Introduction to The International Monetary Fund

In a way, the IMF has been successful since it was established back in July, 1944. From its genesis, it has consistently worked to foster optimal global monetary cooperation for the general good of member states. The aim has been to secure the financial stability of world nations and facilitate a mutually benefiting international trade among these nations. This in return could boost both poverty reduction measures and promote high employment. With criticism to the institution considered, the International Monetary Fund has helped instigate a sustainable economic growth in most member states, apart from the third world countries which continue to trade in complete dependence of the international market.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) was a Bretton-Woods brainchild as an international organization that regulated economic policies in member countries that impact on both the exchange rates in the global market and the balance of payments. In playing this role, the International Monetary Fund was charged with the responsibility of stabilizing international exchange rates in a way that could facilitate development in the world economy. Besides that, the IMF became a facility that offered highly leveraged loans to third world countries to aid them in establishing economic independence.

From the original 44 member states, the monetary fund has grown in membership to subscribe 186 nations to date. Kosovo was the last state to gain membership. Most of the nations under the United Nations Charter have

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Prospects of a One World Currency

The current monetary system has been blamed for the frequent episodes of turmoil that shock the world in the form of financial crises. Many economists argue in support of a new global financial order whereby only one currency will be in use. This, they argue, would remove the control of currencies from the hands of a few people.

The current financial order where each country controls its own currency was started by the elite and the influential. Many economists are today concerned that the issue of instituting a single world currency should be considered as an emergency. The quest for an economically harmonized world traces its roots to the drafting and signing by various countries of the Bretton-Woods Agreement as early as 1944.

The Bretton-Woods Agreement was spurred by the economic depression that was witnessed in the 1930s and during the Second World War. The current global economic crisis presents the world with another chance of imposing sterner regulations on national sovereign economies.

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