IMF’s Global Financial Stability Report Assesses Impact of Geopolitical Risks on Global Financial Stability | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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IMF’s Global Financial Stability Report Assesses Impact of Geopolitical Risks on Global Financial Stability

Posted 15 Apr 2025

2 min read

According to the Report, Global geopolitical risks remain elevated, raising concerns about their potential impact for macro financial stability.

Geopolitical Risks

  • Multiple threats to supply chains: Geopolitical rivalries, conflict, competition for resources, cyberattacks, etc.
  • Tectonic shifts in power, economic centers and trade: New trade alliances and investment hubs are redefining global power dynamics.
  • A fragmented tax environment. E.g., Minimum global tax is becoming adopted by many countries, while others are withdrawing from multilateral tax policy.
  • Demographic, technological and cultural pressures on workforces: E.g., Aging populations, mass retirement, falling birth rates (in developed markets), culture wars, AI integration, etc.

Implications of geopolitical risks 

  • Sovereign Risk: Increased military spending and economic downturns raise public-debt-to-GDP ratios, escalating fiscal sustainability concerns and sovereign risk.
  • Financial Contagion: Geopolitical risks can spill over to other economies through trade & financial linkages, raising the risk of contagion. 
  • Macroeconomic Impact: Increased geopolitical risk can lead to economic disruptions, such as supply chain disruptions and capital flow reversals.
  • Investor Confidence: Geopolitical risks generally lower investor confidence, leading to market uncertainty and increased volatility.
    • E.g., The U.S.-China trade war significantly impacted stock prices in both economies

Key Policy Recommendations for Geopolitical Risks

  • Enhance Financial Oversight: Policymakers should integrate country-specific geopolitical risks into financial institution supervision. 
  • Strengthen Capital Buffers: Financial institutions must maintain adequate capital and liquidity to counter geopolitical risk losses. 
  • Deepen Financial Markets: Emerging markets should develop deeper financial markets with robust regulations to hedge geopolitical shocks. 
  • Maintain Macroeconomic Buffers: Adequate fiscal space and international reserves are crucial to mitigate geopolitical event impacts. 
  • Improve Crisis Preparedness: Strengthen frameworks to manage financial instability from escalating geopolitical tensions.
  • Tags :
  • IMF
  • Global Financial Stability Report
  • Geopolitical Risks
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