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Q: Suddenly, everyone seems to be talking about the International Monetary Fund. n A: They are, yes - mainly because the managing director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn has just resigned after a sex scandal. But it gives us a chance to find out what this famous economic institution does. n n Q: So what does it do? n n A: The IMF's primary purpose is to ensure the stability of the international monetary system - the system of exchange rates and international payments that enables countries to conduct financial transactions with each other. n Q: A big job. How did it start? n A: It was conceived at a United Nations conference convened in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, United States in July 1944. n Q: Why then? n A: The 44 governments represented wanted to build a framework for economic cooperation that would avoid a repetition of the competitive devaluations that had contributed to the Great Depression of the 1930s. n n Q: And it's grown since then? n n A: Oh yes. With its headquarters in Washington, D.C., it has an executive board of 24 directors representing the 187 countries which are now affiliated with it. It's staffed by around 2,500 employees from 160 different countries. n n Q: So what do they actually do to help economies? n n n A: Well, one thing they do is surveillance consultations. n A: Just as someone might pay a visit to a doctor for a medical checkup, so countries go to the IMF for an economic once-over. These checkups help uncover issues in a country's economy that other member countries may be unaware of. n Q: So everyone then knows about their problems? n A: They do, yes. But sharing accurate, objective information avoids nasty surprises in international trade and monetary exchange. The IMF's reputation and success depends on this open sharing of information. n Q: So accurate economic information is important? n A: Imagine you're at the cash machine getting money for an evening out. The machine spits your card back. 'INSUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PROCESS TRANSACTION' flashes on the screen. You're surprised. You didn't have accurate information about your bank account. Now you're stuck borrowing money from a friend. n Q: Sounds bad! n A: Good information is important for individuals and even more so for global economics. Investors and government policy-makers don't like surprises. Without up to date economic data, a local problem in one country can cause trouble for other countries that have financial dealings there. n Q: Any examples? n A: At present, the 'Eurozone' - the group of countries which use the euro as currency - is being hurt by the ailing economies of Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain. The IMF is involved with each of those. n Q: How can the IMF help in crisis? n A: When a country imports more than it exports, it has a 'trade deficit' which can cause foreign currency shortages. Without foreign currency, businesses and governments can't pay the bills they owe other countries. So one key task the IMF performs is to help these countries with loans - but the loans come with strict conditions, which governments don't always like. n Q: Where does the IMF get its money from? n A: Mainly through the payment of quotas by member countries, which broadly reflect each country's economic size. The richer pay in more, the poorer, less. n Q: And how much does it have? n A: A lot. At the 2009 G20 summit - a gathering of both industrialised and emerging economies - world leaders pledged to support a tripling of the IMF's lending resources from about $250bn (150bn) to $750bn (462bn). n Q: And who will be their next leader? n A: The favourite to succeed Strauss-Kahn is French finance minister Christine Lagarde. UK ministers support her. They certainly don't want Gordon Brown, whose name has also been mentioned. " Meet the runners and riders for the top job at the IMF. The IMF website.
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n Q: What are they?n Expert Links
n
A: They are, yes - mainly because the managing director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn has just resigned after a sex scandal. But it gives us a chance to find out what this famous economic institution does.
