The IMF and Inequalities: Structural adjustments or structural transformations

A debate on ‘The IMF and inequalities: tensions between structural adjustments and structural transformations’ will be held next October 17 at the IMF headquarters in Washington as a side event during the Spring meeting of the Bretton Woods institutions. A panel of civil society researchers and IMF representatives will debate around the contradictions between IMF-advised structural adjustments and the need for global socio-economic transformations. Discussants will draw on the 2019 Spotlight Report on Sustainable Development and propose ways forward for the Fund’s work to tackle inequalities and achieve the SDGs.

The IMF and inequalities: tensions between structural adjustments and structural transformations will be a dynamic debate around the contradictions between IMF-advised structural adjustments and the need for global socio-economic transformations. Discussants will draw on the 2019 Spotlight Report on Sustainable Development and propose constructive ways forward for the Fund’s work to tackle inequalities and achieve the SDGs.

The IMF and Inequalities: Tensions between structural adjustments and structural transformations

Thursday, 17th October 2019; 9:00 - 10:30 AM; Room IMF HQ2 03B-838B

The IMF has now recognized economic and gender inequality as issues that are core to its mandate, and claims it is playing key role in helping countries achieve SDG 10. However, evidence from the country-level suggests that IMF policy advice and loan conditions may in fact be exacerbating inequalities on multiple levels and dimensions (social; political; economic; generational).

The event co-hosted by SID, CESR, ANND, DAWN, FES, GPF, TWN and Social Watch on 17th October 2019 will debate the tensions between IMF-advised structural adjustments and the need for systemic changes in monetary and financial governance at the global level to ensure governments can have fiscal and policy space to tackle inequalities and finance the SDGs.

Speakers will draw on the 2019 Spotlight Report on Sustainable Development and propose constructive ways forwartd for the Fund´s work to tackle inequalities and achieve the SDGs. The session will be structured to promote a dynamic discussion with active participation from the floor.

Organized by: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Society for International Development, Development with Women for a New Era, Global Policy Forum, Center for Economic and Social Rights, Arab NGO Network for Development, Third World Network and Social Watch.

Download the flyer here.