410 likes | 543 Views
World System Theory: WST argument: AIC’s ideology and power of capital are continually being reinforced in the decisions of the IMF, WB and WTO in order to maintain their core status . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= tiav0V_F0bk On song dynamite. Bretton Woods Institutions: 1944
E N D
World System Theory: • WST argument: • AIC’s ideology and power of capital are continually being reinforced in the decisions of the IMF, WB and WTO in order to maintain their core status. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiav0V_F0bk • On song dynamite
Bretton Woods Institutions: 1944 • Multilateral bodies: • IMF • World Bank (IBRD)
What is IMF expected to establish globally? • Global: • monetary cooperation • exchange rate stability • trade expansion as lender of last resort • - Lends to correct balance of payment deficits
From where does IMF get its money? • Subscriptions from member countries ‘Quota’ (capital) that they pay when they join the IMF • What do Quotas determine? • Countries’ payments • Voting power • How much they can borrow • e.g.: U.S. has 16.76 %, Seychelles is 0.03 % of quotas (2011) http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/memdir/members.aspx, oct 22, 2011
Who are IMF’s members? • 188 countries (2012) - 44 original members. • http://www.imf.org/external/about/members.htm • Why are Western countries more powerful in IMF? • Western powers control through their voting majority in the Executive Board (EB). • EB members have larger monetary share. • EB votes affirming the will of the US or Europeans.
8 In 2012 http://www.imf.org/external/about/members.htmaccessed Oct 2011
http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/memdir/eds.aspx (Oct 22, 2011) Appointed IMF Executive Directors and Voting Power - Top 5 members in voting power :
Criticisms of IMF & WB: Washington Consensus and neoliberal policies imposed on DW by IMF & WB have been discredited (#7 Birdsall & Fukuyama). To remedy the impact of 2008 global financial crash on developing countries, UN and development economists have offered policies that have been misdirected (DW #8 Easterly) Although the West’s influence is diminishing (DW#6:Mahubani), the status quo is maintained in development policies due to the disproportionate power of Rich countries in WTO, IMF & WB.
Some countries in IMF Executive Board & their voting power: % SDR Quota % of Votes USA 17.09 16.77 Japan 6.576.24 China 4.003.81 Canada2.68 2.56 India 2.45 2.34 Mexico 1.521.47 SDR: Special Drawing Rights "http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/memdir/members.htm#3", IMF. Retrieved on 2011 -Oct 22
% Gains in Quota for EMCs http://www.imf.org/external/mmedia/view.asp?eventID=1153 (accessed 16 Oct 2009) http://www.imf.org/external/mmedia/view.aspx?vid=79161031001accessed oct 22 2011 Video on voting structure
Susan George: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ952ba75Yk&feature=related 7min 2011
Bretton Woods Institutions: 1944 • Multilateral bodies: • IMF • World Bank (IBRD group)
The World Bank: a Bretton Woods institution (1944) • Original aim: post-war reconstruction of Europe • First loan of $250 million was to France (1947) • What is its aim today? • Reconstruction is WB’s important focus • Natural disasters, • Humanitarian emergencies • Post-conflict rehabilitation needs.
The World Bank • Owned by member countries • Voting power related to members’ capital subscriptions • Quota is based on a country’s relative economic strength • Raises most funds in financial markets • IBRD sells AAA rated bonds and other debt • securities • Charges interest that reflects its low-cost borrowings in capital markets
IBRD: 188 members (2012) • World Bank provides long-term development loans to LDCs • IBRD’s Board : 24 Executive Directors. • 5 Exec Directors: appointed by the 5 largest shareholders (the US, Japan, Germany, France and the UK). • 19 Exec Directors : elected by the Bank's other members.
The “World Bank Group” 1966 1944 1960 1956 1988
International Development Association (IDA) • Established 1960 to provide concessional assistance to countries unable to borrow at commercial rates • What does IDA do? (March 2011) • Gives grants and interest free loans • Borrowers pay 1% administration fee • 52 countries contribute to funding ($49.3bil) • $12.6 billion – grants and loans to Africa and South Asia, in education, health, social services, water and sanitation. • http://www.worldbank.org/ida/ida-factsheet.pdfoct 22, 2011
source for WB info: Check out this Link for WB & IDA www.fieo.org/uploads/files/file/FIEOAug3020121.ppt
Mission Help developing countries and their people reach the Millennium Development Goals by working with our partners to alleviate poverty.
