Controversy erupted in January after the IMF implied lenders to Greece may need to provide yet more debt relief, while the social and economic sustainability of other Troika (the lending triumvirate comprising the Fund, European Central Bank and European Commission) programmes is still in question.
Conditionality
Trade
News
IMF research on "fiscal profligacy" criticised
A January IMF working paper has accused the US of "fiscal profligacy".
Finance
News
IMF accused of anti-China bias
The IMF's Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) published a late December evaluation that was critical of IMF concerns and advice relating to international reserves, especially the accumulation by countries of large quantities of US dollar assets.
Knowledge
News
Talks on Egypt's IMF loan "still ongoing"
Negotiations on a $4.8 billion IMF loan to Egypt (see Update 83) remain stalled, although Finance Minsiter, Morsy Hegazy reiterated in January that talks are "still ongoing".
Finance
News
Malawians feel the pinch of IMF reforms
Demonstrations have taken place throughout Malawi prompted by the rising cost of living and the increasingly unpopular leadership of president Joyce Banda who has been closely following a US$156 million three-year programme approved in July, 2012 by the IMF's Extended Credit Facility (ECF).
Rights
Analysis
World Bank on jobs: a "significant departure" or "business as usual"?
The opening sentences of the 2013 World Development Report Jobs, could not be clearer: "Jobs are the cornerstone of economic and social development". Brendan Martin of UK NGO Public World examines the policy implications for developing economies, trade unions and the wider development community.
Conditionality
News
IMF to play "grand endorser" in Jamaica?
Jamaica is close to agreeing a new IMF programme despite a recent record of disputes.
Trade
News
IMF "onslaught" on Pakistan's economy
Pakistan must radically change its economic strategy, and raise Rupees 360 billion ($3.67 billion), 1.5 per cent of its GDP, before the Fund will agree to a new programme.
Conditionality
News
Fund censures Argentina over inflation figures
The executive board of the IMF met in early February to assess Argentina's progress in addressing the quality of its statistical data on inflation and GDP.
Environment
Commentary
Bankspeak of the year 2012
Every year the Bretton Woods Project celebrates the best specimens of incomprehensible jargon and ridiculous rhetoric issued by World Bank and IMF staff and financial commentators in the cause of IFI business.
