Bretton Woods Update No.74 January/February 2011PDF version | At Issue PDF | text version | versión en español 'Groupthink' IMF slammed for mistakes before crisisNews|17 February 2011 
The Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) found major IMF lapses in judgement before the financial crisis, including the promotion of "light-touch regulation", casting doubt on the Fund's ability to contribute to taming global finance. read article... For the love of markets World Bank, food crisis and agricultureNews|18 February 2011 As record high food prices have contributed to unrest in Egypt, Tunisia and beyond, the World Bank's unwavering faith in markets has stirred debate about how best to address the multitude of factors underlying a global crisis in food prices. Meanwhile, World Bank president Robert Zoellick continues to champion efforts to bring agriculture into carbon markets. read article... World Bank corners climate funds?News|17 February 2011 As governments reached an agreement at the climate negotiations in Cancun in December, the World Bank continued to stir controversy as it attained a role in a new global climate fund, launched new carbon market initiatives, and touted the success of the controversial Climate Investment Funds. read article... IMF nostalgia: debate on capital account liberalisation all over again?News|17 February 2011 As emerging market economies expand tools to actively manage international financial flows to cope surges, a liberalisation reform of the IMF's statutes is up for debate again. read article... Dollar debate continuesNews|17 February 2011 In January, French president Nicholas Sarkozy stoked the debate about reforming the international monetary system while deliberations on the potential future role of the IMF’s special drawing right as a prototype global reserve currency continued. read article... IMF serious about measuring conditionality impacts?News|17 February 2011 More criticism emerged of IMF programmes as it begins the process of another conditionality review. Political upheaval in Ireland and continued protests in Greece are focussing attention on the IMF's controversial economic policy advice. read article... Donor IDA pledges fall flatNews|17 February 2011 The World Bank gained a 12 per cent inflation adjusted increase from the 16th fundraising round for its low-income country arm, the International Development Association (IDA), despite flat donor contributions, amid renewed criticism of its overall approach. read article... Heat turned up on World Bank energy strategyNews|11 February 2011 As the Bank's energy strategy approaches finalisation in mid 2011 pressure is growing on the institution to incorporate criticism by civil society groups of its current lending practices. read article... IFC standards revision leaves out human rightsNews|18 February 2011 As the review of the performance standards of the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC), the World Bank's private sector lending arm, enters the last stretch, civil society groups are up in arms about the latest draft, which has taken steps backward, particularly in relation to the inclusion of human rights. read article... The IFI's approach to tax avoidance and evasionInside the inst|17 February 2011 The World Bank and the IMF formally recognise tax avoidance and evasion as a critical problem for developing countries' domestic resource mobilisation. The Bank's public position on tax evasion and tax havens does not however identify concrete measures to stop investing in companies practicing tax avoidance. The IMF addresses tax policy under its surveillance mandate and in its technical assistance, but does not have an explicit framework to deal with tax evasion. read article... IFIs labour painsNews|17 February 2011 Critics say IMF policy contributed to fuelling unrest in Egypt and Tunisia, while the IFIs reiterate concern about growing inequality and global unemployment. At the same time unions accuse the World Bank's Paying Taxes report of condemning tax and social contributions. read article... Recommended resources on the World Bank and IMF 2010Resource|17 February 2011 Recommendations from Bretton Woods Project staff on the best papers, books and electronic resources of 2010. read article... Bankspeak of the year 2010Humour|17 February 2011 Annual Bretton Woods Project award for the most incomprehensible or absurd use of language in a Bank or Fund document or speech. read article... The IMF's new conditionality Crafting change, lessons from Eastern EuropeAt Issue|18 February 2011 While the 2007-2010 crisis offered the International Monetary Fund an unexpected opportunity to demonstrate that it was serious about changing its emergency lending practices, Daniela Gabor argues that in Eastern Europe the Fund ended up pushing unnecessary fiscal austerity and privileging private financial interests. read article... Other stories in this issue
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Update issues
No.82, Sep/Oct 2012 | PDF
New website launchedYou are now browsing an archive version of the Bretton Woods Project's website. This site has not been updated since September 2013, but may be used for reference material as the nbew site is being developed. However we suggest you look at the new website: Recent briefings & reports
Memorandum to the International Development Committee: Inquiry on the Future of UK Development Cooperation 26 June 2013
The Doing Business review: a test of World Bank leadership 24 June 2013
Climate Investment Funds Monitor 7: April 2013 25 April 2013
Working paper: The private sector and climate change adaptation: International Finance Corporation investments under the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience 24 April 2013
The UK's role in the World Bank and IMF: Department for International Development and HM Treasury 13 March 2013
World Bank on jobs: a "significant departure" or "business as usual"? 13 February 2013 Newswire |
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