New IDA Lending by Region: • Sub-Saharan Africa...........43%South Asia...........................39%East Asia/Pacific..................10%Europe/Central Asia...............4%Latin America/Caribbean........3%Middle East/North Africa.........1% http://www.worldbank.org/ida/ida-financing.html
WTO: AICs commercial interests are embodied in the rules global trade, aid and loan imposed on the LDCs : • WTO works on power-based bargaining • Neoliberal policies • Washington consensus • SAP • Conditionality • MFN
Wto p1 6.36 min http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOE7Ve06tXA&feature=fvwrel http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=HbwZhCfO2GQ&feature=fvwp wto p 2 6.45 min
World Trade Organization (WTO) • ( for expanding free trade) • It oversees and regulates: • Global trade balance • Monetary stability
WTO works on power-based bargaining • What do poor countries face? • Agricultural Protectionism • High Tariffs on Labour intensive goods • Anti-dumping • What do Rich countries reject? • Opening AICs’ agri market • Access to cheaper medicines • Lowering industrial tariff
WTO (cont’d) • From 1995-2010, declarations of WTO have not advanced the trade related development in LDCs • AICs rejected G-21 demand to cut their agri subsidies/ tariff barriers • Widening disagreements between the rich and poor countries
Subsidies per Head per Year (in U.S. $) 2006 http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=3547&page=5
Unequal trade relations: • Tariff barriers • Non Tariff barriers
Burkina Faso Cotton Production: Shares of Farmers Unions, French Holding company & the State
Burkina Faso cotton growers protest low prices, Apr 28, 2011 http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE73R06L20110428
Davos: • World Economic Forum (WEF) – founded in 1971 by K.M. Schwab, a Swiss prof. • Annual meetings in Davos, Switzerland • Membership: top leaders in business & politics: Presidents, PMs, Trade Ministers - a business forum - the richest businesses negotiate deals and lobby powerful politicians • What would be their real objective? • profit-making? • or • solving economic problems such as poverty?
WTO: AICs commercial interests are embodied in the rules global trade, aid and loan imposed on the LDCs : • WTO works on power-based bargaining • Neoliberal policies • Washington consensus • SAP • Conditionality • MFN
What are the Neoliberal policies? DOPE LD • Liberalize trade • Deregulate finance/currency • Open up for foreign investment, • Privatize economy • Deregulate commercial activity • Ensure property protection
WTO: AICs commercial interests are embodied in the rules global trade, aid and loan imposed on the LDCs : • WTO works on power-based bargaining • Neoliberal policies • Washington consensus • SAP • Conditionality • MFN
WASHINGTON CONSENSUS • Liberalization • Austerity • Privatization • De-regulation • LAPDog
WTO: AICs commercial interests are embodied in the rules global trade, aid and loan imposed on the LDCs : • WTO works on power-based bargaining • Neoliberal policies • Washington consensus • SAP • Conditionality • MFN
How does Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) affect the Developing countries? • Impact: • Balancing the government budget • Weakening the Labour • Deregulating the economy • Reducing the State • BLeeDS • IMF’s imposition of SAP on Asian countries created a financial crisis of economic contraction and depression.
WTO: AICs commercial interests are embodied in the rules global trade, aid and loan imposed on the LDCs : • WTO works on power-based bargaining • Neoliberal policies • Washington consensus • SAP • Conditionality • MFN
Conditionality: • Conditions placed on loans to LDCs • Conditions imposed to make aid effective in a recipient country – in reality could hurt the country’s economy or the country’s political stability
WTO: AICs commercial interests are embodied in the rules global trade, aid and loan imposed on the LDCs : • WTO works on power-based bargaining • Neoliberal policies • Washington consensus • SAP • Conditionality • MFN
Most favored nation status (MFN) • An agreement between two nations to levy tariffs on each other at rates as low as those levied on any other country. • If one of these nations reduces tariffs on a third country, all of that nation's MFN partners also receive that lower tariff rate.