... Criticisms on the controversial roles of IMF in East Asia Financial Crisis Introduction Now and then, nation to nation, financial crises are inevitable: Mexico in 1994, the whole East Asia region in 1997, Brazil in 1999, and the most recently Argentina in 2001. Looking back to the victims of such financial crises, we found that most of them are labeled as the developing countries, whose financial sectors were still weak at that time yet were impetuously exposed to the advocated ‘Liberal financial market’ which was supported by the Neoclassical Liberalism social economists. Among all these financial crises, the financial storm in East Asia, starting from the year of 1997, wreaked beyond doubt the greatest havoc on the Asia and the world economy as a whole, dragging down the ‘Asian tigers’ (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippine, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan and Singapore) from the peak of the glorious ‘Economic Miracle’ in the past few years. Because of the severity and contagion of the East Asia Crisis, important questions have been raised such as the causes of the crisis, the role of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the financial architecture of international capital markets. As one of the most important international organizations, IMF has its great impact on the world economy. In this paper, the influence of IMF before the eruption of the crisis and its role in the recovery of East Asia economy will...
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...The Asian Economic Crisis The Asian Economic Crisis of 1997 was a regional debacle that stirred and involved practically the rest of the world. It was a unique economical situation that no one expected or suggested. The southeastern Asian countries, such as Thailand, South Korea and Indonesia were financially sound and satisfied all the criteria that economists proclaimed necessary to maintain order and progress. However, economists and the rest of the world did not see the breaches in the economy and realize the affect those considerations would have in the exacerbation of an entire region. The purpose of this essay is to explain what the Asian Economic Crisis was, the causes, consequences, and how the world went about resolving the issue to bring this region to where it is today. The 1990s was a decade of enormous growth in Southeast Asia sustained by its exporting (Noble, 1). It was commonly known as the Asian economic miracle. Macroeconomic balances were relatively steady and inflation was under control in these Asian countries, like Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore. Because of the major progress and developments in these countries, it became an attractive location for foreign investment. Technology had reached a new brink, where people could invest internationally without having to leave the country and establish a huge investment abroad. Trading through the internet was easy, efficient and convenient. Capital Inflow into these countries was inundating the...
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...IN EUROPEAN UNION IN TIMES OF CRISIS – CHARACTERISTICS AND EVOLUTIONS ORĂȘTEAN Ramona Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Romania Abstract: This paper focuses on the lending arrangements of the IMF in EU countries during crisis period. First, we reviewed the literature regarding IMF-supported programs in times of crisis. On the other hand, we provided a description of the IMF arrangements in EU countries in 2008-2013. We found that these programs differ in type, duration, amount and conditionality, but not significantly in their key objectives (achieving sustainable public finances and ensuring financial sector stability). Key words: IMF lending arrangements, EU countries, crisis 1. IMF – supported programs in times of crisis – a literature review Some authors examine the role of the IMF as crisis manager and crisis lender (Boughton, 2000; Chandavarkar, 2002), the role played by the IMF as a creditor and as a monitor of economic reforms (Marchesi and Sabani, 2007) or the efficacy of IMF's finance in preventing financial crises (Brandes and Schule, 2008). Many articles have been written on the role of the IMF in financing and designing economic reform programs for developing countries and in dealing with crisis periods, thus: - the IMF's role in dealing with the Asian crisis in Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea in 1997-1998 (Jonas, 1999; Ito, 2007); - the IMF-supported program in Indonesia during the crisis period (Boediono, 2002; Grenville...
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...difficulties they are given financial help by using funds deposited with the IMF from the institution’s 187 member countries. Member of IMF states with balance of payments problems, which often arise from these difficulties, may request loans from IMF to help fill gaps between what countries earn and/or are able to borrow from other official lenders and what countries must spend to operate, including covering the cost of importing basic goods and services. In return, countries are required to launch certain reforms which have often been dubbed the Washington Consensus. These reforms are thought to be beneficial to countries with fixed exchange rate policies that may engage in fiscal, monetary, and political practices that may lead to the crisis itself. For example, nations with severe budget deficits, rampant inflation, strict price controls, or significantly overvalued or undervalued currencies run the risk of facing...
