Shannon O'Neil explains why Latin America is steadily growing in global importance.

Isobel Coleman hosts Robert Annibale, Global Director of Microfinance, Citigroup, and Shamshad Akhtar, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations, for a discussion about how to reach the two billion people who do not have access to formal financial services.

This roundtable was generously supported by the Center for Financial Conclusion at Accion, which is leading the Financial Inclusion 2020 Campaign.

Sub-Saharan Africa's GDP has grown five percent a year since 2000 and is expected to grow even faster in the future. Although pessimists are quick to point out that this growth has followed increases in commodities prices, the success of recent political reforms and the increased openness of African societies give the region a good chance of sustaining its boom for years to come.

Joyce Chang, Richard H. Clarida, and Peter B. Henry discuss how emerging markets have responded to the global recession of 2008–2009 and potential lessons for developed countries.

Shannon O'Neil reflects on the early years of her "twenty-year relationship with Mexico."

The IMF launched this report in March 2002, in order "to provide a regular assessment of global financial markets and to identify potential systemic weaknesses that could lead to crises."

The Brazilian government faces a number of challenges and opportunities concerning its economic forecast in the coming years. After peaking at 7.5 percent growth in 2010, Brazil's recent economic slowdown has caused worry that the dream of a new high-growth economy had slipped out of reach.

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The fifth summit of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) countries met in Durban, South Africa March 26 and 27, 2013, to discuss "political and economic coordination." They released their fifth summit declaraction, "BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Development, Integration and Industrialisation," which includes plans for a BRICS development bank.

Edward Alden writes that the U.S.-European Union Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations are "the biggest consolation prize in the history of international trade liberalization."

Moving away from fossil fuels could be devastating for some of the world's poorest countries, says Michael A. Levi.

Joshua Kurlantzick shares an excerpt from his new book, Democracy in Retreat, which revolves around a disturbing thesis: that after a steady increase in the number of democracies in the world for nearly a century, autocratic rule is on the march.

Sebastian Mallaby argues that microeconomic struggles are tarnishing the macroeconomic success of the BRICs.

Shannon K. O'Neil says, "[American] perceptions reflect the Mexican reality that dominates headlines: soaring crime rates and gruesome murders in a war against drug traffickers. But this window into Mexico overlooks an economic transformation and deepening ties with the United States that reflect a dramatically different country."

Michael Spence explains what China's leadership can learn from Singapore about formulating a growth strategy that is inclusive, stable, and sustainable.

Peter Orszag explains how the transition of Chinese workers from farms to factories has a large role to play in determining the growth rate of the Chinese economy.

Over the past several years, the most talked-about trend in the global economy has been the so-called rise of the rest, which saw the economies of many developing countries swiftly converging with those of their more developed peers.

Michael Spence shares his bullish outlook on emerging markets and their ability to rebound from a global growth slowdown.

With the London summer games at an end, economist Jose Ursua discusses whether or not Olympics have a financial impact for host cities, and the broader implications for the global economy.

Jagdish Bhagwati writes that the Doha round's failure at the hands of U.S. negotiators forebodes the return of protectionism.

Joshua Kurlantzick argues that state capitalism can be conducive to innovation.