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Growth, poverty and the IMF

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  • Graham Bird

    (Surrey Centre for International Economic Studies, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK)

Abstract

Although the IMF presents itself as a monetary institution, it plays an important role in providing support to poor countries via its Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility. It is difficult to imagine more central development issues than poverty and growth. However, while there is a broad consensus surrounding the stabilization issues with which IMF programmes conventionally deal, there is much less agreement about the causes of economic growth and poverty. This carries lessons for the design of the PRGF. While most reviews of it focus on 'process', this paper offers a more fundamental analysis of the Fund's involvement in growth and poverty reduction. It suggests that the design of conditionality needs to distinguish between elements according to the degree of scientific consensus. It also suggests that the success of the Fund's attempts to facilitate growth and poverty reduction will be severely constrained unless the necessary external, financial support is provided. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Suggested Citation

  • Graham Bird, 2004. "Growth, poverty and the IMF," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 16(4), pages 621-636.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:jintdv:v:16:y:2004:i:4:p:621-636
    DOI: 10.1002/jid.1111
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    2. Malcolm Anderson & Liz Holcombe & Donovan Williams, 2007. "Reducing landslide risk in areas of unplanned housing in the Caribbean-a Government-Community partnership model," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 19(2), pages 205-221.
    3. Mehadi Mamun, 2021. "The Impact of Foreign Aid Conditionality on Poverty Alleviation in Bangladesh: A Recipient’s Perspective," Business and Economic Research, Macrothink Institute, vol. 11(3), pages 151-161, December.
    4. Tuomas Malinen & Olli Ropponen, 2022. "To default or not? The aftermath of sovereign defaults and IMF programs in economic crises," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(7), pages 2052-2083, July.
    5. Graham Bird & Dane Rowlands, 2017. "The Effect of IMF Programmes on Economic Growth in Low Income Countries: An Empirical Analysis," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(12), pages 2179-2196, December.

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