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... BriefingsFacilitating whose power? WB and IMF policy influence in Nigeria's energy sectorDespite rhetoric to the contrary, the World Bank's energy portfolio still fails to reap the double dividend of renewable energy technologies that would tackle both energy poverty and climate change. Nigerian economic policies shaped by World Bank and IMF recommendations, policy agreements and conditionality have so far lead to a dysfunctional electricity privatisation process, a heavy and as yet unfulfilled reliance on reform of the gas sector, and the failure to make any widespread practical progress on pro-poor, decentralised renewable energy read article... The IFIs and Islamic financeThe World Bank Group and the IMF have become more involved in assistance to and oversight of Islamic financial institutions. read article... Double majority decision making at the IMF Implementing effective board voting reformMany have championed the use of double majorities at the IMF board in order to increase the ability of developing countries to influence decision making. The acceptance of this idea by incoming IMF managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn is welcome, but if he chooses to use a chair-based, rather than member-state-based, second majority it will not change the power dynamics at the board. read article... 730 itemsWorld Bank-IMF spring meetings 2008At this year's spring meetings, the World Bank faced increasing opposition to its plans to tackle climate change, while the IMF was forced to admit that the lack of democracy in its governance is probably why it missed the boat on the credit crisis. read article... The right to development in a climate constrained world? A presentation of the Greenhouse Development Rights FrameworkAt this session, Tom Anathasiou presented the Greenhouse Development Rights Framework, a climate protection framework designed to "break the impasse by expanding the climate protection agenda while safeguarding the right to a dignified level of sustainable human development". read article... IMF consultation in advance of the PSI reviewNotes of a consultation between IMF staff and NGOs in advance of the PSI review read article... Macroeconomic and fiscal implications of climate change and the policies to address itA briefing by IMF economists at the spring meetings 2008. read article... Structural conditionalities in the IMF: A discussion between the IMF, IEO, and CSOsAn upcoming civil society report demonstrates that IMF structural conditionality did not decline in the five years after the approval of the Fund's conditionality guidelines in September 2002, which were based on the principles of ownership and criticality in its application of structural conditionality, as well as to streamlining the number of conditions. Going on seven years, it seems that these guidelines have been more honoured in principle than in practice. A recent Independent Evaluation Office report confirms that progress in implementing the conditionality guidelines has been limited. Findings confirm that the IMF continues to impose conditions in areas beyond its core mandate of monetary policy, public financial management and financial sector soundness. These non-core areas include state-owned enterprise reform and privatization, social policies, civil service reform, or regulatory reform. read article... Globalization, growth and development: Doing what works Presentation by the Commission on Growth and DevelopmentMinutes from a presentation by some members of the Commission on Growth and Development at the WB/IMF Spring meetings 2008 read article... Facilitating whose power? WB and IMF policy influence in Nigeria's energy sectorDespite rhetoric to the contrary, the World Bank's energy portfolio still fails to reap the double dividend of renewable energy technologies that would tackle both energy poverty and climate change. Nigerian economic policies shaped by World Bank and IMF recommendations, policy agreements and conditionality have so far lead to a dysfunctional electricity privatisation process, a heavy and as yet unfulfilled reliance on reform of the gas sector, and the failure to make any widespread practical progress on pro-poor, decentralised renewable energy read article... NGOs urge Congressional intervention on IMF gold salesA coalition of over 70 US NGOs, including large labour unions, has written to Congress to demand that planned IMF gold sales pay for debt relief as well administrative expenses. read article... |
Articles: 2185 Related itemsEvents
ResourcesThe fiscal implications of climate change 11 April Climate change and the global economy 9 April Critical conditions: The IMF maintains its grip on low-income governments 9 April Civil society letter to US Congress on IMF gold sales, health, education, and debt cancellation 1 April Reform of Quota and voice in the International Monetary Fund 28 March Letter from US academics to the IMF board on IMF quota reform 26 March The IMF's approach to international trade policy issues 21 March Research paper on stablisation clauses and human rights 20 March Reports of the 7th session of the human rights council, including by Bernards Mudho and Jean Ziegler 20 March International economic governance and human rights accountability 20 March Newswire |
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