n Q: So what does it do? n n A: The IMF's primary purpose is to ensure the stability of the international monetary system - the system of exchange rates and international payments that enables countries to conduct financial transactions with each other. n Q: A big job. How did it start? n A: It was conceived at a United Nations conference convened in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, United States in July 1944. n Q: Why then? n A: The 44 governments represented wanted to build a framework for economic cooperation that would avoid a repetition of the competitive devaluations that had contributed to the Great Depression of the 1930s. n n Q: And it's grown since then? n n A: Oh yes. With its headquarters in Washington, D.C., it has an executive board of 24 directors representing the 187 countries which are now affiliated with it. It's staffed by around 2,500 employees from 160 different countries. n n Q: So what do they actually do to help economies? n n n A: Well, one thing they do is surveillance consultations. n A: Just as someone might pay a visit to a doctor for a medical checkup, so countries go to the IMF for an economic once-over. These checkups help uncover issues in a country's economy that other member countries may be unaware of. n Q: So everyone then knows about their problems? n A: They do, yes. But sharing accurate, objective information avoids nasty surprises in international trade and monetary exchange. The IMF's reputation and success depends on this open sharing of information. n Q: So accurate economic information is important? n A: Imagine you're at the cash machine getting money for an evening out. The machine spits your card back. 'INSUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PROCESS TRANSACTION' flashes on the screen. You're surprised. You didn't have accurate information about your bank account. Now you're stuck borrowing money from a friend. n Q: Sounds bad! n A: Good information is important for individuals and even more so for global economics. Investors and government policy-makers don't like surprises. Without up to date economic data, a local problem in one country can cause trouble for other countries that have financial dealings there. n Q: Any examples? n A: At present, the 'Eurozone' - the group of countries which use the euro as currency - is being hurt by the ailing economies of Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain. The IMF is involved with each of those. n Q: How can the IMF help in crisis? n A: When a country imports more than it exports, it has a 'trade deficit' which can cause foreign currency shortages. Without foreign currency, businesses and governments can't pay the bills they owe other countries. So one key task the IMF performs is to help these countries with loans - but the loans come with strict conditions, which governments don't always like. n Q: Where does the IMF get its money from? n A: Mainly through the payment of quotas by member countries, which broadly reflect each country's economic size. The richer pay in more, the poorer, less. n Q: And how much does it have? n A: A lot. At the 2009 G20 summit - a gathering of both industrialised and emerging economies - world leaders pledged to support a tripling of the IMF's lending resources from about $250bn (150bn) to $750bn (462bn). n Q: And who will be their next leader? n A: The favourite to succeed Strauss-Kahn is French finance minister Christine Lagarde. UK ministers support her. They certainly don't want Gordon Brown, whose name has also been mentioned. " Meet the runners and riders for the top job at the IMF. The IMF website.
n
n Q: What are they?n Expert Links
A: The IMF's primary purpose is to ensure the stability of the international monetary system - the system of exchange rates and international payments that enables countries to conduct financial transactions with each other.
Q: A big job. How did it start? n A: It was conceived at a United Nations conference convened in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, United States in July 1944. n Q: Why then? n A: The 44 governments represented wanted to build a framework for economic cooperation that would avoid a repetition of the competitive devaluations that had contributed to the Great Depression of the 1930s. n n Q: And it's grown since then? n n A: Oh yes. With its headquarters in Washington, D.C., it has an executive board of 24 directors representing the 187 countries which are now affiliated with it. It's staffed by around 2,500 employees from 160 different countries. n n Q: So what do they actually do to help economies? n n n A: Well, one thing they do is surveillance consultations. n A: Just as someone might pay a visit to a doctor for a medical checkup, so countries go to the IMF for an economic once-over. These checkups help uncover issues in a country's economy that other member countries may be unaware of. n Q: So everyone then knows about their problems? n A: They do, yes. But sharing accurate, objective information avoids nasty surprises in international trade and monetary exchange. The IMF's reputation and success depends on this open sharing of information. n Q: So accurate economic information is important? n A: Imagine you're at the cash machine getting money for an evening out. The machine spits your card back. 'INSUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PROCESS TRANSACTION' flashes on the screen. You're surprised. You didn't have accurate information about your bank account. Now you're stuck borrowing money from a friend. n Q: Sounds bad! n A: Good information is important for individuals and even more so for global economics. Investors and government policy-makers don't like surprises. Without up to date economic data, a local problem in one country can cause trouble for other countries that have financial dealings there. n Q: Any examples? n A: At present, the 'Eurozone' - the group of countries which use the euro as currency - is being hurt by the ailing economies of Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain. The IMF is involved with each of those. n Q: How can the IMF help in crisis? n A: When a country imports more than it exports, it has a 'trade deficit' which can cause foreign currency shortages. Without foreign currency, businesses and governments can't pay the bills they owe other countries. So one key task the IMF performs is to help these countries with loans - but the loans come with strict conditions, which governments don't always like. n Q: Where does the IMF get its money from? n A: Mainly through the payment of quotas by member countries, which broadly reflect each country's economic size. The richer pay in more, the poorer, less. n Q: And how much does it have? n A: A lot. At the 2009 G20 summit - a gathering of both industrialised and emerging economies - world leaders pledged to support a tripling of the IMF's lending resources from about $250bn (150bn) to $750bn (462bn). n Q: And who will be their next leader? n A: The favourite to succeed Strauss-Kahn is French finance minister Christine Lagarde. UK ministers support her. They certainly don't want Gordon Brown, whose name has also been mentioned. " Meet the runners and riders for the top job at the IMF. The IMF website.
