New common framework for debt relief announced at G20 Leaders’ Summit maintains prominent role of IMF and fails to include World Bank debt relief.
Other
IFI governance
Analysis
Gambling with our lives: Global emergencies expose consequences of decades of IMF and World Bank policies
Market-led policy approaches increasingly used to deal with both climate and health emergencies are failing to protect those most vulnerable.
IFI governance
Analysis
Biden, the Bank and IMF: A break with ‘America first’ or its continued pursuit through multilateral means?
The world awaits to see whether Trump’s defeat will result in the end of the 'America First' approach and a democratisation of the IMF and World Bank and the multilateral system.
IFI governance
Analysis
Annual Meetings 2020 Wrap Up: Bank and Fund struggle to implement sustainable recovery as private sector dashes hopes of debt relief progress
The rising power of the private sector has undermined debt justice and much-needed pandemic response capacity, while IFIs' calls for sustainable recovery at the Annual Meetings fall flat.
IFI governance
Analysis
G20 communiqué analysis – Annual Meetings 2020
Analysis of the G20 communiqué published on 14 October from the 2020 World Bank and IMF virtual Annual Meetings.
IFI governance
Analysis
Annual Meetings 2020 Preamble: IMF and World Bank frontload austerity and privatisation in Covid-19 recovery, while the world calls for more inclusive multilateralism
As the inability of Bank and Fund to adapt their policies in response to the Covid-19 pandemic becomes more evident, hope turns to the UN system and a radical restructure of the global international financial architecture.
Finance
Analysis
World Bank’s rating obsession will negate debt justice
The international financial system’s reliance upon credit ratings – usually based on dubious premises – needs urgent rethinking.
IFI governance
Analysis
Spring Meetings 2020 wrap-up: Will this change everything? Apparently not…
Analysis of this year's World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings: With international response to Covid-19 mired in geopolitical manoeuverings and resistance to systemic change, calls for alternatives grow.
Finance
News
Argentina increases offer to bondholders after IMF claims “room for improvement”
Private creditors provided with IMF backing in Argentina negotiations as country enters into default.
IFI governance
Analysis
G20 communiqué analysis - Spring Meetings 2020
Analysis of the G20 communiqué published on 15 April.
Knowledge
Background
Recommended resources on the World Bank and IMF 2019
The Bretton Woods Project's selection of the best books, reports and other resources on the World Bank and IMF from 2019.
Environment
News
EIB rules out most fossil fuel funding from 2021, setting new benchmark for MDBs
New energy policy sees European Investment Bank end support for unabated coal, oil and gas from 2021.
Featured briefings
14 December 2020
Gambling with our lives: Global emergencies expose consequences of decades of IMF and World Bank policies
Market-led policy approaches increasingly used to deal with both climate and health emergencies are failing to protect those most vulnerable.
10 December 2020
The Bretton Woods Observer: Winter 2020
12 October 2020