US legislature’s spending bill blocks IMF governance reform, insists the World Bank pay reparations to communities that suffer human rights abuses, and bans US support for large dams or extractive projects in tropical forests.
North America
Finance
Analysis
The IMF’s debt restructuring dilemma
Burgeoning debt levels, and problems in Jordan and Philippines, indicate that debt crises are not behind us. While the IMF considers policy changes, an influential group of scholars has proposed a new Fund facility for handling sovereign debt restructuring.
Finance
News
IDA 17 record size, but down in real terms
The World Bank’s December 2013 claim of a record IDA replenishment was undermined by lumping donor loans in with grants and a decline in real terms, while India secured transitional support.
Accountability
News
Gonzalo Castro de la Mata appointed new Inspection Panel member
Gonzalo Castro de la Mata was appointed as a new member of the World Bank's Inspection Panel in December 2013.
IFI governance
Commentary
Bankspeak of the year 2013
The Bretton Woods Project awards the most comical use of words by members of staff at the World Bank and IMF in 2013.
Finance
Analysis
The IFIs in 2013: year in review
The Bretton Woods Project review of the most important developments at the World Bank and IMF in 2013.
Private Sector
News
IFC's Kaldany to lead Caisse emerging markets investments
Rashad Kaldany, the International Finance Corporation's chief operating officer, is appointed to lead Caisse emerging markets investments.
Finance
Analysis
IMF gets emerging markets wrong, again
The Fund has had to conduct another embarrassing “U-turn” to warn of the growing risks to the stability of developing countries, while cautiously accepting the need for capital controls in principle, but not necessarily in practice.
IFI governance
News
Annual Meetings coverage
Keep up to date on the Bank/IMF annual meetings (7-13 October) with the Bretton Woods Project's dedicated web page which will contain information and analysis on the key issues and events.
IFI governance
News
IMF reform still stuck in US Congress
As developing countries continue to complain about the US failing to approve IMF governance reforms, the US Treasury formally resubmitted a request for the approval to US Congress.
Trade
News
IMF research on "fiscal profligacy" criticised
A January IMF working paper has accused the US of "fiscal profligacy".
IFI governance
News
IMF's debt restructuring
In August, the IMF published data on sovereign debt restructuring cases between 1950 and 2010, detailing pitfalls in the process including creditor holdouts and litigation, communication amongst stakeholders and the scope of debt relief in past restructurings.