Lagarde urges Asia to take bigger role in guiding global economy

By Bloomberg Asia needs to take a leadership role in the global economy that reflects the continent’s growing clout, International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde said. “Asian officials should keep monetary policy supportive, while using fiscal policy to boost growth and macro-prudential measures to protect financial stability,” Lagarde said in a speech Saturday in New Delhi. “Adopting structural reforms to boost competitiveness, growth and jobs will be key,” she added. Portrait photo courtesy of 112.international   Lagarde, who was reappointed last month for a second five-year term, called Asia the “world’s most dynamic region,” noting it accounts for 40 percent of the world economy and will deliver nearly two-thirds of global growth over the next four years. “Asia now affects the world more than ever before,” Lagarde said, according to the text of her remarks. “By the same token, Asia is now more deeply affected by global economic developments [...]