International Monetary Fund IMF: Meaning, Objectives & More

He criticised the IMF for praising the monetary policies of the US, which he believed were wreaking havoc in emerging markets. Others attribute the crisis to Argentina’s misdesigned fiscal federalism, which caused subnational spending to increase rapidly. The crisis added to widespread hatred of this institution in Argentina and other South American countries, with many blaming the IMF for the region’s economic problems. The post-2000s trend toward moderate left-wing governments in the region and a growing concern with the development of a regional economic policy largely independent of big business pressures has been ascribed to this crisis.citation needed Conditionality also reassures the IMF that the funds lent to them will be used for the purposes defined by the Articles of Agreement and provides safeguards that the country will be able to rectify its macroeconomic and structural imbalances. In the judgment of the IMF, the adoption by the member of certain corrective measures or policies will allow it to repay the IMF, thereby ensuring that the resources will be available to support other members.

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Special drawing rights (SDRs) are the monetary reserve currency, which is valid internationally and was created by the IMF as an addition to the existing money reserves of the IMF’s member countries. The SDR was created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement the official dollar reserves of its member countries. While the international system aims to create a balanced global economy, it should strive to address local needs and solutions. On the other hand, we cannot ignore the benefits that can be achieved by learning from others.

The board of governors is advised by the International Monetary and Financial Committee and the Development Committee. The International Monetary and Financial Committee has 24 members and monitors developments in global liquidity and the transfer of resources to developing countries. The Development Committee has 25 members and advises on critical development issues and on financial resources required to promote economic development in developing countries.citation needed The IMF’s influence in the global economy steadily increased as it accumulated more members.

  • It is also part of the World Bank Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and Poverty Reduction Strategic Papers (PRSPs).citation needed
  • Countries such as China, India, and Brazil have become significant players in the international financial system, and their participation and influence within the IMF are expected to grow.
  • Along with its sister organization, the World Bank, it was created to prevent economic crises such as the Great Depression.
  • Others attribute the crisis to Argentina’s misdesigned fiscal federalism, which caused subnational spending to increase rapidly.
  • This assumes that this narrow range of issues represents the only possible problems; everything is standardised and differing contexts are ignored.

Meaning of IMF :

  • The goal of the conference was to agree on a new framework for the international monetary system.
  • As the global economic landscape continues to evolve, the IMF faces new challenges and opportunities.
  • It also works with developing countries to help them achieve macroeconomic stability and reduce poverty.
  • The IMF conducts regular reviews of member countries’ economic policies, providing them with advice and recommendations to address vulnerabilities and promote stability.
  • It plays a crucial role in the international monetary system, facilitating exchange rate stability, fostering economic cooperation, and helping countries manage their balance of payments.
  • Managing Director Lagarde (2011–2019) was convicted of giving preferential treatment to businessman-turned-politician Bernard Tapie as he pursued a legal challenge against the French government.

The IMF is a global financial institution created in 1944 during the Bretton Woods Conference. It provides a framework for economic cooperation and international exchange rate stability, acting as a global lender of last resort. Its core functions include providing short-term financial support to countries facing balance of payments problems and offering technical assistance and surveillance over the global economic system. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organisation which was brought into operation to boost the global economic growth and financial stability, international trade and to decrease poverty.

A 2009 study concluded that the strict conditions resulted in thousands of deaths in Eastern Europe by tuberculosis as public health care had to be weakened. In the 21 countries to which the IMF had given loans, tuberculosis deaths rose by 16.6%. A 2017 systematic review on studies conducted on the impact that structural adjustment programs have on child and maternal health found that these programs have a detrimental effect on maternal and child health among other adverse effects. We need the World Bank, the IMF, all the big foundations, and all the governments to admit that, for 30 years, we all blew it, including me when I was president. We were wrong to believe that food was like some other product in international trade, and we all have to go back to a more responsible and sustainable form of agriculture. The clout of member states is roughly proportional to its contribution to IMF finances.

