Economist • Sr. Researcher at @GDP_Center • Former @UNCTAD, @SOAS • PhD @FU_Berlin • sovereign debt, China, international monetary system. Views are my own. https://www.marinazuckermarques.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/marinazucker.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/marinazucker.bsky.social/post/3mtcoeodjik2kAre international financial institutions ready to deal with emergencies? The IMF's CCRT is meant to help countries like DR Congo fight Ebola. But it's empty, with no reliable funding source. An endowment funded by a small slice of the IMF's gold reserves could solve this problem for good [contains quote post or other embedded content]17 Aug 2026 21:45 +0000at://did:plc:2abba3rfhddcjqqlvd4ka3en/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtcoeodjik2khttps://bsky.app/profile/marinazucker.bsky.social/post/3mmotiw6qps2rReminder: the IMF has a fund — the Catastrophe Containment & Relief Trust — designed exactly for moments like the Ebola outbreak now raging in DR Congo. BUT it's nearly empty. The cash left wouldn't even cover DRC's own debt repayments to the IMF in 2026 May- Dec.25 May 2026 15:52 +0000at://did:plc:2abba3rfhddcjqqlvd4ka3en/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmotiw6qps2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/marinazucker.bsky.social/post/3mdxphke2x223🔔New update of the Global Financial Safety Net Tracker! We track countries’ lending capacity and new IMF, RFA, and swap arrangements through Dec 2025—and discuss growing diversification and geopolitics in our blogpost Tracker- shorturl.at/hThy6 Blog- shorturl.at/LM2px @gdp-center.bsky.social03 Feb 2026 15:47 +0000at://did:plc:2abba3rfhddcjqqlvd4ka3en/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdxphke2x223https://bsky.app/profile/marinazucker.bsky.social/post/3ma23bcxhq22jDebt service is crowding out social spending for billions of people, after the 2025 Jubilee it is time for a bold reform that brings HOPE "High Opportunity for Prosperity and Equity" w/ @kevinpgallagher.bsky.social and Marilou Uy at @devex.com https://www.devex.com/news/this-jubilee-year-must-herald-a-new-era-of-debt-relief-for-the-world-11153915 Dec 2025 16:43 +0000at://did:plc:2abba3rfhddcjqqlvd4ka3en/app.bsky.feed.post/3ma23bcxhq22jhttps://bsky.app/profile/marinazucker.bsky.social/post/3m5jsvvg6bs2cCheck our chart of the week! shorturl.at/l7xhx COP’s key discussion: achieving the $1.3T climate finance goal. For that, MDBs must play a bold role. Tripling MDB lending by 2030, per G20 Independent Expert Group, would put MDBs in the path to cover one-quarter of 1.3 T target by 2035.13 Nov 2025 18:40 +0000at://did:plc:2abba3rfhddcjqqlvd4ka3en/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5jsvvg6bs2chttps://bsky.app/profile/marinazucker.bsky.social/post/3lnxlghe7ek24One more double standard on IFA. If you are MDB with rich shareholders, your claims is out of the parameter. But claims from South-led institutions - that should be strengthened and supported - are included in the parameter? https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/battle-over-baby-multilaterals-may-trap-zambia-ghana-longer-debt-default-2025-04-24/29 Apr 2025 15:20 +0000at://did:plc:2abba3rfhddcjqqlvd4ka3en/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnxlghe7ek24https://bsky.app/profile/marinazucker.bsky.social/post/3lnxhyykcg22nThis Spring Meetings made one thing clear: the IMF must reform its governance or risk losing legitimacy and becoming less effective in addressing global financial challenges. Maia Colodenco, Florencia Asef Horno, and I outline ways to boost EMDE voice and representation in the Fund Summary below 👇 [contains quote post or other embedded content]29 Apr 2025 14:19 +0000at://did:plc:2abba3rfhddcjqqlvd4ka3en/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnxhyykcg22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/marinazucker.bsky.social/post/3lnbx42e6fs26It’s that time of year! If you’re in DC for the WB/IMF Spring Meetings, don’t miss this event TOMORROW apr. 21st 3PM W/ fresh papers that address the impact of debt on development prospects in Africa + more Not in DC? Join us online! t.co/mLoTlbc68i @gdp-center.bsky.social21 Apr 2025 00:51 +0000at://did:plc:2abba3rfhddcjqqlvd4ka3en/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnbx42e6fs26https://bsky.app/profile/marinazucker.bsky.social/post/3lmau5ss7y22n🧵 The tragic earthquake in Myanmar has exposed deep flaws in how global financial institutions respond to disasters. A 7.7 magnitude quake, 3,400+ dead—and yet, key IMF and WB tools remain out of reach. Red Cross aims to raise $100 mn aid Myanmar will pay $170 mn to IMF + $95mn to WB https://www.bu.edu/gdp/2025/04/07/disaster-triggered-financing-mechanisms-must-provide-more-relief-for-myanmar/07 Apr 2025 21:00 +0000at://did:plc:2abba3rfhddcjqqlvd4ka3en/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmau5ss7y22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/marinazucker.bsky.social/post/3lm6jfb4vik2l"What a week, huh?"