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Lending Credibility: The International Monetary Fund and the Post-Communist Transition
With the end of the Cold War, the International Monetary Fund emerged as the most powerful international institution in history. But how much influence can the IMF exert over fiercely contested issues in domestic politics that affect the lives of millions? In Lending Credibility , Randall Stone develops the first systematic approach to answering this question. Deploying an arsenal of methods from a range of social sciences rarely combined, he mounts a forceful challenge to conventional wisdom. Focusing on the former Soviet bloc, Stone finds that the IMF is neither as powerful as some critics fear, nor as weak as others believe, but that the answer hinges on the complex factor of how much credibility it can muster from country to country.
Stone begins by building a formal, game-theoretic model of lending credibility, which he then subjects to sophisticated quantitative testing on original data from twenty-six countries over the 1990s. Next come detailed, interview-based case studies on negotiations between the IMF and Russia, Ukraine, Poland, and Bulgaria. Stone asserts that the IMF has exerted startling influence over economic policy in smaller countries, such as Poland and Bulgaria. However, where U.S. foreign policy interests come more heavily into play, as in Russia, the IMF cannot credibly commit to enforcing the loans-for-policy contract. This erodes its ability to facilitate enduring market reforms. Stone's context is the postcommunist transition in Europe and Asia, but his findings carry implications for IMF activities the world over.
Stone begins by building a formal, game-theoretic model of lending credibility, which he then subjects to sophisticated quantitative testing on original data from twenty-six countries over the 1990s. Next come detailed, interview-based case studies on negotiations between the IMF and Russia, Ukraine, Poland, and Bulgaria. Stone asserts that the IMF has exerted startling influence over economic policy in smaller countries, such as Poland and Bulgaria. However, where U.S. foreign policy interests come more heavily into play, as in Russia, the IMF cannot credibly commit to enforcing the loans-for-policy contract. This erodes its ability to facilitate enduring market reforms. Stone's context is the postcommunist transition in Europe and Asia, but his findings carry implications for IMF activities the world over.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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May 3, 2019
The book has two parts - a model of the interaction of IMF with the countries, and the history of IMF intervention in 4 countries - Poland, Ukraine, Russia and Bulgaria.
The model is very interesting and gives some interesting insights (supported by the histories afterward) on the interactions and what could be done to improve it. Having the IMF more independent seems to be one of the best courses.
The histories were enlightening, especially to see the other side of the history (not from the POV of the politicians and people in the countries in general).
The model is very interesting and gives some interesting insights (supported by the histories afterward) on the interactions and what could be done to improve it. Having the IMF more independent seems to be one of the best courses.
The histories were enlightening, especially to see the other side of the history (not from the POV of the politicians and people in the countries in general).
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review