Organization

In March 2020, Kristalina Georgieva announced that the IMF stood ready to mobilize $1 trillion as its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was in addition to the $50 billion fund it had announced two weeks earlier, of which $5 billion had already been requested by Iran. One day earlier on 11 March, the UK called to pledge £150 million to the IMF catastrophe relief fund. It came to light on 27 March that “more than 80 poor and middle-income countries” had sought a bailout due to the coronavirus.

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The IMF is entrusted with nurturing economic growth and maintaining high levels of employment within countries. To achieve these goals, the IMF focuses and advises on the macroeconomic policies of a country, which impacts its exchange rate, governmental budget, money, and credit management. The IMF will also appraise a country’s financial sector and regulatory policies, as well as structural policies within the macroeconomy that relate to the labor market and employment.

The IMF’s operations include surveillance of economic and financial developments, financial assistance through loans, and providing technical assistance and training to help countries improve their economic management. Its surveillance function involves monitoring the international monetary system and economic performance of its 190 member countries, to identify risks to economic stability and advise on policy adjustments. The IMF plays a critical role in maintaining global financial stability and supporting member countries through economic challenges.

A second bailout package of more than €100 billion was agreed upon over the course of a few months from October 2011, during which time Papandreou was forced from office. The so-called Troika, of which the IMF is part, are joint managers of this programme, which was approved by the executive directors of the IMF on 15 March 2012 for XDR 23.8 billion and saw private bondholders take a haircut of upwards of 50%. In the interval between May 2010 and February 2012 the private banks of Holland, France, and Germany reduced exposure to Greek debt from €122 billion to €66 billion.

IMF and globalization

The formation of the International Monetary Fund or IMF was initiated in the year 1944 at the Bretton Woods conference and it came into operation on the 27th of December in the year 1945. This international organisation is headquartered in Washington D.C., and consists of 189 member countries. The IMF’s website describes its mission as “to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world.”

The IMF’s 10 largest members in terms of quota and voting power are, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Italy, France, Germany, China, India, Russia, and Brazil. The birth of the IMF in 1945 — a global organization meant to be a safety net for countries during economic crises. The IMF grant “supports charities in the Washington DC metro area and in IMF member countries abroad through annual monetary grants, which focus primarily on fostering economic independence through education and economic development.” Thus, by being required to open up their economies to foreign investment, privatize public enterprises, and cut government spending, these countries suffer an inability to properly fund their education and health programs. The Extended Fund Facility (EFF) is a medium-term arrangement by which countries can borrow a certain amount of money, typically over four to 10 years. The EFF aims to address structural problems within the macroeconomy that are causing chronic balance of payment inequities.

In June, it announced it was working on a platform for central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) that would enable transactions between nations. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said that if central banks did not agree on a common platform, cryptocurrency would fill the resulting vacuum. A 2020 study found the reverse causality with democracy as a precursor to economic stability. Critics highlight various examples in which democratised countries fell after receiving IMF loans.

What are Bretton Woods Institutions?

When the International Monetary Fund or IMF first came into operation, it had only 29 member countries who had all agreed to bind to the treaty. The IMF is often regarded as a key organisation in the International Economic system which focuses on rebuilding the international capital and maximising national economic sovereignty along with human welfare. Quotas are reviewed every five years and are based on each country’s wealth and economic performance—the richer the country, the larger its quota. The quotas form a pool of loanable funds and determine how much money each member can borrow and how much voting power it will have. For example, the United States’ approximately $83 billion contribution is the most of any IMF member, accounting for approximately 17 percent of total quotas.

The scholarly consensus is that IMF decision-making is not simply international monetary fund meaning technocratic, but also guided by political and economic concerns. The United States is the IMF’s most powerful member, and its influence reaches even into decision-making concerning individual loan agreements. The U.S. has historically been openly opposed to losing what Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew described in 2015 as its “leadership role” at the IMF, and the U.S.’ “ability to shape international norms and practices”.