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...University, Mankato The Role of the International Monetary Funds (IMF) in the East Asian Debt Crisis of 1997 By Yaro Sadek Tahirou Minnesota State University, Mankato 2 ABSTRACT During the East Asian Financial crisis in particular, the IMF has been criticized of promoting international cooperation because of the supervised enforcement of its rules. The purpose of this research is to find out how the IMF responded to the East Asian debt crisis and whether or not its responses were the best possible responses to this crisis. Through my research, I talked about the causes of the East Asian financial crisis, the role of the IMF in the international monetary system, and if the IMF responses to Thailand, South Korea and Indonesia were the best responses or not. After analyzing the IMF responses in this crisis, I found that the IMF policies need to be reformed in order to monitor and prevent future financial crises spill-over effects at the global and regional levels. I will analyzed 5 scholarly journals on the financial crisis in East Asia, 3 scholarly articles on the role of IMF in the East Asia financial crisis, and 1 novel called POLITICS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA DEMOCRACY OR LESS by William Case. INTRODUCTION Several financial crises have occurred in the world economy through the last decades. Some examples include the East Asian financial Crisis of 1997, the Latin American debt crisis of 1994-95, the Russian crisis of 1998, and the Brazilian crisis of 1998-99 which spread...
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...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 (and their citizens) to transact with one other. This system is essential for promoting sustainable economic growth, increasing living standards, and reducing poverty. The Fund’s mandate has recently been clarified and updated to cover the full range of macroeconomic and financial sector issues that bear on global stability. The IMF was established at the Bretton Woods conference in 1944 to provide short term financial assistance to countries experiencing problems with their trade deficit or other Balance of Payments issues, so they could maintain stability in exchange rates i.e. stay fixed to USD value (i.e. gold value). Otherwise in case of a major trade deficit or Balance of Payments issues, countries may be tempted to print more money and devalue currency. In 1971 the dollar de-linked from gold and subsequently in the Jamaica Agreement in 1976, the IMF acknowledged its new role which was an evolution from protecting fixed exchange rates to surveillance of currency floats and managing economic stability. The IMF promotes clean floating i.e. there is minimal government intervention in establishing exchange rates and the market determines rates. As compared to “managed” (rates influenced by government intervention) or “dirty” floats (unfair government intervention). IMF conditionality refers to the requirement...
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...| Asian Crisis of 1997 | | | Prepared by:Azra Becirovic and Sanela Bilalic | | April 21, 2012 | Long before Asian financial crisis has started, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia had an increasing economic performance; economy was fast growing, saving rates were high, and inflation low. Turning point in Asian economy was 2 July 1997, the day when Thai Baht fell around 20 % against the $US. “It all began in Thailand’ summarizes the conventional explanation of the early stages of the crisis.” (Hill, p.3) How it all began, what factors caused the crisis, what segments were affected the most, what was the backup plan, and what policies should have been taken to prevent the crisis are the points that this paper will cover. First and Second-Generation Models According to 1996 annual report of Bank for International Settlements (BIS), pre-crisis fundamentals exhibit economic performance of Asian countries. They’ve experienced moderate inflation rates of about 6%, high savings rate of 32%, and trade openness indicators of 39%. Table 1: East Asian Economic Conditions Before Crisis Although accounting and macroeconomic analytics have failed to foreseen the currency crisis, which is inevitable, first and second-generation models explain us was it due to weakening macroeconomic fundamentals or financial contagion. In accordance to first-generation model developed by Krugman 1979, market-speculative movements, in response to policies, are incompatible...