n
n Q: What are they?n Expert Links
A: It was conceived at a United Nations conference convened in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, United States in July 1944.
Q: Why then? n A: The 44 governments represented wanted to build a framework for economic cooperation that would avoid a repetition of the competitive devaluations that had contributed to the Great Depression of the 1930s. n n Q: And it's grown since then? n n A: Oh yes. With its headquarters in Washington, D.C., it has an executive board of 24 directors representing the 187 countries which are now affiliated with it. It's staffed by around 2,500 employees from 160 different countries. n n Q: So what do they actually do to help economies? n n n A: Well, one thing they do is surveillance consultations. n A: Just as someone might pay a visit to a doctor for a medical checkup, so countries go to the IMF for an economic once-over. These checkups help uncover issues in a country's economy that other member countries may be unaware of. n Q: So everyone then knows about their problems? n A: They do, yes. But sharing accurate, objective information avoids nasty surprises in international trade and monetary exchange. The IMF's reputation and success depends on this open sharing of information. n Q: So accurate economic information is important? n A: Imagine you're at the cash machine getting money for an evening out. The machine spits your card back. 'INSUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PROCESS TRANSACTION' flashes on the screen. You're surprised. You didn't have accurate information about your bank account. Now you're stuck borrowing money from a friend. n Q: Sounds bad! n A: Good information is important for individuals and even more so for global economics. Investors and government policy-makers don't like surprises. Without up to date economic data, a local problem in one country can cause trouble for other countries that have financial dealings there. n Q: Any examples? n A: At present, the 'Eurozone' - the group of countries which use the euro as currency - is being hurt by the ailing economies of Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain. The IMF is involved with each of those. n Q: How can the IMF help in crisis? n A: When a country imports more than it exports, it has a 'trade deficit' which can cause foreign currency shortages. Without foreign currency, businesses and governments can't pay the bills they owe other countries. So one key task the IMF performs is to help these countries with loans - but the loans come with strict conditions, which governments don't always like. n Q: Where does the IMF get its money from? n A: Mainly through the payment of quotas by member countries, which broadly reflect each country's economic size. The richer pay in more, the poorer, less. n Q: And how much does it have? n A: A lot. At the 2009 G20 summit - a gathering of both industrialised and emerging economies - world leaders pledged to support a tripling of the IMF's lending resources from about $250bn (150bn) to $750bn (462bn). n Q: And who will be their next leader? n A: The favourite to succeed Strauss-Kahn is French finance minister Christine Lagarde. UK ministers support her. They certainly don't want Gordon Brown, whose name has also been mentioned. " Meet the runners and riders for the top job at the IMF. The IMF website.
n
n Q: What are they?n Expert Links
A: The 44 governments represented wanted to build a framework for economic cooperation that would avoid a repetition of the competitive devaluations that had contributed to the Great Depression of the 1930s.
