What is IMF? – International Monetary Fund

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Initially, the IMF got set up to correct temporary Balance of Payment deficits arising due to the fixed exchange rate system adopted at Bretton woods system. It is also called lender of last resort. After the collapse of the Bretton woods system in 1971, the IMF still gives loans to correct the Balance of Payment deficits. But these loans come with conditionality’s or restrictions on the economic policies of the borrower countries.

After 1970, the IMF has a role in financing the increasing volume of international trade. Thus IMF created a new currency called SDRs ( special drawing rights ). The value of the SDR has been based on a basket of five currencies—the U.S. dollar, the British pound, the Japanese yen, the euro, and the Chinese renminbi. SDR started to help international trade run smoothly.

Member nations, based on their country’s wealth, fund IMF by a charge – known as a quota. The country’s GDP, its economic openness, its economic variability, and international reserves determine the formula for the quota. 

A country cannot change its quota unilaterally. Quota determines the voting weight in both IMF and World Bank and its access to IMF loans.

Managing Director, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, carry out the day-to-day management of the IMF. Board of Executive Directors, the executive body of the IMF, consists of 24 directors appointed/elected by member countries.

The International Monetary Fund and World Bank Reforms:

IMF and World Bank traditionally been controlled by a few developed countries of North America and Europe. Despite the present reforms at the International Monetary Fund, more than 30% of the IMF quota has been administered by these developed countries. Further, both the IMF and World Bank have traditionally been lead by European and American representatives ( IMF by European and World Bank by American ). 

Many economies like Brazil and Mexico prefer not to go to the IMF to correct their Balance of Payment crisis because of strict conditionality. The administrative system is over-centralized in IMF and World Bank, and no external agency can provide feedback on their performance.

Therefore, several long term reforms are needed. Quota reforms would be the most important as it determines the voting weight. Although, the quota has increased for countries like India and China i.e. mainly at the cost of less quota for underdeveloped countries. 

The current quota formula gives more weightage to GDP at market exchange rate than GDP at purchasing power parity basis. It should be changed as it is inherently biased in favor of exports led economies. 

Despite reforms, abolishing IMF or WB is not a solution. Even in the backdrop of good economic performance, the global financial crisis and other balance of payment crises can be faced by any economy. An institution like the IMF would be needed to tackle this. 

World Bank also gives cheaper loans for social development in the poorest countries. Given the dismal status of human capital like education and health, in many countries, the World Bank has a role to play.

For the comprehensive report on international organizations of the world – click here. 

The International Monetary Fund was founded in 1945

Organisation of 190 member countries ( 2020 )

Headquarters in Washington DC

SDR – special drawing rights introduced by IMF

The International Monetary Fund brings out the publication known as ‘World Economic Outlook’ and  ‘Global Financial Stability Report’

Member countries do not have equal voting rights. The vote of each country is weighted by how much money it has contributed to the International Monetary Fund.