The IMF and Inequalities

The IMF has now recognized economic and gender inequality as issues that are core to its mandate, and claims it is playing a key role in helping countries achieve SDG10. However, evidence from the country-level suggests that IMF policy advice and loan conditions may in fact be exacerbating inequalities on multiple levels and dimensions (social, political, economic, generational). This session debated the tensions between IMF-advised structural adjustments and the need for systemic changes in monetary and financial governance at the global level to ensure governments have the fiscal and policy space to tackle inequalities and finance the SDGs. Speakers drew on the 2019 Spotlight Report on Sustainable Development and proposed constructive ways forward for the Fund's work to tackle inequalities and achieve the SDGs. The session was structured to promote a dynamic discussion with active participation from the floor.