Bretton Woods Update No.66 June/July 2009PDF version | At Issue PDF | text version | versión en español World Bank health work flawed still pushing privatisation of servicesNews|10 July 2009 
A recent evaluation of the World Bank's work in health is damning in its criticism of the lender's approach, particularly in Africa. Meanwhile, the Bank is continuing to push privatisation in public services such as health, education and water despite fierce criticism. read article... IMF austerity chills crisis countriesNews|10 July 2009 Criticism of the IMF continues to mount as some crisis lending dishes out heavy conditionality. Meanwhile emerging markets have agreed to stump up the cash to refill the Funds coffers, but only on their own terms. read article... Hungary and the IMF: indebted futureComment|10 July 2009 In Hungary, the IMF seems to be modestly improving its flexibility and conditionality compared to its dreadful practices in previous decades. However, a still distinctively neoliberal vision of how economies work is in play attributable as much to the Hungarian government as to the IMF. The deficits of democracy and poor economic governance in Hungary make our indebted future increasingly bleak. read article... The IFC: opportunist expansion?News|10 July 2009 The financial crisis has resulted in an expanded role for the International Finance Corporation (IFC), but its methods may leave a bitter taste with civil society. read article... Record World Bank lendingNews|10 July 2009 In June, the World Bank announced record levels of lending with much of the funding for infrastructure projects, where the Bank's record has been particularly controversial. read article... The International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)Inside the inst|10 July 2009 The International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), part of the World Bank Group, is an arbitration forum between governments and foreign investors to settle investment disputes. Two thirds of international investment disputes go through ICSID. read article... U-turn on Doing Business: time to withdraw from the knowledge bank?News|10 July 2009 The World Bank Group has recently admitted that some crucial assumptions of its Doing Business report were misguided, and faces a fundamental critique of its knowledge role. read article... Reviews fail to erase doubts over World Bank conditionalityNews|10 July 2009 Reviews of World Bank development policy lending and poverty and social impact analysis leave questions as to the extent to which the Bank's budget support in developing countries targets pro-poor initiatives. read article... Controversy continues: The World Bank's hydropowerNews|10 July 2009 A recent paper by Bank staff, which argues for enhanced support of large hydropower projects, has reignited controversy over the Bank's approach, with NGOs claiming that project planning and implementation still show disregard for social and environmental considerations. read article... Will rights and gender be at heart of World Bank's climate response?News|10 July 2009 Initially flagged as a global environmental problem, increasing attention is being drawn to the impacts climate change has on human rights and equity related issues such as gender, as well as the World Bank's role in tackling them. read article... International monetary reform: IMF not in the gameNews|10 July 2009 The financial crisis has reinvigorated discussion of exchange rate management and reform of the monetary system, but lack of progress at international forums like the IMF means change is only happening at the regional and bilateral level. read article... Economic crisis: rich countries block reform at UN summitNews|26 June 2009 The first major conference on the financial and economic crisis to involve all countries ended with rich countries blocking substantive reforms demanded by developing countries. The UN conference did however push key issues up the international agenda, such as the need for a better system of international reserves, and for genuine policy space for developing countries. read article... ICSID in crisis Straight-jacket or investment protection?News|10 July 2009 The International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) is facing an explosion of cases and increasingly vocal criticism from Latin American countries. Questions remain over whether it helps channel productive investment to developing countries or serves as a tool for multinational corporations to get their way. read article... Are climate pilots building towards the right climate architecture?At Issue|10 July 2009 Current climate pilot projects, many of which are housed under the World Bank, are not leading us towards an equitable and effective post 2012 climate architecture envisioned by NGOs in the UK and beyond. read article... Other stories in this issue
|
Articles: 2881 SUBSCRIBE NOW
Update issues
No.71, Jun/Jul 2010 | PDF
Επίκεντρο η Ελλάδα (Greek language articles)
Recent briefings & reports
Submission on the World Bank and IFC to DFID's multilateral aid review 2 September 2010
Update on the Climate Investment Funds: July 2010 summary 27 July 2010
Social insecurity: The financialisation of healthcare and pensions in developing countries 16 July 2010
Human rights (the World Bank way) 18 June 2010
Clean energy targets for the World Bank: Time for a recount 14 May 2010
IMF mandate needs fundamental rethink 11 May 2010 Newswire |
home | subscribe | donate | search | help | contact
RSS.91: highlights | newswire |
validate: | XHTML | CSS | RSS | 508
powered by Action Apps | hosted by GreenNet | Credits
