Over the last 10 years, Brazil has expanded its own domestic development strategies to include offering assistance to other countries and their national efforts. Former President Lula da Silva has suggested that the country’s experience solving problems in unfavourable conditions make it a good partner for other developing countries.

Formerly one of Africa's most promising economies, Zimbabwe has begun a process of economic reconstruction after decades of political turmoil and economic mismanagement. In this policy brief, Hany Besada and Karolina Werner recommend ways in which Zimbabwe can reinvigorate its economy while safeguarding its environment and resources.

This policy brief asserts that the North-South divide is perhaps the most important hindrance to reaching an agreement at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) being held in Copenhagen in December 2009. According to the authors, movement across this divide will be necessary to reach a deal; however, the likelihood of a significant agreement, even post-Copenhagen, is unclear despite the current political momentum.

In this policy brief, Distinguished Fellow John Whalley and Research Assistant Sean Walsh assess some of the critical issues and obstacles standing in the path of a successful conclusion to the December 2009 climate change negotiation in Copenhagen.

In this policy brief written against the backdrop of current G20 discussions, CIGI Distinguished Fellow John Whalley and Professor Simon Evenett argue that "green" protectionist actions by industrialized countries reduce the likelihood of a successful deal at the UN-sponsored global climate change talks at Copenhagen in December 2009.

This web exclusive policy brief explores the origins and consequences of deflation with a view to putting into proper perspective the relevant economic issues for an economy that experiences a bout of falling prices. Historical illustrations are also used to distinguish between sense and nonsense concerning the economics of deflation.

History can repeat itself. The last two decades have seen monetary policy as dominant policy while fiscal policy has taken a back seat. The ongoing financial crisis may well sow the seeds of a return to fiscal dominance. In addition, there are renewed calls for greater international policy coordination. While cooperation is desirable, coordination often breaks down, as it did with the Bretton Woods regime some politicians are hoping to revive in a form that has yet to be determined. There are considerable risks that accompany both developments based on the historical experience and the tendency for countries to defend their sovereignty over financial and monetary matters.

The world economy is presently characterized by very large payments imbalances whose management and resolution is a central issue in the agenda of international financial reform. To tackle this issue effectively, innovations in global governance would be helpful because of three unique features of the current situation: the distinct geography of contemporary imbalances, the dollar's changing position as world currency, and the growing influence of sovereign wealth funds. Some suggested innovations include: widening the G8; creating an IMF or ECB substitution account to ease the shift away from a dollar-centred international monetary order; fostering a greater recognition of the role of regions in global financial governance; and negotiating new multilateral rules for investment flows.

This policy brief documents the size and rate of change of this growing economic presence, focusing primarily on trade and finance. The paper also discusses the rate of change and projections of its growth. The factors that lie behind these developments are discussed.