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...their national authorities. Cover design and typesetting: IMF Graphics Section Please send orders to: International Monetary Fund, Publication Services 700 19th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20431, USA Tel.: (202) 623-7430 Telefax: (202) 623-7201 E-mail: publications@imf.org Internet: http://www.imf.org Contents Preface ............................................................................................... List of Abbreviations ........................................................................ I. II. Introduction ........................................................................... Quotas and Voting Power in the IMF: A System That Calls for Greater Equity ................................................... Role of Quotas and the Debate on the Quota Formula............ Further Work Toward Correcting Distortions and Enhancing Equity in Voting Power ........................................................ III. Checks and Balances in the Governance of the IMF .......... The Executive Board................................................................ The Managing Director............................................................ The Staff................................................................................... IV. Consensus Decision Making in a...
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...Bretton Woods system exchange agreement in 1944. During the earlier Great Depression, countries sharply raised barriers to foreign trade in an attempt to improve their failing economies. This led to the devaluation of national currencies and a decline in world trade. This breakdown in international monetary co-operation created a need for oversight. The representatives of 45 governments met at the Bretton Woods Conference in the Mount Washington Hotel in the area of Bretton Woods, New Hampshire in the United States, to discuss framework for post-World War II international economic co-operation. The participating countries were concerned with the rebuilding of Europe and the global economic system after the war. There were two views on the role the IMF should assume as a global economic institution. British economist John Maynard Keynes imagined that the IMF would be a cooperative fund upon which member states could draw to maintain economic activity and employment through periodic crises. This view suggested an IMF that helped governments and to act as the US government had during the New Deal in response to World War II. American delegate Harry Dexter White foresaw an IMF that functioned more like a bank, making sure that borrowing states could repay their debts on time. Most of White's plan was incorporated into the final acts adopted at Bretton Woods. The International Monetary Fund formally came into existence on...
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...Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia ISSN 2383-9449 Fumitaka Furuoka, Beatrice Lim, Catherine Jikunan and Lo May Chiun (2012) Economics Crisis and Response: Case Study of Malaysia’s Responses to Asian Financial Crisis Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia Vol. 11, No. 1: 43-56 Journal abbreviation: J. Contemp. East. Asia Stable URL: http://eastasia.yu.ac.kr/documents/Fumitaka_11_1.pdf www.JCEA-Online.net Open Access Publication Creative Commons License Deed Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia, Volume 11, No.1: 43-56 http://dx.doi.org/10.17477/jcea.2012.11.1.043 Economics Crisis and Response: Case Study of Malaysia’s Responses to Asian Financial Crisis Fumitaka Furuoka, Beatrice Lim, Catherine Jikunan and Lo May Chiun The paper chooses the “Asian Financial Crisis” as a case study to examine its impact on Malaysian economy and describes how Malaysian government responded to the crisis. It also focuses on the Asian financial crisis’ impact on the employment of banking sector in Malaysia. In the finance, insurance, real estate and business service sector, a number of 6,596 workers were retrenched. Banks were forced into mergers and acquisition as well as downsizing, trim lean, organizational changes and introduction of new technologies. Excess workers were offered a “voluntary separation scheme.” These retrenched workers became the urban poor facing high cost of living and no opportunity for jobs as there is no safety net provided. 1. Introduction...
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...East Asian Crisis Financial crisis is a situation in which some financial institutions or assets suddenly lose a large part of their value. East Asian crisis was a series of currency devaluations and other events that spread through many East Asian countries beginning in the summer of 1997. The countries majorly affected by this were: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. South Korea Japan Thailand Indonesia Malaysia Philippines The countries at the center of the recent crisis were for years admired as some of the most successful emerging market economies, owing to their rapid growth and the striking gains in their populations' living standards. With their generally prudent fiscal policies and high rates of private saving, they were widely seen as models for many other countries. No one could have foreseen that these countries could suddenly become embroiled in one of the worst financial crises. Their very success led foreign investors to underestimate their underlying economic weaknesses. Partly because of the large-scale financial inflows that their economic success encouraged, there were also increased demands on policies and institutions, especially those safeguarding the financial sector; and policies and institutions failed to keep pace with these demands. Only as the crisis deepened were the fundamental policy shortcomings and their consequences fully revealed. Also, past successes may have led policymakers to deny the need for action when problems first appeared1. Several factors contributed...