n Q: And it's grown since then? n n A: Oh yes. With its headquarters in Washington, D.C., it has an executive board of 24 directors representing the 187 countries which are now affiliated with it. It's staffed by around 2,500 employees from 160 different countries. n n Q: So what do they actually do to help economies? n n n A: Well, one thing they do is surveillance consultations. n A: Just as someone might pay a visit to a doctor for a medical checkup, so countries go to the IMF for an economic once-over. These checkups help uncover issues in a country's economy that other member countries may be unaware of. n Q: So everyone then knows about their problems? n A: They do, yes. But sharing accurate, objective information avoids nasty surprises in international trade and monetary exchange. The IMF's reputation and success depends on this open sharing of information. n Q: So accurate economic information is important? n A: Imagine you're at the cash machine getting money for an evening out. The machine spits your card back. 'INSUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PROCESS TRANSACTION' flashes on the screen. You're surprised. You didn't have accurate information about your bank account. Now you're stuck borrowing money from a friend. n Q: Sounds bad! n A: Good information is important for individuals and even more so for global economics. Investors and government policy-makers don't like surprises. Without up to date economic data, a local problem in one country can cause trouble for other countries that have financial dealings there. n Q: Any examples? n A: At present, the 'Eurozone' - the group of countries which use the euro as currency - is being hurt by the ailing economies of Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain. The IMF is involved with each of those. n Q: How can the IMF help in crisis? n A: When a country imports more than it exports, it has a 'trade deficit' which can cause foreign currency shortages. Without foreign currency, businesses and governments can't pay the bills they owe other countries. So one key task the IMF performs is to help these countries with loans - but the loans come with strict conditions, which governments don't always like. n Q: Where does the IMF get its money from? n A: Mainly through the payment of quotas by member countries, which broadly reflect each country's economic size. The richer pay in more, the poorer, less. n Q: And how much does it have? n A: A lot. At the 2009 G20 summit - a gathering of both industrialised and emerging economies - world leaders pledged to support a tripling of the IMF's lending resources from about $250bn (150bn) to $750bn (462bn). n Q: And who will be their next leader? n A: The favourite to succeed Strauss-Kahn is French finance minister Christine Lagarde. UK ministers support her. They certainly don't want Gordon Brown, whose name has also been mentioned. " Meet the runners and riders for the top job at the IMF. The IMF website.
n
n Q: What are they?n Expert Links
A: Oh yes. With its headquarters in Washington, D.C., it has an executive board of 24 directors representing the 187 countries which are now affiliated with it. It's staffed by around 2,500 employees from 160 different countries.
n Q: So what do they actually do to help economies? n n n A: Well, one thing they do is surveillance consultations. n A: Just as someone might pay a visit to a doctor for a medical checkup, so countries go to the IMF for an economic once-over. These checkups help uncover issues in a country's economy that other member countries may be unaware of. n Q: So everyone then knows about their problems? n A: They do, yes. But sharing accurate, objective information avoids nasty surprises in international trade and monetary exchange. The IMF's reputation and success depends on this open sharing of information. n Q: So accurate economic information is important? n A: Imagine you're at the cash machine getting money for an evening out. The machine spits your card back. 'INSUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PROCESS TRANSACTION' flashes on the screen. You're surprised. You didn't have accurate information about your bank account. Now you're stuck borrowing money from a friend. n Q: Sounds bad! n A: Good information is important for individuals and even more so for global economics. Investors and government policy-makers don't like surprises. Without up to date economic data, a local problem in one country can cause trouble for other countries that have financial dealings there. n Q: Any examples? n A: At present, the 'Eurozone' - the group of countries which use the euro as currency - is being hurt by the ailing economies of Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain. The IMF is involved with each of those. n Q: How can the IMF help in crisis? n A: When a country imports more than it exports, it has a 'trade deficit' which can cause foreign currency shortages. Without foreign currency, businesses and governments can't pay the bills they owe other countries. So one key task the IMF performs is to help these countries with loans - but the loans come with strict conditions, which governments don't always like. n Q: Where does the IMF get its money from? n A: Mainly through the payment of quotas by member countries, which broadly reflect each country's economic size. The richer pay in more, the poorer, less. n Q: And how much does it have? n A: A lot. At the 2009 G20 summit - a gathering of both industrialised and emerging economies - world leaders pledged to support a tripling of the IMF's lending resources from about $250bn (150bn) to $750bn (462bn). n Q: And who will be their next leader? n A: The favourite to succeed Strauss-Kahn is French finance minister Christine Lagarde. UK ministers support her. They certainly don't want Gordon Brown, whose name has also been mentioned. " Meet the runners and riders for the top job at the IMF. The IMF website.
