This Inside the Institutions looks at the IMF’s Special Drawing Rights, including their history and usage, with a focus on the latest allocation, which accounts for 69 per cent of the SDRs ever disbursed.
Voting rights
IFI governance
News
US blocks IMF voting rights redistribution
Fund’s 15th review of quotas delayed as US blocks redistribution of voting rights.
IFI governance
Analysis
IMFC communiqué analysis – Spring Meetings 2021
Analysis of the IMFC communiqué published on 8 April from the 2021 World Bank and IMF virtual Spring Meetings.
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
Background
IMF and World Bank decision-making and governance
This Inside the Institutions looks at decision-making and governance structures at the IMF and World Bank.
IFI governance
News
Quota reform impasse likely as IMF faces legitimacy crisis
Latest Review of Quotas expected to be quashed, as US signals it will block reform.
IFI governance
News
IMF quota reforms: The fight for democratic governance continues
Uneven votes shares and global power imbalances shape the IMF voting shares, as it prepares to shake up its voting quotas
Conditionality
Analysis
IMF “rebuked” over role in Troika and its lending to Greece, Ireland and Portugal
IMF’s Independent Evaluation Office has found the Fund’s 2010/2011 Troika lending to Greece, Ireland and Portugal fell short in terms of surveillance, design, implementation and decision making, and described controversial decisions as appearing “rubber-stamped”.
IFI governance
Background
IMF & World Bank decision-making and governance (archive)
This Inside the Institutions examines the recent and ongoing reforms at the IMF and World Bank, and places them in context of existing structures and processes.
IFI governance
Analysis
IMF governance: one step forward, one step back
Reform to the IMF’s voting shares shifts some power to emerging countries, but the institution’s leadership selection process remains opaque and undemocratic.
Featured briefings
8 December 2021
The Bretton Woods Observer: Winter 2021
8 November 2021
IMF surveillance and climate change transition risks
New briefing by ActionAid USA and the Bretton Woods Project highlights research showing that IMF policy advice has undermined a just energy transition since the Paris Agreement was signed.
7 October 2021