The Imf ( International Monetary Fund )

An example of the IMF’s ability to promote strong, stable economies is the case of Jordan. In the 1980s the declining oil prices and the related recessions in the Middle Eastern oil exporting countries was disadvantageous to Jordan. In 1989 Jordan had a 30-35 percent unemployment rate and was having a hard time due to their external debt. This led the authorities to request the country’s first arrangement with the IMF. Economic reforms were a part of the agreement between Jordan and the IMF. Jordan agreed to a series of five year reforms financed by the IMF, therefore the government took on huge reforms prioritizing foreign investment and easier trade policies. They were ultimately able to reduce the overall debt payment up to a manageable level. Jordan is currently regarded as a country by which the effectiveness of the IMF assistance is assessed.

According to this approach, in order to get IMF loans, any assisted country should go through reforms focused on the three major pillars of fiscal austerity, privatization and liberalization (Stiglitz, 2002, p. 53). During all the 90s, Argentina's economic policies were under the strict control of a supporting program established by IMF (IEO of IMF, 2003), so during the deep crisis happened between 1998 and 2002, IMF was already in charge with its approach. Throughout all this period, Argentina strictly applied the IMF formula and realized a number of structural reforms, "reducing budget and balance of payment deficits, raising interest rates, reducing inflation, privatizing state assets, and reducing trade barriers and regulation on capital flows in and out of the country" (Paddock, 2002, p. 158). This program did not produce the results expected by IMF. Instead, it produced recession and a strong dependence of Argentina's government on IMF loans to support its growing debt (Paddock, 2002). Primary economic and social indicators clearly show the sufferings of Argentina during that period: between 1998 and 2002, GDP passed from 292 billion dollars to 97 billion dollars (The World Bank, 2017), while unemployment grew from to 12.8% to 19.6% (The World Bank, 2017). Argentina stepped out of the crisis only after defaulting and devaluating, i.e. after

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was created in the mid-1940s as a direct result of the chaos created by the individual central banks before and during the Great Depression. With the advent of economic globalization, it became clear that the uncoordinated policies of individual central banks was becoming a hindrance to global growth and financial stability. In December 1944, the IMF formally came into existence with 29 members, each agreeing to cooperate on the international stage to stabilize exchange rates and

In Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, representatives from the Allied nations met to change that. The agreement they struck, known as the Bretton Woods system, provided what they believed to be the necessary infrastructure to facilitate this increasingly global economy. All currencies would have a set exchange rate, in gold-backed dollar terms. This would, in theory, make global transactions involving different currencies simple and easy to regulate. The International Monetary Fund was established to make sure that these exchanges ran smoothly and that countries could meet their obligations.

This can be shown by the US having 17% control of the executive board meaning they have the right to veto as board approval requires 85%. Whereas India has only 2.44% of voting rights compared to the Netherlands who are significantly weaker in terms of economic power who have 2.17% . It can be argued that the way the voting structure works iensures that the IMF would prioritise its creditors and voters, so the EU and USA have a combined total of 49% thus they hold great sway over the institution. This can explain how in terms of loans 79.5% have gone to European countries, with the largest loans going to Greece, Portugal and Ireland to bail out their banks. Another accusation is that the IMF in general tends to create more harm than good when attempting to help countries as shown in the fast track scheme. Where they gave far too much loans to Argentina and they were forced to default . A similar event occurred to create the 1997 East Asia crisis where the IMF encouraged countries affected to borrow their way out of trouble thus making the crisis worse. These events were not prioritised by western country whereas when the Euro crisis hit the west only then did the IMF pour in billions to save essential countries in Europe. The IMF can be considered strongly European for all 11 directors in the IMF’s history have been European. So the IMF can be considered to be working in favour of western interests as

All three countries actively follow the guidelines of these major international institutions. According to Managing Director of the IMF (Kohler, 2002), “There has been a near-revolution in transparency at the IMF, and a steady improvement in the release of economic information by our member countries.” It is essential for countries to be transparent in their annual checkups from the IMF in order to keep all member countries up to date on economic data in countries they have financial dealings with. This information is what keeps countries from financial crisis. The United States is the largest shareholder of the World Bank and is the only country with veto power over changes in structure, therefore the US plays a major role in developing and supporting the World Bank’s mission (The World Bank, 2013). Since 1998, France has only been a respondent to 4 dispute cases (World Trade Organization), which shows that they actively try to follow the guidelines.

