The Impacts of the IMF and the World Bank

The Impacts of the IMF and the World Bank

The World Bank and the International Monetary fund make up major parts

of the UN's Economic sector. For both institutions the groundwork was

laid in the Bretton Woods conference. The World Bank's initial task

was to facilitate reconstruction in the post- World War II Europe. It

generates capital fund from member state contributions and from

international financial markers. Its loans are not designed to replace

private capital but to facilitate its operation by funding projects

that private banks would not support, e.g. primary education. The

World Bank also attaches conditions of its loans in the form of policy

changes it would like to see states make to promote economic

development and alienate poverty. The IMF's role has also changed over

time. Initially, it was to stabilize the currency with exchange rates

by providing short term loans to for member states with "temporary"

balance of payments difficulties. In 1982, it took the role of

intermediary in negotiations between creditors and debtor countries.

The IMF was not designed to be an aid agency but its role in economic

development is crucial insofar as stable currency values and currency

convertibility are necessary to facilitate trade. However, looking at

the effect that the work of the IMF and the World Bank have had on the

international economic development, it seems that they have had a

rather negative impact.

The IMF did have its successes in international economic development.

It was able to help out when oil prices went up in 1973 and again in

1979 - 80. The rising oil prices acted as one of the factors which

brought about th...

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...s still owed money to IMF and the

World back, but they had a later due date. The crisis has simply been

delayed, and it is now a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode.

It seems that the World Bank and the IMF have had an extremely

negative impact international economical development. Instead of

helping, they have hindered development. With their SAPs, they have

caused even more poverty and economic failure. Though they have had

certain successes, for example avoiding the world debt crisis, their

negative impact on the world overrides the positive aspects. We must

now make up our minds, of whether we want our world to be dictated by

these institutions who claim to help us or not. There must be another

way to maintain international economic development, as well as

eliminate poverty. Anyone know where Aladdin's lamp is?