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...Dzhalil Atakeev Finance 190 Professor Shlyakhov 10/21/2013 Asian Currency Crisis The Asian Currency Crisis started in Thailand. The crisis just reflected structural and policy misinterpretation of the Asian region. Fundamental imbalances triggered the currency and financial crisis in 1997, due to crisis markets overreaction and herding caused the plunge of exchange rates, asset prices and economic conditions. Everything started from Thailand, before 1997 the economy grew was very high in Thailand, it was averaging 9% per year. The rate between USD and Baht was $25 per 1 baht. The 1997 was crucial for Thailand because massive speculators attacked Thai baht. The spark on Asian crisis was when prime minister of Thailand announced that he would not devalue the baht, and government just couldn’t defend baht, which was fixed to several currencies, one of the dominant components was USD. The decrease in economy of Thailand cause massive layoffs in finance, real estate, and construction that resulted many people to return their villages and countries. The Thailand baht was devaluating and by 1998 it reached lowest value of 58 baht over 1 USD. Without any support from foreign reserves Thai government had to float the baht, so that way baht was set on currency market. Since baht was pegged to other currencies crisis spread to another Asian countries. By 2001, Thailand's economy had recovered. The increasing tax revenues allowed the country to balance its budget and repay its debts...
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...Annexure-V- Cover Page for Academic Tasks Course Code: Course Title: | Course Instructor: | Academic Task No.: Academic Task Title: | Date of Allotment: Date of submission: | Student’s Roll no: Student’s Reg. no: | Evaluation Parameters: (Parameters on which student is to be evaluated- To be mentioned by students as specified at the time of assigning the task by the instructor) | Learning Outcomes: (Student to write briefly about learnings obtained from the academic tasks) Declaration: I declare that this Assignment is my individual work. I have not copied it from any other student‟s work or from any other source except where due acknowledgement is made explicitly in the text, nor has any part been written for me by any other person. Student Signature: Evaluator’s comments (For Instructor’s use only) General Observations Suggestions for Improvement Best part of assignment S. No | Name of Student | Registration No | Peer Rating (10) | Signature | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Evaluator‟s Signature and Date: Marks Obtained: Max. Marks: ………………………… Subject: Rubrics for written report of ECO310 Category | 5 marks Exemplary | 2-4 marks satisfactory | 1 marks unsatisfactory...
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... 1 Asian Contagion 1 Emerging Market Crises 3 Meltdown in Thailand 7 The International Monetary Fund 9 Implication for Business 11 Malaysia 13 Preventing and Managing Future Crises 14 Conclusion 16 References 18 Introduction Asian Contagion In March 1997 Asia faced a serious crisis in financial sector. This concern was started from Thailand and has spread to a lot of countries in Asia. Obviously it affected to those countries in economy situation such as currency value. Also called the "Asian Contagion", this was a series of currency devaluations and other events that spread through many Asian markets beginning in the summer of 1997. The currency markets first failed...
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...FIN 190 Asian Currency Crisis The Asian currency crisis of 1996-97 brought to light the dangers of financing massive amounts of debt in a foreign currency which the domestic currency is pegged to. It also illustrated how developing countries are ill prepared to cope with such large scale financial issues. The projected continued growth in the Asian markets was built heavily on exaggerated predictions. Between 1990 and 1996 the area witnessed an exponential development period. Prior to the 90’s southern Asia countries exported predominantly textile based products at cheap prices. As the technology wave began to flourish demand for the components required began to rise and Asian countries took full advantage of the situation. They began exporting high amounts of electronics and tech components which brought in much higher revenue than the textiles of the past. The increases in export revenue sparked a building boom. This growth fueled commercial and residential property development, purchases of industrial assets and enhancements to infrastructure. All of this was built with borrowed money. Since the economic environment was expected to continue to get better borrowing was easy and the financial institutions were eager to lend money as fast as possible. Bold investments were made mainly to increase plant capacities. The idea was that if they could produce more they continue to derive the same levels of pricing. Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and South Korea...
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