This paper highlights that the second part of 1992 has been characterized by flagging consumer and business confidence, weaker-than-expected economic activity—especially in Europe and Japan—and considerable tensions in foreign exchange markets. Despite encouraging signs of increased growth in the United States, these developments have cast new doubts on the prospects for recovery in the industrial world after what has already been two years of weak growth or recession in many countries. The persistent currency turbulence since September 1992 and growing tensions over trade have also contributed to increased uncertainty.

The World Economic Outlook, published twice a year in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic, presents IMF staff economists analyses of global economic developments during the near and medium term. Chapters give an overview of the world economy; consider issues affecting industrial countries, developing countries, and economies in transition to market; and address topics of pressing current interest. Annexes, boxes, charts, and an extensive statistical appendix augment the text.

This paper provides information on private market financing for developing countries, covering developments since August 1992. Progress in dealing with bank debt problems has been based in large part on persistence in the pursuit of stabilization and reform programs. Such programs have resulted in strengthened external positions that have allowed debtor countries to accumulate reserves for use in debt-reduction operations. All of the countries where negotiations are now continuing had at some point suspended payments on medium- and long-term debt. Banks have recognized that resumption of regular (albeit partial) payments can be politically difficult in the absence of a quid pro quo. The group of middle-and lower-middle income countries with debt problems still to come to terms with bank creditors on debt-reduction packages is now limited. Many of these remaining countries (including Bulgaria, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Poland) have already begun negotiations with creditor banks.

Within a historical perspective, Clayton clearly explains the "culture of debt" - its definition, how it got to be such a major burden, why we can't live without it, and ways to manage it more efficiently. He addresses the development of debt over the course of the 20th century in both the US and world economies. This comprehensive multidisciplinary analysis covers all aspects of debt - benefits and necessity; the impact (both good and bad) on individuals, corporations and governments; and lessons to be learned from the past. Clayton, drawing on current research and extensive primary data in economics, political science, and history, concludes that with our rapacious accumulation of debt and common-place use of "debt-finance", our society has set itself up for a significant financial decline.

The international monetary system has changed radically in the last twenty years. Capital, information, goods, and services move around the globe with unprecedented ease. Countries from the former communist bloc have joined the system. Europe is on the verge of monetary union. Financial crises in East Asia and Mexico have rocked the world economy. In this book, Robert Solomon--author of the definitive history of the monetary order between 1945 and 1981--presents the first comprehensive history of these and other aspects of this revolution in international finance. Authoritative, accessible, and elegantly written, the book will be indispensable for anyone who wishes to understand how today's international monetary system works. Solomon begins with the spectacular rise and subsequent decline of the foreign exchange value of the U.S. dollar in the 1980s. He covers the debt crisis of developing countries in the 1980s. He explores the shift from central planning to market economies in many countries in the 1990s and explains the origins, implications, and problems of the move to a single European currency. Solomon examines in detail the striking increase in the mobility of capital--paying particular attention to the costs and benefits for developing countries, and to the role of capital mobility in the Mexican crisis of 1994 and the Asian crisis that began in 1997. In the book's final chapter, Solomon provides an overview of the international monetary system and considers how it might evolve in the future. In this section, he focuses on the key subjects of balance-of-payments adjustments, supply of reserves, and stability. He also evaluates a variety of much-debated policy instruments, including inflation targeting, currency boards, target zones for exchange rates, free-floating exchange rates, the Tobin tax, macroeconomic policy coordination, and special drawings rights. Throughout, Solomon relates developments in the international monetary system to macroeconomic conditions in the countries involved--arguing that it is impossible to understand one without understanding the other. As a clear, thorough, and unusually perceptive account of global finance and monetary economics in the late twentieth century, Money on the Move will be vital reading for economists, policymakers, and general readers.

Some of the most important developments of the last quarter century relate to the internationalization of financial issues: the advent of free trade areas; the efforts of the European Union in establishing a single currency; burdens of international indebtedness; and the economic growth and development of nations.International financial systems are increasingly fragile and vulnerable in the face of possible international financial shock. Exchange rate issues and other changes in financial conditions have profound consequences not only for multinational corporations which have to devise new ways of managing their global operations, but also for firms and industries at the national level.The papers in this book confront these and other problems in international finance that have arisen in recent years, seeking to identify causal linkages at the global, national and company levels.

This book examines current issues in the world economic order, and asks what new initiatives are necessary to ensure stability, growth and high levels of employment. In so doing the authors pose the question whether the institutions and frameworks of Bretton Woods (The IMF, The World Bank, managed exchange rates etc) are appropriate to meet the new challenges. Managing the Global Economy will be essential reading for students, analysts and policy makers wanting to get to grips with current developments in the international economy.

This paper highlights that following a small decline in world output in 1991, growth will recover to about 11⁄2 percent in 1992 before gaining more momentum in 1993. There were signs of recovery in some of those industrial economies that have been in recession, but some other countries continued to show signs of weakness. Although the sluggishness of many cyclical indicators continues to highlight the downside risks to the short-term projections, there are several positive aspects of the current situation.