The “second generation” reforms are aimed at implementing policies for the common good, particularly social policies that will help to alleviate poverty and provide more equal opportunity. It would appear that the IMF views itself no longer as simply an institution to achieve macroeconomic stabilisation objectives but is focused much more on structural issues, issues which have previously been the remit of the World Bank (1997).
Analysis
IFI governance
Analysis
The State in a Changing World
Critical analysis of the Bank’s 1997 World Development Report, The Role of the State. Written by Nicholas Hildyard, commissioned by the Bretton Woods Project
Conditionality
Analysis
ESAF, Surviving The Spotlight?
The IMF has taken few steps to openly evaluate its operations. To try to remedy this situation, and in response to non-governmental organisations’ calls for a fully independent review mechanism, the IMF executive board decided to establish an ad hoc external review mechanism on a trial basis (1998).
Conditionality
Analysis
Bank pilot in Bolivia fails to create “clear, structured space” for CSOs
The World Bank’s pilot of its Comprehensive Development Framework (CDF) in Bolivia, reflects both scepticism and a complete lack of involvement. How did this state of affairs come about? And are the prospects for the CDF really as bleak as this might suggest?
Social services
Analysis
Social principles: an update
When the social principles were proposed by Gordon Brown at the 1998 AGM of the Bank and IMF it was envisaged that they would apply to all countries and would be monitored as the other codes on Fiscal Transparency, Monetary Policy and Corporate Governance will be. The Development Committee charged the World Bank with the task of drawing up the principles (1999).
Knowledge
Analysis
The power of World Bank knowledge
For the enormous power and global reach the World Bank has today, relatively little formal debate exists on one critical aspect of its practices - the production of knowledge.
Rights
Analysis
The power of World Bank knowledge
By Michael Goldman * For the enormous power and global reach the World Bank has…
Environment
Analysis
World Bank and IMF: Dilemmas and Opportunities
Are the World Bank and IMF now taking environmental and social issues seriously?
Environment
Analysis
Questioning the World Bank/IMF Growth Model
Questioning the Growth Model was a meeting organised jointly by the Bretton Woods Project and…
Environment
Analysis
Terschelling discussion groups
Days two and three of the Terschelling meeting were conducted as small breakout groups, interspersed by short plenary discussions.
Environment
Analysis
Roleplay Reflections
At noon on the second day of the Terschelling meeting, five of us were lured away from the peak of the discussions to “role-play” a World Bank public consultation.
Conditionality
Analysis
The “Perestroika Of Aid”? New Perspectives On Conditionality
This report considers the factors which have led to a proliferation of conditionality and the growing acceptance that it is not an effective tool for persuading governments to make reforms. It proposes that an alternative is to encourage “ownership” and to base lending agreements on “poverty focused” programmes developed at the national level (1999).
