Description

This paper is part of a discussion between CEPR and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding CEPR’s paper, “IMF-Supported Macroeconomic Policies and the World Recession: A Look at Forty-One Borrowing Countries.” An IMF representative presented a response to that paper at an October 15, 2009 event in Washington D.C., in remarks and a power point presentation. The earlier CEPR paper examined IMF agreements with 41 countries during the current global recession and found that 31 of the 41 countries had implemented pro-cyclical policies – for example cutting spending or tightening monetary policy -- that would be expected to exacerbate an economic downturn. This new discussion paper responds to the IMF's defense of its policies.