IMF—International Monetary FundThe IMF, an international organisation with 184 member countries, was established in 1944 to promote international monetary cooperation, exchange rate stability, and orderly exchange arrangements; and to provide temporary financial assistance to countries to help ease balance of payments adjustment. Based in Washington D.C. the managing director (traditionally a European national) is Dominique Strauss Kahn; the Fund currently has 2,693 staff from 141 countries; and 75 countries owe the Fund around $34 billion. Its operations include surveillance (of member countries economies and the global economy), technical assistance and financial support. The latter is provided in the form of loans to which conditions are attached. read more background... BriefingsDollars, devaluations and depressions How the international monetary system creates crisesThe international monetary framework which emerged after the collapse of the Bretton Woods system in the 1970s has proved volatile, damaging and prone to crises. It is time for a fundamental redesign and the introduction of a global reserve currency, to help stabilise international exchange rates, smooth commodity prices, promote international economic cooperation, and prevent future financial crises. read article... IMF financial package for low-income countries: Much ado about nothing?This briefing analyzes announcements made at the end of July by the IMF regarding the level of their financial commitments to low-income countries (LICs) and finds them wanting in relation to the size of new resources, the flexibility of conditionality, and the imrpovements needed to SDR allocations. read article... The potential development implications of enhancing the IMF's resourcesIn April 2009, the G20 group of leaders committed $1.1 trillion to combat the financial crisis, with the bulk of this being channelled through the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, this substantial amount of resources may never be provided, and if it is, may not have the intended positive effect on developing countries. Experience so far demonstrates that the IMF is still imposing damaging pro-cyclical conditions on some borrowers, and that the finance provided to low-income countries will be too small. read article... Items 1 to 10 of 872IFIwatch.tv and Bretton Woods Project website support (Volunteer 2-3 days)The Bretton Woods Project is seeking a volunteer to offer technical support and bring in fresh ideas to develop the media aggregation and sharing functions of two websites that turn a critical eye towards the actions of international financial institutions: IFIWatch.TV and rethinkingfinance.org. The deadline for submissions is Mon 18 Jan 2009. read article... IMF pours cold water on monetary reformAs academia and NGOs call for reform of the international financial architecture, the international monetary system is the focus of scrutiny. Support for capital controls and a financial transaction tax has met resistance from the IMF. read article... Leopard about to change its spots? IFIs debate role of financial sectorThe financial crisis has divided perceptions within the IFIs about the role of the financial sector in development. While some parts of the World Bank and IMF highlight the merits of small banks, others continue to push globalised finance. read article... IMF lending programmes: old wolf in sheep's clothing?The debate over IMF conditionality heats up as data comes in about IMF programmes; economic turmoil continues in countries such as Latvia and Ukraine, which face stern IMF demands. read article... IFI financial sector assessments of limited useAn internal evaluation of 10 years of practice with the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) has shown that it failed to reflect reality. read article... Expert panel calls for sweeping Bank governance reformOfficial ambitions for reform of World Bank governance remain limited, while the Zedillo Commission calls for far-reaching change. At the IMF, aside from small shifts in voting share, details of further quota reform are notably absent. read article... Please nominate 2009 best Bankspeak and resourcesContinuing a much-heralded tradition at the Bretton Woods Project, the first issue of 2010 will feature 'Bankspeak of the year' and 'resources of the year'. read article... The IMF and protectionist trade policies: What does the record of the past 15 years tell us? Istanbul, 2 October 2009Seminar on the IEo evluation of IMF trade policy advice in Istanbul, 2 October 2009. read article... Financial sector policies in the crisis World bank Programme of Seminar, Istanbul, 3 October 2009Programme of Seminars session in Istanbul on 3 October 2009 with Zeti Aziz, Andrew Crockett, Christine Cummings, Sayed Sadeeq, and John Laker. read article... CSO Townhall meeting Istanbul, 2 October 2009Notes from the CSO townhall meeting with Dominique Strauss-Kahn and Robert Zoellick read article... |
Articles: 2687 Related itemsEvents
ResourcesJubilee South statement 26 January The IMF, the global crisis and human resources for health 21 January IMF interactions with member countries 20 January IMF to increase amount and timeliness of information 8 January The deadly ideas of neoliberalism 15 December 'Will World Bank and IMF lending lead to HIPC IV?' Benjamin Leo 23 November Land Centre for Human Rights website 16 November The debate on the international monetary system 11 November NGO letter to the IMF on financial transaction tax study 11 November IMF note on global economic prospects and principles for policy exit 7 November Newswire |
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