Alexander Copestake

Alexander Copestake

Economist

International Monetary Fund

Biography

I am an Economist in the Research Department at the International Monetary Fund. My research focuses on the relationships between technology, finance, trade and development.

Disclaimer: All views expressed on this site are my own and do not necessarily reflect the position of the IMF.

Interests
  • Fast payment systems
  • Crypto and CBDC
  • Tokenization
Education
  • DPhil in Economics, 2021

    University of Oxford

  • MSc in Development Economics, 2017

    University of Oxford

  • BA in Philosophy, Politics & Economics, 2015

    University of Oxford

Working Papers

Integrating Fragmented Networks: The Value of Interoperability in Money and Payments
Integrating Fragmented Networks: The Value of Interoperability in Money and Payments
The Crypto Cycle and Institutional Investors
The Crypto Cycle and Institutional Investors

Publications

(2025). Macro-Financial Impacts of Foreign Digital Money. Economics Letters.

PDF

(2024). Digitalization and Resilience. Research Policy.

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(2022). Crypto Market Responses to Digital Asset Policies. Economics Letters.

PDF Cite Link Data on Bans Data on Speeches

(2022). Inputs, Networks and Quality-Upgrading: Evidence from China in India. China Economic Review.

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(2022). Robots and Trade: Implications for Developing Countries. “Robots and AI: A New Economic Era” (eds. Gene M. Grossman and Lili Yan Ing), Oxon and New York: Routledge, 2022.

PDF Cite Book Link

Policy Work

& Other Writing

Growing Retail Digital Payments: The Value of Interoperability | IMF Fintech Note | June 2025

Discussion of “New Technologies and Jobs in Europe” by Albanesi et al. | ASSA | January 2025

AI and Services-Led Growth | IMF Research Perspectives | May 2024

Macro-Financial Impacts of Foreign Digital Money | IMF Working Paper and Fintech Note | December 2023

Banks' Joint Exposure to Market and Run Risk | IMF Working Paper | September 2023

Malaysia 2023 Article IV Consultation | IMF | June 2023

Recovery Unabated Amid Uncertainty | IMF Regional Economic Outlook | May 2023

Geoeconomic Fragmentation and Asia | IMF Regional Economic Outlook | October 2022

Post-COVID Scarring in Asia | IMF Regional Economic Outlook | October 2022

Malaysia 2022 Article IV Consultation | IMF | April 2022

Crypto for Dummies | Brown Bag Lunch | December 2021

Strange New World: Globalization, AI and Development | Oxford Global Exchanges | August 2021

Rescue: From Global Crisis To A Better World | Ian Goldin | May 2021

Rethinking Global Resilience | IMF Finance & Development | Fall 2020

Fragility to Strength: Lessons in Building State Resilience from Around the World | Reform | October 2020

Creating Network Diagrams in Gephi | CSAE Coders' Corner | October 2020

Technology and the Future of Work | Center for International Cooperation | September 2020

The Just Transition in Energy | Center for International Cooperation | September 2020

Multilateralism and the Search for Collective Institutional Leadership and Governance | DOC Rhodes Forum | August 2020

Experience

 
 
 
 
 
Economist
Sep 2024 – Present Washington, D.C.
Macro-Financial Division, Research Department
 
 
 
 
 
Economist Program (EP)
Sep 2021 – Sep 2024 Washington, D.C.

Macro-Financial Division, Research Department

Regional Studies Division & Malaysia Team, Asia and Pacific Department

 
 
 
 
 
Short Term Consultant
Feb 2021 – Aug 2021 Washington, D.C.
Development Research Group — project investigating the impacts of industrial robotics on developing countries.
 
 
 
 
 
Research Assistant
Apr 2020 – Sep 2020 Oxford
RA for Professor Ian Goldin — Oxford Martin Programme on Technological and Economic Change
 
 
 
 
 
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Jun 2019 – Aug 2021 Oxford

Courses taught:

  • Undergraduate — Economics of Developing Countries
  • MSc Economics for Development — International Trade
  • DPhil Continuing Education — Econometrics
 
 
 
 
 
Fund Internship Program (FIP)
Jun 2019 – Aug 2019 Washington, D.C.
Fiscal Affairs Department –> IMF Working Paper on VAT pass-through

Contact