IMF Conference

Are the international institutions up to the tasks of the twenty-first century? The International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and UN were set up after World War II, and their structures of voting power and representation have changed little in the face of deep-seated shifts in the world's balance of economic and political power. The current global challenges such as terrorism, poverty, nuclear proliferation, trade and financial integration, and climate change, demand coordinated global action, at a time when the line between national and international action has become increasingly blurred. How can the global governance system and international institutions such as the Bretton Woods Institutions, the UN, and key global trade, health and environmental bodies respond to these challenges?

These issues and insights will be discussed by a distinguished panel of experts during a forum to launch a new book published by the Brookings Institution:

Featuring:

Colin I. Bradford, Jr.
Colin I. Bradford, Jr. is a nonresident senior fellow in the Brookings Institution's Global Economy and Development program. Previously he was chief economist at the U.S. Agency for International Development, and he has also held senior positions in the OECD, World Bank, the U.S Treasury Department, and the U.S. Senate. He taught at Yale University for ten years and at American University for six years as well as at Georgetown University and at the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced International Studies. Over the last ten years, he has played significant roles in the development of the Millennium Development Goals.

Johannes F. Linn
Johannes F. Linn is the executive director of the Wolfensohn Center for Development and a senior fellow in the Brookings Institution's Global Economy and Development program. During 1991-95 he was a vice president of the World Bank, first for Financial Policy and Resource Mobilization and subsequently for Europe and Central Asia. In previous years starting in the 1970s he served as an economist in many areas of the World Bank, including as staff director of the World Development Report 1988 on public finance. He has recently been the director of the UNDP Human Development Report on regional cooperation in Central Asia.

Peter Gakunu
Peter Gakunu is the Executive Director of Africa Group I Constituency representing 21 English speaking African countries on the Board of the IMF. Previously, he was the Alternate Executive Director of the same constituency. Before coming to the IMF, he held numerous senior positions in Kenya as Advisor, Office of the President; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Wildlife; Economic Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Planning. In previous years, he served as Director, Trade Division of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group (ACP) in Brussels, Belgium, from 1986 to 2000, as well as the Expert, Trade Policy from 1977 to 1986. Between 1974 and 1977, he worked with the East African Community as a Principal Economist.

Moderated by:

James M. Boughton
James M. Boughton is historian of the IMF, and he has been Assistant Director of the Policy Development and Review Department in the Fund since 2001. Earlier he held various senior positions in the IMF's Research Department. Before joining the IMF in 1981, he was professor of economics at Indiana University, and earlier was an economist at the OECD. His latest book, Silent Revolution, on the history of the IMF from 1979 to 1989, was published in October 2001, and he is currently working on a sequel.

Copies of the books will be available for sale at the event

Please note that due to enhanced security arrangements:

1. An RSVP is required: EventsRSVP@imf.org or (202) 623 7001.

2. Guests please present a photo identification and use the IMF Center entrance at 720 19th St. N.W. Washington DC (at the white tent). Only IMF/World Bank staff should enter through the main 700 19th St. entrance.