n
n Q: What are they?n Expert Links
n A: Well, one thing they do is surveillance consultations. n A: Just as someone might pay a visit to a doctor for a medical checkup, so countries go to the IMF for an economic once-over. These checkups help uncover issues in a country's economy that other member countries may be unaware of. n Q: So everyone then knows about their problems? n A: They do, yes. But sharing accurate, objective information avoids nasty surprises in international trade and monetary exchange. The IMF's reputation and success depends on this open sharing of information. n Q: So accurate economic information is important? n A: Imagine you're at the cash machine getting money for an evening out. The machine spits your card back. 'INSUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PROCESS TRANSACTION' flashes on the screen. You're surprised. You didn't have accurate information about your bank account. Now you're stuck borrowing money from a friend. n Q: Sounds bad! n A: Good information is important for individuals and even more so for global economics. Investors and government policy-makers don't like surprises. Without up to date economic data, a local problem in one country can cause trouble for other countries that have financial dealings there. n Q: Any examples? n A: At present, the 'Eurozone' - the group of countries which use the euro as currency - is being hurt by the ailing economies of Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain. The IMF is involved with each of those. n Q: How can the IMF help in crisis? n A: When a country imports more than it exports, it has a 'trade deficit' which can cause foreign currency shortages. Without foreign currency, businesses and governments can't pay the bills they owe other countries. So one key task the IMF performs is to help these countries with loans - but the loans come with strict conditions, which governments don't always like. n Q: Where does the IMF get its money from? n A: Mainly through the payment of quotas by member countries, which broadly reflect each country's economic size. The richer pay in more, the poorer, less. n Q: And how much does it have? n A: A lot. At the 2009 G20 summit - a gathering of both industrialised and emerging economies - world leaders pledged to support a tripling of the IMF's lending resources from about $250bn (150bn) to $750bn (462bn). n Q: And who will be their next leader? n A: The favourite to succeed Strauss-Kahn is French finance minister Christine Lagarde. UK ministers support her. They certainly don't want Gordon Brown, whose name has also been mentioned. " Meet the runners and riders for the top job at the IMF. The IMF website.
n
n Q: What are they?n Expert Links
A: Just as someone might pay a visit to a doctor for a medical checkup, so countries go to the IMF for an economic once-over. These checkups help uncover issues in a country's economy that other member countries may be unaware of.
Q: So everyone then knows about their problems? n A: They do, yes. But sharing accurate, objective information avoids nasty surprises in international trade and monetary exchange. The IMF's reputation and success depends on this open sharing of information. n Q: So accurate economic information is important? n A: Imagine you're at the cash machine getting money for an evening out. The machine spits your card back. 'INSUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PROCESS TRANSACTION' flashes on the screen. You're surprised. You didn't have accurate information about your bank account. Now you're stuck borrowing money from a friend. n Q: Sounds bad! n A: Good information is important for individuals and even more so for global economics. Investors and government policy-makers don't like surprises. Without up to date economic data, a local problem in one country can cause trouble for other countries that have financial dealings there. n Q: Any examples? n A: At present, the 'Eurozone' - the group of countries which use the euro as currency - is being hurt by the ailing economies of Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain. The IMF is involved with each of those. n Q: How can the IMF help in crisis? n A: When a country imports more than it exports, it has a 'trade deficit' which can cause foreign currency shortages. Without foreign currency, businesses and governments can't pay the bills they owe other countries. So one key task the IMF performs is to help these countries with loans - but the loans come with strict conditions, which governments don't always like. n Q: Where does the IMF get its money from? n A: Mainly through the payment of quotas by member countries, which broadly reflect each country's economic size. The richer pay in more, the poorer, less. n Q: And how much does it have? n A: A lot. At the 2009 G20 summit - a gathering of both industrialised and emerging economies - world leaders pledged to support a tripling of the IMF's lending resources from about $250bn (150bn) to $750bn (462bn). n Q: And who will be their next leader? n A: The favourite to succeed Strauss-Kahn is French finance minister Christine Lagarde. UK ministers support her. They certainly don't want Gordon Brown, whose name has also been mentioned. " Meet the runners and riders for the top job at the IMF. The IMF website.Expert Links
A: They do, yes. But sharing accurate, objective information avoids nasty surprises in international trade and monetary exchange. The IMF's reputation and success depends on this open sharing of information.
