a critical analysis of the imf: case study of the asian financial crisis kai-yang fan wanda montero...
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A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE IMF:CASE STUDY OF THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS
Kai-Yang Fan
Wanda Montero
Arisha Waas
William Yuan
Objectives
Introduction to IMF Case Studies
ThailandSouth KoreaPhilippines Indonesia Malaysia
Conclusion
Introduction to IMF
Established on Dec 27, 1945 as one of the two Bretton Woods System
Original goal was to eliminate exchange rate restrictions and promote economic stability
Introduction to IMF cont’d Decades after WW II, the world experienced
tremendous growth in real incomes The role of IMF has thus evolved to suit the
changes “promote international monetary cooperation,
exchange stability, and orderly exchange arrangements; to foster economic growth and high levels of employment; and to provide temporary financial assistance to countries to help ease balance of payments adjustment”
Asian Financial Crisis
Started on July 2, 1997 with the devaluation of the Thai baht
Affected Asian countries, especially South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia
There was a collapse in currency values after a period of turmoil in foreign exchange markets
Role of IMF Very controversial, causing the locals to call the
crisis “the IMF crisis”
Criticized for encouraging the developing economies of Asia down the path of "fast track capitalism"
Offered to step in the case of each nation and offer it a multi-billion dollar "rescue package" to enable these nations to avoid default
IMF vs. Financial Crisis in Thailand Introduction: Financial Crisis in Thailand IMF Support and Conditions Critiques What went wrong?
Introduction: Thailand’s Financial Crisis
Two sources of vulnerability coexisted:
1. Exchange rateBanks borrowed in foreign exchange and lent in local currencies
=> exposure to losses in the event of a depreciation
2. Mismatch of MaturitiesBanks borrowed in short-term maturities and lent with longer payback periods
=> exposure to the risk of a run (creditor’s refusal to roll over loans)
IMF Support and Conditions
Float of the currency Medium-term loans in the amount of 17.2 billion US$ to
shore up the foreign reserve position, and maintain gross international reserves of $23 billion in 1997, and $24 ½ billion in 1998.
Spending Cut Increase in the VAT rate from 7-10%, effective August
16, 1997, expecting to yield nearly 1 ¼ percent of GDP in additional revenues on a full-year basis.
Banking system reform
Critiques
"These countries didn't get into trouble because of profligate monetary policy, The IMF probably
made the problems worse." Alan Blinder
Some important imbalances in fact existed but they would have required a more modest adjustment…
“The punishment was much larger than the crime”. Largely consensual
Panic in the financial sector partially explained and definitely amplified by institutional weaknesses and bad (incoherent) policies, including non-domestic ones (IMF, lack of accurate international surveillance)
What went wrong?
Why demand balanced budgets from countries that are already in recession due to lack of demand?
Thailand after IMF intervention ended with insufficient demand, high interest rates, when the need was of increase in investments, in education and/or infrastructure, both essential to economic growth. The lack of demand worsened the recession deepening the economic slowdown.
What about rising interest rate?
Thailand firms at that time presented high levels of indebtedness, thus imposing a high interest rates helped to the collapse of many firms.
IMF vs. Financial Crisis in Korea
Introduction: Financial Crisis in Korea IMF Support and Conditions Critiques
Introduction: Financial Crisis in Korea Huge bad debts Sharp Korean won depreciation Financial structure
IMF Support and Conditions
Korea received $21 billion loan from IMF Conditions of IMF Stand-By Arrangement
Tighten Monetary and Fiscal PoliciesCancel trade barrierReform the bank system
Critiques
Jeffery Sachs’ criticism“There is no fundamental reason for Asian’s
financial calamity except financial panic itself.” IMF has double standards of the policies.
Local banks and international banks are in the different criterion
IMF vs. Financial Crisis in the Philippines Philippine's Economic Conditions IMF Support and Conditions Critiques Philippines’ Strategy
IMF Support and Conditions
EFF 1997 $699 million and SBA 1998 $1371 million
Fiscal Policy: 25% mandatory reserve, temporary suspension of 14.4 billion peso of new programs and projects, tax reform
Monetary & Exchange rate policy: increase foreign reserve to $920 million, adjust interest rate to contain inflation
Critiques
IMF policies were contractionary in nature Philippines deviated from the IMF goal,
sought more aggressive reform
IMF vs. Financial Crisis in Indonesia Introduction: Financial Crisis in Indonesia IMF Support and Conditions Critiques
Introduction: Indonesia’s Financial Crisis
Large amount of short-term foreign debt owed by the private corporate sector
Attack on the Indonesian rupiah
Role of IMF
Financial support of up to about US$10 billion, equivalent to 490% of Indonesia’s quota, over the next 3 years
Initial programs: Financial sector restructuring Structural reforms Fiscal measures
Critiques
Forced government of Indonesia to guarantee private debts owed to foreign creditors
Severe fiscal austerity caused millions of Indonesians lost their job
IMF vs. Financial Crisis in Malaysia Introduction: Financial Crisis in Malaysia How Malaysia Overcome the Crisis Result
Introduction: Malaysia’s Financial Crisis
Attack of the Malaysian ringgit
Sell off on the stock and currency markets
How Malaysia Overcome the Crisis
Moved the ringgit from a free float to a fixed exchange rate regime
Imposed capital control
Formed various agencies
Result
Growth at a slower but more sustainable pace
In 2005 - US$14.06 billion surplus
Without IMF, Malaysia suffered less severe economic problems