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Economics vocabulary · Fiscal Policy and Public Finance

IMF

Meaning in economics, with examples

abbreviationCore term

In economics, IMF means: Short for International Monetary Fund: an international organisation that monitors the world economy and lends to member countries facing balance of payments problems.

In Turkish: IMF, Uluslararası Para Fonu

How it is used

Founded in 1944 at the Bretton Woods conference and based in Washington. Countries agree an IMF programme, often with conditions on budgets and reforms. The IMF also publishes forecasts in its World Economic Outlook. Say it letter by letter: I-M-F.

Example sentences

  1. The country asked the IMF for a loan to rebuild its reserves.

  2. The IMF cut its forecast for global growth this year.

Common collocations

  • IMF programme
  • IMF loan
  • IMF forecast
  • turn to the IMF
  • balance of paymentsA record of all money flows between a country and the rest of the world over a period, divided into the current account and the capital and financial account.
  • defaultTo fail to pay interest or repay a loan or bond on time; the noun default describes this failure.
  • bailoutFinancial help given by a government or an international body to a company, bank or country that is about to collapse or default.
  • public debtThe total amount of money that a government owes to lenders at home and abroad, built up over years of borrowing.
  • outlookWhat is expected to happen to an economy, market or indicator in the coming months or years.

More terms: Fiscal Policy and Public Finance

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not financial advice.