The IMF started supporting Argentina in late 2000 and early 2001. This was while Argentina was having some major problems with their economy and hyperinflation. Also "diminishing access to capital markets"(2003, July). This left them in great danger of their economy completely collapsing. They were desperate for any sort of help and productivity. The world bank loaned them money before the IMF. They failed to make a payment to the world bank of 805 million dollars and ended

abatement of outside debt through depreciation by official donors. It was made to help the poorest of nations though some criticize it is only offering aid to rich countries with decline in aid to truly needy ones. The IMF or International Monetary Fund was set up as a last resort means of aiding struggling countries. "The International Monetary Fund, based in Washington, D.C., is the global economy's lender of last resort to countries in crisis. " (The New York Times 2012). These two oganizations, one created by the other, can produce a lot of good in terms of providing financial stability through working together for a common goal.

One major complaint about the World Bank is that it causes high debt in developing countries. Even though the loans are meant to help these countries, they end up causing the countries to take on debt that they must pay interest on and remain under the conditions of the institution. Another is that as part of their lending requirements; the World Bank has imposed rigorous conditions on recipient countries. These requirements are known as structural adjustment programs. These programs force countries to adopt their conditions, such as deregulation of capital markets, reformation of national companies to private corporations, and downscaling of social welfare programs. Privatization of water supplies and public pensions, and imposing fees for public hospitals and publics schools are among the debated bank reforms. In his book, 50 Years Is Enough, Kevin Danaher describes the World Bank's policies as "austerity plans that 'reform' economic policies by suffocating the poor and inviting

The Bretton Woods Conference in 1944 spawned two IFIs, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, in order to rebuild a

The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank were created in 1944 at a conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, and are now based in Washington, DC. Now it is an organization of 188 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world. Nearly all members of the United Nations are members of the IMF with a few exceptions such as Cuba, Lichtenstein and Andorra. (About the IMF:IMF Website) The IMF was originally designed to

One of the World Bank or the IMF project that was developed is “Rebuilding Infrastructure.” It was set in motion to aid the rebuilding of Infrastructures in countries that were ravaged by, during and after World War II. The project (Rebuilding Infrastructure, under the supervision of IMF and World bank), was originally intended for, and as a principal supervisor on agendas such as poverty reduction, quality education, provision and availability of pure and clean water for all, steady development of employment and job availability, mechanisms to stabilize value of currency, exchange rates and facilitation of currency exchange, dispute resolution systems, Offering loans to aid economies in crises etc.

In the statement of the 2015 Article IV Consultation Mission to China, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded that the Chinese economy was transitioning to a safer and higher-quality growth. In particular, the IMF highlighted that China had made good progress in recent years in reducing its large current account surpluses and its huge accumulation of foreign exchange reserves. Although undervaluation of the yuan was a major factor causing the large imbalances in the past, the appreciation of the yuan over the past few years had brought the yuan-USD exchange rate to a level that was no longer undervalued.

1.The international financial institutions (IFIs) are central pillars and the architects of the global economy. The world bank and IMF were founded and funded by the United states after the second world war to build shattered world economy after the war and great depression of the 1930s (socialist alternative,). The creation of the IFIs was to bring about a global economy after the “isolation economy” which some argue brought about the Second World War. The IFIs were to help the economy of the less developing countries (LDCs) to bring about growth and development, a phenomenon known as globalization.

In the year of 1327, Kind Edward III of England defaulted on his Italian debts. This caused the banks of Bardi and Peruzzi in Florence to collapse. Who would know that over 650 years later, the world would still have these types of problems? After World War II, the need for an organization like the IMF was finally realized. After the war, politicians and economists began to work on blue prints for a postwar world. They envisioned a liberal international economic order, based on stable world currencies and revived world trade. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) finally came into existence on December 27, 1945. On this date, twenty-nine