Q: So accurate economic information is important? n A: Imagine you're at the cash machine getting money for an evening out. The machine spits your card back. 'INSUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PROCESS TRANSACTION' flashes on the screen. You're surprised. You didn't have accurate information about your bank account. Now you're stuck borrowing money from a friend. n Q: Sounds bad! n A: Good information is important for individuals and even more so for global economics. Investors and government policy-makers don't like surprises. Without up to date economic data, a local problem in one country can cause trouble for other countries that have financial dealings there. n Q: Any examples? n A: At present, the 'Eurozone' - the group of countries which use the euro as currency - is being hurt by the ailing economies of Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain. The IMF is involved with each of those. n Q: How can the IMF help in crisis? n A: When a country imports more than it exports, it has a 'trade deficit' which can cause foreign currency shortages. Without foreign currency, businesses and governments can't pay the bills they owe other countries. So one key task the IMF performs is to help these countries with loans - but the loans come with strict conditions, which governments don't always like. n Q: Where does the IMF get its money from? n A: Mainly through the payment of quotas by member countries, which broadly reflect each country's economic size. The richer pay in more, the poorer, less. n Q: And how much does it have? n A: A lot. At the 2009 G20 summit - a gathering of both industrialised and emerging economies - world leaders pledged to support a tripling of the IMF's lending resources from about $250bn (150bn) to $750bn (462bn). n Q: And who will be their next leader? n A: The favourite to succeed Strauss-Kahn is French finance minister Christine Lagarde. UK ministers support her. They certainly don't want Gordon Brown, whose name has also been mentioned. " Meet the runners and riders for the top job at the IMF. The IMF website.Expert Links
A: Imagine you're at the cash machine getting money for an evening out. The machine spits your card back. 'INSUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PROCESS TRANSACTION' flashes on the screen. You're surprised. You didn't have accurate information about your bank account. Now you're stuck borrowing money from a friend.
Q: Sounds bad! n A: Good information is important for individuals and even more so for global economics. Investors and government policy-makers don't like surprises. Without up to date economic data, a local problem in one country can cause trouble for other countries that have financial dealings there. n Q: Any examples? n A: At present, the 'Eurozone' - the group of countries which use the euro as currency - is being hurt by the ailing economies of Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain. The IMF is involved with each of those. n Q: How can the IMF help in crisis? n A: When a country imports more than it exports, it has a 'trade deficit' which can cause foreign currency shortages. Without foreign currency, businesses and governments can't pay the bills they owe other countries. So one key task the IMF performs is to help these countries with loans - but the loans come with strict conditions, which governments don't always like. n Q: Where does the IMF get its money from? n A: Mainly through the payment of quotas by member countries, which broadly reflect each country's economic size. The richer pay in more, the poorer, less. n Q: And how much does it have? n A: A lot. At the 2009 G20 summit - a gathering of both industrialised and emerging economies - world leaders pledged to support a tripling of the IMF's lending resources from about $250bn (150bn) to $750bn (462bn). n Q: And who will be their next leader? n A: The favourite to succeed Strauss-Kahn is French finance minister Christine Lagarde. UK ministers support her. They certainly don't want Gordon Brown, whose name has also been mentioned. " Meet the runners and riders for the top job at the IMF. The IMF website.Expert Links
A: Good information is important for individuals and even more so for global economics. Investors and government policy-makers don't like surprises. Without up to date economic data, a local problem in one country can cause trouble for other countries that have financial dealings there.
