Debt

Finance

News

IMF proposes new debt standstill mechanism

In late November the new number two at the IMF, Ann Krueger, proposed that the IMF should support temporary debt standstills for indebted countries.

17 January 2002

Finance

News

World Bank grants plan “crazy”

Disagreements between donors about how much grant money the Bank should give to the poorest countries has held up replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA), Bank’s soft-lending arm.

17 January 2002

Conditionality

News

Divergent views on PRSP progress

A new report compiled from workshops organised by Jubilee South, Focus on the Global South and other southern civil society groups claims structural adjustment logic and policies essentially remain unchanged in PRSPs.

17 January 2002

Finance

News

IMF shares blame for Argentina’s collapse

Many eyes are now looking to see how Argentina will manage its financial and political crises.

1 January 2002

Finance

News

Tax investors to finance bailouts

An alternative proposal to debt standstill is to create larger bailout funds.

1 January 2002

Finance

News

O’Neill supports bankruptcy mechanism

In September US Treasury Secretary, Paul O’Neill, told the Senate Banking Committee that he would favour establishment of an international bankruptcy law as an alternative to IMF bailouts.

2 November 2001

Finance

News

HIPC not delivering debt relief

The Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative is failing to deliver debt relief, reports the Financial Times (9/10/01).

2 November 2001

Rights

News

IFIs must respect human rights

The World Bank and the IMF are bound by obligations enshrined in international human rights covenants, and must incorporate human rights considerations in the formulation and review of their Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs).

2 November 2001

Finance

News

Will grants kill IDA?

Heated debate is brewing between the US government which proposes that the Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) should provide up to 50 per cent of its resources as grants and some European governments (supported by the Bank) who argue that to do so would deplete IDA’s resources.

10 September 2001

Conditionality

News

Argentina to be sacrificed on free-market altar?

In August, Argentinian teachers, doctors and public workers went on strike and unemployed workers and students blocked roads to protest against rising unemployment and cuts in pensions and salaries.

10 September 2001