The Russian economic crisis, hot on the heels of the Asian meltdown, has provoked the Financial Times to comment that “the role of the International Monetary Fund in preventing crises has been comprehensively undermined.”
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
IFI governance
News
Blair proposes IFI reforms
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair made a speech at the New York Stock Exchange arguing that the World Bank and IMF have fundamental weaknesses and need to be reformed.
IFI governance
News
Oxfam Guide examines participation
An Oxfam publication by Tricia Feeney provides a very useful analysis of approaches to participation in development projects.
Knowledge
News
Discussions proposed on economic growth
The Bretton Woods Project has been working with Both ENDS and other organisations to discuss a possible meeting to discuss the fundamental way that the World Bank/IMF measure development: economic growth.
Finance
News
IMF hints at U-turn on capital controls
There are signs that the IMF may be reconsidering its stance that all capital flows are harmful.
Finance
News
“New debt crisis”
Investors’ growing aversion to risk is leading to a general withdrawal of finance from many Southern countries.
Finance
News
UK pushing controversial new IMF powers
The UK government is leading the effort to enable the IMF to pursue capital account liberalisation (CAL) in its member countries.
Rights
News
IMF PR tour
The IMF is holding a meeting in late May in Ghana to explain its strategy to NGOs there.
IFI governance
News
Sibling rivalry: can the Fund and Bank cooperate?
UK Secretary of State for International Development Clare Short told the Financial Times in April: “We are in a very silly situation. The international institutions are meant to be complementary, but the IMF keeps charging around taking other peoples’ jobs in areas where it is not necessarily competent”.
Conditionality
News
ESAF review: new IMF strategy urged
More flexibility and a new approach was suggested in the external review of the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (IMF loans to poorer countries) published in March.
IFI governance
News
Policing the policemen
The IMF has been urged to be more transparent and accountable by a US Study Group convened by the Centre of Concern, and by the UK Chancellor.
Finance
News
Preventing private sector debt crises
In addition to extending the IMF’s role, its governors have been examining measures to prevent future financial sector crises.
Featured briefings
16 October 2024
The Bretton Woods Observer: Autumn 2024
16 October 2024
The lost call for international financial architecture reform in the G20
At the 80th anniversary of the World Bank and IMF, global civil society must maintain pressure on the Brazilian and South African G20 presidencies to ensure the forth Financing for Development Conference in 2025 results in urgently required international financial architecture reform.
1 October 2024