World leaders agreed at the G20 to treble the size of the IMF's resources, but critics worry about strengthening the Fund without fundamental reform of its governance and conditionality.
Voting rights
IFI governance
News
IFIs: Powerful bodies, little accountability
Efforts to reform the IMF and World Bank's governance structures are coming to a head, but they may not go far enough.
Accountability
Background
Meeting between UK civil society and Alex Gibbs, UK IMF Executive Director
Minutes of a meeting between UK civil society, UK IMF Executive Director Alex Gibbs, and UK Treasury staff
Accountability
News
G20 ‘trillion’ dollar magic trick
To great fanfare, the G20 announced a $1.1 trillion global package, which will actually deliver less than half that amount in new or guaranteed resources. Meanwhile issues of fundamental economic reform were left off the agenda.
IFI governance
Background
The IMF's special drawing rights (SDRs)
The special drawing right (SDR) is an international reserve asset, created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement the existing official reserves of member countries.
IFI governance
News
All talk little action - G20 finance ministers meeting
A close look at the communiqu
IFI governance
News
IFC accountability: alright in theory
According to the 2008 Global Accountability Report, written by UK NGO the One World Trust, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) scores well compared to other international institutions on its accountability policies.
IFI governance
Commentary
Bankspeak of the year 2008
Annual Bretton Woods Project award for the most incomprehensible or absurd use of language in a Bank or Fund document or speech.
IFI governance
News
World Bank's planned lending splurge: Do the numbers stack up?
The first signs of a promised dramatic increase in World Bank lending are emerging, but critics continue to attack the Bank’s lending practices, including its controversial use of conditionality.
IFI governance
Analysis
Bretton Woods 2: What should be on the agenda?
What roles should twenty first century international financial institutions (IFIs) play, and how should they be structured? This paper sets out some of the key issues that would need to be resolved at a second UN monetary and financial conference - a 'Bretton Woods 2' - and discusses the road ahead.
Featured briefings
6 April 2022
The Bretton Woods Observer: Spring 2022
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.