Case Situation:
Your cousin's latest interest is The International Monetary Fund, about which you are now chatting online.
The IMF was established by the United Nations in 1944 to provide loans to countries in financial distress at a relatively low interest rate. Nations having balance-of-payments problems can borrow from the IMF for short time periods and such loans include economic and financial stipulations on the debtor nation. Typically, such stipulations require that the debtor nation follow an austerity program that limits government spending, domestic consumption, and imports.
Your cousin wants to know, what do you think about the goal of the IMF's aid to distressed countries? What has been the controversy surrounding the IMF austerity programs? What are examples of the IMF successes and failures?
In your own words, please post a response to the Discussion Board and comment on other postings. You will be graded on the quality of your postings.