The analysis and projections contained in the World Economic Outlook are integral elements of the IMF’s surveillance of economic developments and policies in its member countries, of developments in international fi nancial markets, and of the global economic system. The survey of prospects and policies is the product of a comprehensive interdepartmental review of world economic developments, which draws primarily on information the IMF staff gathers through its consultations with member countries. These consultations are carried out in particular by the IMF’s area departments together with the Strategy, Policy, and Review Department, the Monetary and Capital Markets Department, and the Fiscal Affairs Department.
The analysis in this report was coordinated in the Research Department under the general direction of Olivier Blanchard, Economic Counsellor and Director of Research. The project was directed by Charles Collyns, Deputy Director of the Research Department, and Jörg Decressin, Division Chief, Research Department. The primary contributors to this report are Ravi Balakrishnan, Jaromir Benes, Petya Koeva Brooks, Kevin Cheng, Stephan Danninger, Selim Elekdag, Thomas Helbling, Prakash Kannan, Douglas Laxton, Alasdair Scott, Natalia Tamirisa, Marco Terrones, and Irina Tytell. Toh Kuan, Gavin Asdorian, Stephanie Denis, Murad Omoev, Jair Rodriguez, Ercument Tulun, and Jessie Yang provided research assistance.
Saurabh Gupta, Mahnaz Hemmati, Laurent Meister, and Emory Oakes managed the database and the computer systems. Jemille Colon, Tita Gunio, Shanti Karunaratne, Patricia Medina, and Sheila Tomilloso Igcasenza were responsible for word processing. Julio Prego provided graphics support.
Other contributors include Kevin Clinton, Dale Gray, Marianne Johnson, Ondrej Kamenik, Ayhan Kose, Prakash Loungani, David Low, and Dirk Muir. Menzi Chinn and Don Harding were external consultants. Linda Griffi n Kean of the External Relations Department edited the manuscript and coordinated the production of the publication.
The analysis has benefi ted from comments and suggestions by staff from other IMF departments, as well as by Executive Directors following their discussion of the report on April 13, 2009. However, both projections and policy considerations are those of the IMF staff and should not be attributed to Executive Directors or to their national authorities.