The challenge of maintaining growth amid a global slowdown has sparked fierce debates over Thailand's monetary policy.
Conditionality
IFI governance
News
IMF surveillance not yet integrated
IMF integrated surveillance decision delayed.
Conditionality
News
IMF and debt hold Jamaica back
A report published in May by the US-based Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) found that an overwhelming debt burden and conditions on IMF loans are hindering Jamaica's economic recovery.
Conditionality
News
Eurozone meltdown: IMF providing "political cover"
As European elections show the public increasingly rejecting austerity, critics call on the IMF to focus on the flaws of the eurozone rather than austerity in country programmes.
Finance
News
IMF pushes for fully convertible yuan
After high-level talks in May, Chinese vice premier Wang Qishan announced US support for the inclusion of the yuan in the currency basket for the IMF's special drawing rights, the international reserve assets issued by the Fund. While this supports Chinese plans to make the yuan an alternative reserve currency alongside the US dollar and the euro, IMF recommendations for China to speed up the move to convertibility and fully open its capital account have attracted domestic criticism.
Infrastructure
News
IMF and World Bank disagree over Ugandan taxes?
World Bank advice on taxes has been contradicted by a senior IMF representative who says that Uganda's tax system is "not fair".
Conditionality
News
IFI leaders talk jobs, but staff push labour deregulation
International financial institutions increasingly recognise the negative impacts of austerity on labour markets, however, a disjuncture remains between their public pronouncements and their policies and practice.
IFI governance
News
IMF poverty focus challenged
In the middle of a review of its lending facilities for low-income countries (LICs) and a funding drive for more concessional resources, the IMF is facing criticism over its conditionality and a review of its debt sustainability framework.
IFI governance
Background
Revolving doors: staff turnover between IFIs and African governments
The term 'revolving doors' refers to frequent staff turnover between institutions, usually relevant when these represent different interests working on the same policy issues. This serves to foster cross-institutional networks, practices and alliances. The staff turnover between international financial institutions (IFIs) and borrowing governments works as a mechanism through which specific ideas and practices learnt and promoted in IFIs are translated into policies in borrowing countries
Finance
News
Will the IMF "make history" with a new view on capital flows?
In October the Fund is expected to present in October an updated institutional view on capital account regulations. The most recent IMF paper on the topic received criticism for advocating for capital account liberalisation in China and India. Meanwhile emerging economies worry that the Fund's prescriptions still constrain their capacity to cope with global financial volatility.