Q: Any examples? n A: At present, the 'Eurozone' - the group of countries which use the euro as currency - is being hurt by the ailing economies of Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain. The IMF is involved with each of those. n Q: How can the IMF help in crisis? n A: When a country imports more than it exports, it has a 'trade deficit' which can cause foreign currency shortages. Without foreign currency, businesses and governments can't pay the bills they owe other countries. So one key task the IMF performs is to help these countries with loans - but the loans come with strict conditions, which governments don't always like. n Q: Where does the IMF get its money from? n A: Mainly through the payment of quotas by member countries, which broadly reflect each country's economic size. The richer pay in more, the poorer, less. n Q: And how much does it have? n A: A lot. At the 2009 G20 summit - a gathering of both industrialised and emerging economies - world leaders pledged to support a tripling of the IMF's lending resources from about $250bn (150bn) to $750bn (462bn). n Q: And who will be their next leader? n A: The favourite to succeed Strauss-Kahn is French finance minister Christine Lagarde. UK ministers support her. They certainly don't want Gordon Brown, whose name has also been mentioned. " Meet the runners and riders for the top job at the IMF. The IMF website.Expert Links
A: At present, the 'Eurozone' - the group of countries which use the euro as currency - is being hurt by the ailing economies of Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain. The IMF is involved with each of those.
Q: How can the IMF help in crisis? n A: When a country imports more than it exports, it has a 'trade deficit' which can cause foreign currency shortages. Without foreign currency, businesses and governments can't pay the bills they owe other countries. So one key task the IMF performs is to help these countries with loans - but the loans come with strict conditions, which governments don't always like. n Q: Where does the IMF get its money from? n A: Mainly through the payment of quotas by member countries, which broadly reflect each country's economic size. The richer pay in more, the poorer, less. n Q: And how much does it have? n A: A lot. At the 2009 G20 summit - a gathering of both industrialised and emerging economies - world leaders pledged to support a tripling of the IMF's lending resources from about $250bn (150bn) to $750bn (462bn). n Q: And who will be their next leader? n A: The favourite to succeed Strauss-Kahn is French finance minister Christine Lagarde. UK ministers support her. They certainly don't want Gordon Brown, whose name has also been mentioned. " Meet the runners and riders for the top job at the IMF. The IMF website.Expert Links
A: When a country imports more than it exports, it has a 'trade deficit' which can cause foreign currency shortages. Without foreign currency, businesses and governments can't pay the bills they owe other countries. So one key task the IMF performs is to help these countries with loans - but the loans come with strict conditions, which governments don't always like.
Q: Where does the IMF get its money from? n A: Mainly through the payment of quotas by member countries, which broadly reflect each country's economic size. The richer pay in more, the poorer, less. n Q: And how much does it have? n A: A lot. At the 2009 G20 summit - a gathering of both industrialised and emerging economies - world leaders pledged to support a tripling of the IMF's lending resources from about $250bn (150bn) to $750bn (462bn). n Q: And who will be their next leader? n A: The favourite to succeed Strauss-Kahn is French finance minister Christine Lagarde. UK ministers support her. They certainly don't want Gordon Brown, whose name has also been mentioned. " Meet the runners and riders for the top job at the IMF. The IMF website.Expert Links
A: Mainly through the payment of quotas by member countries, which broadly reflect each country's economic size. The richer pay in more, the poorer, less.
Q: And how much does it have? n A: A lot. At the 2009 G20 summit - a gathering of both industrialised and emerging economies - world leaders pledged to support a tripling of the IMF's lending resources from about $250bn (150bn) to $750bn (462bn). n Q: And who will be their next leader? n A: The favourite to succeed Strauss-Kahn is French finance minister Christine Lagarde. UK ministers support her. They certainly don't want Gordon Brown, whose name has also been mentioned. " Meet the runners and riders for the top job at the IMF. The IMF website.Expert Links
A: A lot. At the 2009 G20 summit - a gathering of both industrialised and emerging economies - world leaders pledged to support a tripling of the IMF's lending resources from about $250bn (150bn) to $750bn (462bn).
Q: And who will be their next leader? n A: The favourite to succeed Strauss-Kahn is French finance minister Christine Lagarde. UK ministers support her. They certainly don't want Gordon Brown, whose name has also been mentioned. " Meet the runners and riders for the top job at the IMF. The IMF website.Expert Links
A: The favourite to succeed Strauss-Kahn is French finance minister Christine Lagarde. UK ministers support her. They certainly don't want Gordon Brown, whose name has also been mentioned.
"
Meet the runners and riders for the top job at the IMF. The IMF website.
The IMF website.