The presentation of the IMF’s October 2019 World Economic Outlook publication ‘Global Manufacturing Downturn, Rising Trade Barriers’ will cover the Fund’s latest analysis on global growth prospects, risks, and policy priorities. Global growth is forecast at 3.0 per cent for 2019, its lowest level since 2008–09, picking up to 3.4 per cent in 2020. This reflects a projected improvement in economic performance in a number of emerging markets in Latin America, the Middle East, and emerging and developing Europe that are under macroeconomic strain. Yet, with uncertainty about prospects for several of these countries, a projected slowdown in China and the United States, and prominent downside risks, a much more subdued pace of global activity could well materialise.

Malhar Nabar is Division Chief, World Economic Studies at the IMF’s Research Department, where he co-directs the Fund’s biannual flagship World Economic Outlook publication. Previously, he worked in the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, where he covered China and Japan, and was the mission chief for Hong Kong, SAR. Mr. Nabar’s research interests are in financial development, investment, and productivity growth. He holds a PhD from Brown University.

The CAMA Macroeconomics Brown Bag Seminars offer CAMA speakers, in particular PhD students, an opportunity to present their work in progress in front of their peers, and reputable visitors to showcase their work.