....."Captain, it is Sunday" [contains quote post or other embedded content]06 Apr 2025 22:42 +0000at://did:plc:2abba3rfhddcjqqlvd4ka3en/app.bsky.feed.post/3lm6jfb4vik2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/marinazucker.bsky.social/post/3lm5l4jnawk2iChina's response: ”As the second largest economy and second largest market for consumer goods, China is committed to opening ever wider to the world, no matter how the international situation change [...]And we will share our development opportunities with the world to achieve mutual benefits." https://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/xw/zyxw/202504/t20250406_11589042.html06 Apr 2025 13:40 +0000at://did:plc:2abba3rfhddcjqqlvd4ka3en/app.bsky.feed.post/3lm5l4jnawk2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/marinazucker.bsky.social/post/3llvsinb5vs2phttps://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-03/trump-tariffs-are-disaster-for-the-world-s-poorest-countries03 Apr 2025 11:31 +0000at://did:plc:2abba3rfhddcjqqlvd4ka3en/app.bsky.feed.post/3llvsinb5vs2phttps://bsky.app/profile/marinazucker.bsky.social/post/3lloorlyg6k2tOur broken financial architecture Myanmar’s disaster (est. cost >100% GDP) qualifies it for IMF relief via the CCRT But CCRT funds, w/ just 81 mn SDRs aren't enough to cover the 103 mn Myanmar could request- 20% of their quotas Meanwhile, IMF sits on $282bn in idle gold31 Mar 2025 15:36 +0000at://did:plc:2abba3rfhddcjqqlvd4ka3en/app.bsky.feed.post/3lloorlyg6k2thttps://bsky.app/profile/marinazucker.bsky.social/post/3ljgxitcp7s22É pra comemorar sim! É clima de copa do mundo sim!03 Mar 2025 03:00 +0000at://did:plc:2abba3rfhddcjqqlvd4ka3en/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljgxitcp7s22https://bsky.app/profile/marinazucker.bsky.social/post/3lj5xfo6fys2nToday, 8 former presidents from Africa have made public their call for debt relief [contains quote post or other embedded content]27 Feb 2025 13:05 +0000at://did:plc:2abba3rfhddcjqqlvd4ka3en/app.bsky.feed.post/3lj5xfo6fys2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/marinazucker.bsky.social/post/3lgjcwknpgk2u@bancocentralbrasil.bsky.social released the 2024 BoP data Brazil recorded a $16.7 BILLION outflow via crypto purchases, or 17% of the capital and financial account and 0.76% of GDP. Those concerned with forex stability & BoP vulnerabilities must pay attention to this new channel for outflows24 Jan 2025 21:15 +0000at://did:plc:2abba3rfhddcjqqlvd4ka3en/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgjcwknpgk2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/marinazucker.bsky.social/post/3lcsiv2etqc2uIt was a pleasure to talk with Mahieash Johnney on Sri Lanka's State of the Nation (at Ada Derana) to discuss the recent @gdp-center.bsky.social policy brief on selling IMF gold to fund the Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWfLzwbih_U08 Dec 2024 15:14 +0000at://did:plc:2abba3rfhddcjqqlvd4ka3en/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcsiv2etqc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/marinazucker.bsky.social/post/3lbxaauoprk2mMark Sobel & @kevinpgallagher.bsky.social "The IMF needs to call for a major debt relief initiative akin to HIPC for those LICS/LMICs where debt payments are squeezing government revenues, making debt service unsustainable and choking the growth prospects of billions of people" shorturl.at/R3AAZ https://www.omfif.org/2024/11/distressed-lics-need-debt-relief-not-more-new-debt/27 Nov 2024 18:58 +0000at://did:plc:2abba3rfhddcjqqlvd4ka3en/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbxaauoprk2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/marinazucker.bsky.social/post/3lbizhtfbis25When countries need to urgently invest in climate adaptation and development, debt relief cannot restricted to countries geopolitically close to US MANY more countries need support https://www.reuters.com/world/biden-administrations-moves-forgive-47-billion-loans-ukraine-2024-11-20/22 Nov 2024 03:19 +0000at://did:plc:2abba3rfhddcjqqlvd4ka3en/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbizhtfbis25