The IMF is exploring a plan to slow the frequency of its routine economic checkups for some members, people familiar with the discussions said. These Article IV consultations are usually annual, country‑by‑country assessments and are central to how the fund monitors the economies of its 191 members.
There is no preset list of countries that would shift to a slower schedule. Two people familiar said the timing would be set case by case, and member countries can also ask for fewer consultations. An IMF spokesperson said the fund continually reviews how it conducts surveillance and that next week it will publish the findings of a comprehensive review that includes proposals related to Article IV reports. People familiar said it is not clear whether any changes would signal a major shift in priorities.
The Washington‑based lender says it completed more than 130 Article IV consultations in the fiscal year ending April 2025. A number of smaller members - among them San Marino and Palau - have experienced lengthier pauses between assessments. Countries with active financing programs are reviewed more regularly through those arrangements and typically have Article IV consultations every two years. At present, the IMF oversees roughly 40 lending arrangements; Ukraine, Argentina, Egypt and Pakistan are among major borrowers.
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Looking ahead, two people familiar said that countries with active financing programs could see the interval between Article IV consultations lengthen to 36 months, instead of the usual two years. Member countries can also request fewer consultations. The IMF plans to publish the results of its surveillance review next week, which will include proposals related to Article IV reports. For savers and investors, the takeaway is simple: policy news can change the tempo of country assessments, which can influence how risks are discussed and priced over time.
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