Question map
Which of the following organizations brings out the publication known as World Economic Outlook?
Explanation
The World Economic Outlook is usually published twice a year by IMF ([1]usually April and October). It showcases the staff economists' analysis and forecasts of global economic developments and policies in the member countries of IMF during the near and medium term.[1] The report also indicates the risks and uncertainty that may threaten growth of member countries.[1] IMF publishes two periodic reports in this regard 'World Economic Outlook' and 'Global Financial Stability Report'.[2] Therefore, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is the organization that brings out the World Economic Outlook publication, making option A the correct answer.
Sources- [1] Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > World Economic Outlook (WEO) > p. 519
- [2] Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > Surveillance > p. 514
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a 'Sitter' category question—a fundamental fact that every serious aspirant must know. It falls under the classic 'Reports & Indices' theme. If you get this wrong, you are effectively handing your seat to a competitor. No deep analysis needed, just rote memory of the 'Big 4' institutions and their flagship publications.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Does the International Monetary Fund publish the publication titled "World Economic Outlook"?
- Statement 2: Does the United Nations Development Programme publish the publication titled "World Economic Outlook"?
- Statement 3: Does the World Economic Forum publish the publication titled "World Economic Outlook"?
- Statement 4: Does the World Bank publish the publication titled "World Economic Outlook"?
- Explicitly names 'World Economic Outlook (WEO)' and states it is 'Usually published twice a year by IMF'.
- Describes WEO as IMF staff economists' analysis and forecasts of global economic developments, linking the report directly to IMF activity.
- States that IMF publishes two periodic reports and explicitly lists 'World Economic Outlook' alongside 'Global Financial Stability Report'.
- Positions WEO within IMF's surveillance/reporting functions, confirming IMF authorship.
- This page is the official IMF publications page for the World Economic Outlook, showing the WEO content is hosted by the IMF.
- Listing of WEO issues and updates on an IMF URL indicates the IMF publishes the World Economic Outlook, not UNDP.
- Contains IMF branding and an explicit ©IMF line tied to the World Economic Outlook.
- Shows WEO reports and database on IMF pages, confirming IMF authorship.
- Refers to the 'World Economic Outlook (International Monetary Fund)', explicitly attributing WEO to the IMF.
- Includes WEO in a list of publications by international organizations, naming IMF as the publisher.
Explicit description says 'World Economic Outlook' is usually published twice a year by IMF, identifying the IMF as the WEO publisher.
A student could combine this with basic knowledge that the IMF issues major global economic forecasts to conclude IMF — not UNDP — is the likely publisher of WEO.
States that the IMF publishes two periodic reports including 'World Economic Outlook', reinforcing the IMF as the WEO issuer.
Use this pattern (IMF publishes periodic global economic surveillance reports) to rule out other UN agencies as WEO publishers unless evidence shows otherwise.
Clarifies that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) publishes the annual 'Human Development Report', showing UNDP has its own distinct flagship report.
A student can infer that UNDP focuses on human development reporting, so would be less likely to publish an IMF-style global economic forecast like the WEO.
NCERT notes UNDP's long-standing publication of the Human Development Report, illustrating the institutional pattern of specific agencies owning particular flagship reports.
Combine this institutional-pattern idea with knowledge of which agencies focus on macroeconomic surveillance (IMF) vs. human development (UNDP) to judge who publishes WEO.
Gives an example of another institution (World Bank/IBRD) publishing its own signature report ('World Development Report'), supporting the pattern that major international bodies each produce distinct flagship reports.
Apply this pattern to reason that WEO is likely the flagship of whichever institution is known for global economic forecasts (IMF), not UNDP.
- Explicitly identifies the World Economic Outlook as being from the International Monetary Fund, not the World Economic Forum.
- Shows how other organizations (e.g., World Bank, WEF) reference the WEO as an IMF publication.
- Page header and copyright explicitly attribute the World Economic Outlook to the IMF.
- Provides links and materials for the World Economic Outlook on an IMF domain, confirming IMF authorship/publishing.
Explicitly states World Economic Outlook (WEO) is usually published twice a year by the IMF and describes its content.
A student can take this rule (WEO = IMF publication) and check major institutions' publication lists or memory to see that WEF is not listed as WEO's publisher.
Says IMF publishes two periodic reports in surveillance: 'World Economic Outlook' and 'Global Financial Stability Report', linking WEO directly to IMF's surveillance role.
Use the pattern that IMF authors WEO as part of its surveillance reports to judge that another institution (WEF) would not be the issuer of this IMF-linked report.
Contains an objective-style question listing organisations and asking which brings out 'World Economic Outlook', with 'The International Monetary Fund' as an option.
Recognize that examination materials treat WEO as associated with IMF rather than WEF, so a student could infer WEF is unlikely the publisher and verify on IMF/WEF sites.
Shows the World Economic Forum publishes specific named reports (e.g., Global Energy Transition Index), illustrating that WEF has its own distinct publications.
By comparing lists—WEO named under IMF while WEF has other named reports—a student can distinguish which institution issues which publication.
Notes the Global Competitiveness Report is published by (options include) World Economic Forum, exemplifying that WEF publishes different flagship reports.
