Posted

May 11, 2012 09:31:55 PM

Date

2012-05

Author

Opoku-Afari, Maxwell and Dixit, Shiv

Affiliation

African Department, IMF

Title

Tracking Short-Term Dynamics of Economic Activity in Low-Income Countries in the Absence of High-Frequency GDP Data

Summary /
Abstract

This paper uses a set of routinely collected high-frequency data in low-income countries (LICs) to construct an aggregate and a comprehensive index of economic activity which could serve (i) as a measure of the direction of economic activity; and (ii) as a useful input in analyzing contemporaneous real sector performance in LICs in the absence of high-frequency, and often outdated, GDP data. It could also serve as a useful tool for policymakers to gauge short-term dynamics of economic activity and shape appropriate and timely policy responses.

Keywords

Short-Term Dynamics, Economic Activity, GDP

URL

http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp/2012/wp12119.pdf

See

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