Of Interest
you are currently viewing::Stablecoins, Tokens, and Global DominanceSeptember 9, 2025-Technology is reshaping capital flows and currency dominance; data integrity is essential for financial stability The effects on capital flows are hard to assess, but they could have a surprisingly large impact on fiscal accounts, geoeconomic fragmentation, exchange rate volatility, and the internationalization of major currencies. Stablecoins are one of the most relevant innovations, increasingly embraced amid US introduction of a legal framework designed to boost adoption and solidify the dollar's role as the main international currency. Tokenization plays a role as well. It is the process of recording claims on assets that exist on a traditional ledger-or native assets (that is, only issued digitally)-on a programmable platform, where they can be transferred (Agur and others 2025). Source: imf.org |
Explainer: Five Megatrends Shaping the Rise of Nonbank Finance
September 27, 2025--Half of all financial assets worldwide are now held and intermediated by companies that are not classified and regulated as banks
The global financial crisis of 2008 froze the financial system. Banks pulled back credit, families tightened their belts and companies laid off workers. It was a frightening time for everyone, and an extremely difficult moment for the financial services industry.
The OECD Index of Digital Trade Integration and Openness (INDIGO)
September 12, 2025-Policy Trends up to 2025
Key messages
Global discussions on digital trade are in their early stages but are rapidly gaining momentum. The world economy is just 8.5% of the way towards what could be considered full global digital trade integration and openness. Recent years have seen an increase in the diversity of the issues covered in international discussions,largely due to digital trade provisions in trade agreements and digital economy agreements.
Collapse of critical Atlantic current is no longer low-likelihood, study finds
August 28, 2025--Scientists say 'shocking' discovery shows rapid cuts in carbon emissions are needed to avoid catastrophic fallout
The collapse of a critical Atlantic current can no longer be considered a low-likelihood event,a study has concluded,making deep cuts to fossil fuel emissions even more urgent to avoid the catastrophic impact.
Why investing in Southern Africa's critical minerals is key for the global energy transition
August 6, 2025--The energy transition has turbocharged the global demand for minerals.
The Southern Africa region holds nearly a third of the world's critical mineral reserves.
World Cannot Recycle Its Way Out of Plastics Crisis, Report Warns
August 4, 2025--The 8 billion tons of plastic waste that have amassed on Earth pose a grave and growing danger to human health, according to a new report published in the leading medical journal The Lancet. Ahead of a U.N. conference on plastic pollution, authors warn that countries urgently need to cut production.
The Brain Economy: The New New Thing
August 2, 2025--At a recent gathering of the G7 conference goers were told the future of economic growth depends on optimizing ‘brain capital,' a term that encompasses brain health and cognitive, emotional, and social skills.
The brain economy, the idea that communities, societies, and countries contribute to economic growth and stability through their collective brainpower, is the New New Thing and in the coming months governments and companies are likely to hear a lot more about it.
New Standards for Economic Data Aim to Sharpen View of Global Economy
July 31, 2025--The updated System of National Accounts better captures digitalization, intangible assets, and global production-helping governments support growth, jobs, and investment
The cornerstones of our digital world-from smartphone apps to new digital assets and artificial intelligence tools-didn't exist back in 2008, the last time the world's statistical community overhauled its approach to standardizing how countries measure the economy.
