choose to pursue economic policies that will benefit all—rich and poor alike.

After a decade of strong growth, many emerging markets have experienced an economic slowdown. Martin Wolf, chief economics commentator at the Financial Times, explains how these economies might restore momentum.

In a wide ranging interview, the chief economist of the African development bank gave his thoughts on the African middle class, the state of data in Africa and the continent’ stellar economic performance.

The recent slowing growth in emerging markets may continue for the foreseeable future says economist Tim Adams. At a recent seminar on "Emerging Markets: Restoring the Momentum", Adams suggested that this change could be a good thing, heralding more balanced and sustainable growth.

Dans son dernier rapport sur les perspectives économiques de l’Afrique subsaharienne, le Fonds monétaire international prévoit pour la région une croissance de 6 % en 2014, contre 5 % prévus pour cette année. La région bénéficie de l’amélioration de la conjoncture aux niveaux local et mondial.

In the latest economic outlook for sub-Saharan Africa, the International Monetary Fund expects growth to reach 6% in 2014, up from the 5% expected this year. The region is benefiting from improved domestic and global conditions.

Water is the one resource we cannot live without. Yet, in some parts of the world, it remains inaccessible to many. To coincide with his article (http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2013/09/Gleick.htm) in September’s “Finance & Development,” Peter Gleick argues that we need to radically change how we consume this vital resource.

Le FMI prévoit une croissance de 2,9 % de l'économie mondiale cette année, soit moins que les 3,2 % enregistrés l'année dernière. La croissance sera vraisemblablement tirée par les économies avancées, tandis que les pays émergents afficheront des résultats moins bons que prévu.

Before the global financial crisis, the economies of central, eastern and southeastern Europe were expected to converge to the levels of their richer, western neighbors. But since the crisis, growth has been disappointing. How then to return this region to greater prosperity?

As US politicians race against the clock to avoid the United States defaulting on its debt, Martin Wolf describes what the debt ceiling is, and its implications for the global economy.

In the latest update to its World Economic Outlook, the IMF says it expects the world's economy to grow by 2.9 percent this year—below the 3.2 percent recorded last year. Growth is likely to be driven by advanced economies, while the performance of emerging markets will be weaker than expected.

Despite its many achievements since the transition to majority rule, South Africa struggles with low growth, widespread unemployment, and sharp social tensions. The IMF says Africa’s largest economy needs to pursue structural reforms to boost growth and create jobs for a growing population.

The 26-odd countries in the Caribbean may be small, but they are facing many of the same challenges confronting larger nations. These include the need to create more jobs and ensure that any growth is spread across a wide cross section of society. The countries of the Caribbean and various international organizations are meeting in the Bahamas to discuss how to capture that elusive growth.

Kenya is one of the success stories of Africa’s economic resurgence. Just a few short years after the global financial crisis caused a sharp economic downturn, the country has rebounded, and earned a reputation as one of the continent’s frontier economies. With this strong performance in mind, the Kenya and the IMF will co-host a conference to discuss the country's prospects.

Myanmar has made impressive strides in opening and liberalizing the economy, boosting growth and the economic outlook, but the formerly isolated country still faces some challenges.

Economic growth in the developing world has been accompanied by massive increases in higher education enrollment. This can feed a country’s development—but it also puts new pressures on a country’s leaders and workers.

As the economies of the developing world expand, new jobs beckon. But Richard Freeman says these countries have seen a surprising persistence of informal sector jobs—which offer low pay and scant worker protection.

Si vous faites partie de ces milliers de gens qui envoient de l'argent à leurs parents et amis à l'étranger, attention! Peut-être faites-vous autant de mal que de bien, selon un économiste du FMI. Ces envois de fonds peuvent certes secourir des familles dans le besoin, mais ils peuvent aussi saper la croissance économique.

If you are one of the hundreds of thousands of people who send money abroad to friends and relatives, beware! You may be doing as much harm as good, suggests one IMF economist. Although these remittances can be a lifeline for families, they can also undermine economic growth.