Information > Global Institutions
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IMF - the International Monetary Fund is an international organization which tries to stabilize world currencies and finance. It is most well-known for providing temporary financial assistance for countries in times of financial crisis, such as the Asian Financial crisis in 1997 or the current Russian crisis.
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OECD - Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development are the big boys responsible for drafting the MAI (Multinational Agreement on Investment). You can download various documents they have drafted here.
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WTO - World Trade Organization Created during Uruguay Round negotiations (1986-94), the WTO is the only international body dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart re the WTO agreements, the legal ground-rules for international commerce and for trade policy. The agreements have three main objectives: to help trade flow as freely as possible, to achieve further liberalization gradually through negotiation, and to set up an impartial means of settling disputes.
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The World Bank - the World Bank offers loans, advice, and an array of customized resources to more than 100 developing countries and countries in transition. The World Bank is the largest provider of development assistance, committing about $20 billion in new loans each year. However, their loans often come with strings attached, requiring developing countries to alter their economies in ways which may not serve their long-term interests. For information about resistance, check out the World Bank protests at a16.org and the World Bank Boycott Campaign.