Use this example to form the rule 'WEF publishes reports like Global Competitiveness, not WEO' and then check publishers for WEO to test the statement.
- Explicitly states the 'World Economic Outlook' is usually published twice a year by the IMF.
- Describes the WEO as IMF staff economists' analysis and forecasts, linking authorship to the IMF.
- Identifies the IMF as the publisher of two periodic reports, explicitly naming 'World Economic Outlook'.
- Directly attributes the WEO to the IMF rather than the World Bank.
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct hit from standard sources like Nitin Singhania (Ch. 18) or any basic Current Affairs compilation.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: International Economic Institutions (IMF, WB, WTO) and their surveillance/monitoring mandates.
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Confusing Twins': IMF publishes 'World Economic Outlook' & 'Global Financial Stability Report'. World Bank publishes 'Global Economic Prospects' & 'World Development Report'. WEF publishes 'Global Competitiveness Report' & 'Global Gender Gap Report'.
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not study reports in isolation. Create a comparative table: Column A (Organization), Column B (Flagship Reports), Column C (Key Focus). Specifically, distinguish between 'Outlook' (IMF) and 'Prospects' (World Bank) to avoid exam-hall paralysis.
The question asks which institution publishes WEO; references directly identify WEO as an IMF publication and describe its purpose.
High-yield for UPSC: questions often ask which international body issues major reports. Knowing WEO's publisher, purpose (global forecasts/risks) and periodicity (biannual) helps answer both direct 'which organisation' and contextual questions about global economic monitoring. Learn by tabulating major reports and their issuing institutions, and practise recall.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > World Economic Outlook (WEO) > p. 519
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > Surveillance > p. 514
References group WEO with other IMF periodic reports (Global Financial Stability Report) and reference IMF's External Sector Report, showing IMF's reporting remit.
Useful for comparative/linked questions: UPSC may ask matching reports to institutions or ask about IMF's surveillance role. Memorise lists of core IMF reports and their focus areas (macroeconomic forecasts, financial stability, external positions).
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > Surveillance > p. 514
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > External Sector Report > p. 520
Evidence connects IMF surveillance to publications (WEO and GFSR) used to monitor risks and advise members.
Conceptually important for polity/economy sections: understanding IMF functions (surveillance, lending, technical assistance) and the reports that embody surveillance helps answer conceptual and applied questions on global economic governance. Integrate this with study of IMF objectives and instruments.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > Surveillance > p. 514
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > World Economic Outlook (WEO) > p. 519
WEO is the specific publication named in the statement; multiple references identify which organisation publishes WEO.
High-yield factual item: UPSC often asks which international body issues flagship economic reports. Knowing WEO is an IMF report helps answer direct MCQs and interpret IMF surveillance functions. Prepare by memorising flagship reports and their publishers and linking them to the institution's mandate.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > World Economic Outlook (WEO) > p. 519
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > Surveillance > p. 514
The statement mentions UNDP; the references instead attribute a different flagship annual report (HDR) to UNDP, useful for contrast.
Important to distinguish between similar-sounding organisations and their flagship reports. UPSC questions frequently test matching reports to agencies (e.g., HDR → UNDP). Study by making a two-column list of organisations and their key publications.
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 8: Inclusive growth and issues > 3. Human Development Index > p. 282
- FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN GEOGRAPHY, CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Human Development > MEASURING HUMAN DEVELOPMENT > p. 18
Several references list flagship reports (World Development Report, World Oil Outlook, SOFI) alongside their publishers, illustrating the broader pattern needed to evaluate the statement.
Broad mapping is often tested—matching reports to institutions is a recurring UPSC theme across GS papers. Learning these associations enables quick elimination in MCQs and supports answers in polity/economy essays. Build a revision chart of organisations vs. flagship publications.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > World Development Report > p. 526
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) > p. 549
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020 (SOFI 2020) > p. 339
The references identify 'World Economic Outlook' and 'Global Financial Stability Report' as reports published by the IMF, directly addressing who issues WEO.
UPSC often asks which international body publishes specific reports. Memorising IMF flagship reports helps answer questions on global economic surveillance and macroeconomic outlooks; link these to IMF's role in surveillance and forecasting. Prepare by compiling and revising a short list of IMF periodic reports and their frequencies.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > World Economic Outlook (WEO) > p. 519
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > Surveillance > p. 514
The 'Global Economic Prospects' report is the logical sibling often confused with WEO. While WEO is IMF (short/medium-term macro surveillance), Global Economic Prospects is World Bank (focusing on development impact). Another shadow fact: The 'Fiscal Monitor' is also an IMF publication.
Apply the 'Mandate Logic': IMF is the world's 'Crisis Monitor'—it looks at stability and future risks (hence 'Outlook' and 'Stability'). World Bank is the 'Development Bank'—it looks at long-term growth and poverty (hence 'Development' and 'Prospects'). WEF is a private club—it looks at business metrics (hence 'Competitiveness' and 'Gap').
Use WEO data in GS-3 Mains answers. When writing about 'Indian Economy's Resilience' or 'Global Headwinds', quoting 'As per IMF's latest WEO, India is projected to grow at X%...' adds authoritative weight that generic statements lack.