An Independent Evaluation of Research at the IMF

Ms. Edison gave an insightful presentation on the IEO’s findings, showing that IMF produces a large body of research, including a large number of high-quality products (such as SIPs), which were found to be fairly influential in policy making.

The IEO however identified a number of shortcomings in IMF research, stressing that it is missing its target: by not adapting the analytical framework to the realities of the country because of insular research and lack of consultation on research topics. Further, the IEO concluded that the IMF has too much control over the message but not enough control over the quality.

The IEO used surveys, soliciting responses from country authorities and IMF economists, and interviews, targeting authorities, think tanks, academia and international organizations and IMF staff, to evaluate how relevant IMF research was to authorities in member countries, IMF staff and other stakeholders, its technical quality, and how IMF research activities were organized. All interviewed groups agreed that IMF research was message driven, that it is predictable and does not allow for alternative perspectives.

The IEO's recommendations, amongst others, to the IMF is to make its databases available for think tanks, and further joint projects between IMF and think tanks because this would create new collaborations and therefore would help produce better policy advice.

Please find attached Hali Edison's presentation and more information at CASE website.

The video of the presentation is available on CASE vimeo channel.