Australia’s central bank says labour market conditions have been weaker than expected.
Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Wages are sluggish, underemployment seems stubbornly high, and there is a continued push to part-time rather than full-time employment.
The G20 facilitates global engagement but participation can be cumbersome.
Shutterstock
In its agenda to reform global economic governance the developing world should look for ways to extract some value from the G20.
A member of Ghana’s navy attends celebrations in Accra to mark the country’s 60th independence anniversary.
EPA/Christian Thompson
Ghana is very much the African rising star 60 years after independence with an exemplary record in health and education. But it’s struggling like many of its peers to meet social and economic targets.
The IMF was blamed after the 2014 Ebola crisis for contributing to the failure of West African health systems to develop.
Reuters/Baz Ratner
West African health systems were weak before the IMF got involved. Sadly, the policy reforms demanded by the IMF in exchange for loans have undermined governments’ ability to repair these problems.
IMF leaders should practise what they preach when it comes to inequality.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
The IMF has been expressing public concern about inequality since 2010, but this has not translated into concrete action within the IMF’s own policies and programs.
Beawiharta/Reuters
The success of the first phase prompted financial observers to hail Indonesia’s tax amnesty program as one of the most successful in the world.
Trump’s victory threatens to unleash stronger prejudice against minorities.
Reuters/Rebecca Cook
The United States under the leadership of Donald Trump is expected to pursue isolationist policies which could hurt Africa.
The yuan’s joining of the SDR reserve currency club signifies a new era of international growth for China.
Jason Lee/Reuters
The Chinese government should focus less on promoting the yuan internationally and more on domestic financial reform.
Challenging times for some BRICS countries.
Reuters
BRICS is slowly being written off as a bloc that can administer coherent political action.
World Bank president Jim Kim was recently appointed for a second term, but there are questions about the transparency of this process.
Adnan Abidi/Reuters
The World Bank risks looking hypocritical and becoming redundant if it doesn’t improve its own management.
Looking downcast: head of the IMF, Christine Lagarde.
EPA/Julien Warnand
The IMF has lowered its forecasts for the US, UK and other advanced economies, even if post-Brexit negotiations go smoothly.
IMF managing director Christine Lagarde has some tips for Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau.
Chris Wattie/Reuters
Boosting growth could be as simple as getting more women into the workforce.
Protesters call for the removal of South African President Jacob Zuma. Civil society has a major role to play in South Africa.
Reuters/Mike Hutchings
South Africa’s ruling party has lost its moral and intellectual capacity to claim the mantle of leadership. The country’s economy won’t recover unless new political alignments emerge.
US President Barack Obama departs his last G20 summit.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
The G20’s lack of leadership will continue to contribute to the current global economic malaise.
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Africa needs billions of dollars to finance the Sustainable Development Goals. Its not clear where this money will come from.
The IMF has criticised itself, but it’s a grey wash.
Reuters/Joshua Roberts/File Photo
A report into the IMF’s handling of the euro crisis carefully avoids blame, while attempting to reclaim influence.
Carney tries to reassure investors.
YouTube
Mark Carney has announced the first part of a plan to settle investor nerves and avoid a market trainwreck. Despite best efforts it may not be enough.
Greece needs genuine European support.
EPA/Alexandros Vlachos
Economic sense has been largely irrelevant in the unfolding Greek drama. Instead, morality has been at its heart.
The 82nd Airborne taking part in NATO exercises in Spain.
Paul Hanna/Reuters
No election in recent times has so clearly presented American voters with such a stark choice when it comes to U.S. foreign policy. A guide to the major differences.
Major development banks are funding logging, mining and infrastructure projects that are having enormous impacts on nature. Here, forests are being razed along a newly constructed road in central Amazonia.
William Laurance
Big new investors such as the Asian Infrastructure Development Bank are key players in a worldwide infrastructure, and that could be bad news for the environment.