International Financial Institutions

International Financial Institutions

International financial institutions, such as the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, are a key pillar of the rules-based international order. These institutions facilitate multilateral solutions for today’s most pressing economic opportunities and risks. Bi-annual IMF/World Bank meetings also provide the Atlantic Council the opportunity to convene global policy makers to discuss the most pressing economic and societal challenges.

Featured Analysis

The future of development finance

New Atlanticist Oct 7, 2025

How a weaker US dollar can help debt-burdened African countries

By Bart Piasecki

Trump’s drive to weaken the US dollar is having global side effects. For some African countries, it is helping to ease immediate fiscal pressures.
Africa Fiscal and Structural Reform
The future of development finance

New Atlanticist Aug 4, 2025

Trump’s review of US membership in the IMF offers a rare chance for reform

By Martin Mühleisen

The institution needs its major shareholders aligned to tackle new challenges, and it deserves a management team qualified to lead it on this new path.
Economy & Business International Financial Institutions
The future of development finance

Econographics May 12, 2025

Multilateralism under pressure: Takeaways from the 2025 IMF Spring Meetings

By Bart Piasecki

The 2025 IMF Spring Meetings unfolded against a backdrop of mounting geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation, and rising doubts about the future of multilateral cooperation. Here are the key insights.
International Financial Institutions Macroeconomics

Content

Issue Brief

Nov 5, 2018

The future of development finance

By Aubrey Hruby

Growing anxiety about China’s dominance of emerging markets spurred a rare bipartisan effort to pass the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development (BUILD) Act of 2018.

Africa Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Nov 5, 2018

The future of development finance

By Aubrey Hruby

Growing anxiety about China’s dominance of emerging markets spurred a rare bipartisan effort to pass the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development (BUILD) Act of 2018. The BUILD Act delivers a needed overhaul of US development finance capabilities and commercial diplomacy by subsuming the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and other development finance agencies […]

Africa Economy & Business

Event Recap

Oct 31, 2018

The future of development finance

By Africa Center

On October 31, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center hosted a roundtable discussion on the new United States International Development Finance Corporation (USDFC), in preparation for the launch of Senior Fellow Aubrey Hruby’s new issue brief on the subject. Africa Center Director of Programs and Studies and Deputy Director Bronwyn Bruton introduced Hruby’s paper and welcomed […]

Africa Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Oct 10, 2018

World economic outlook: Trade tensions and tariffs a major threat to global economic growth

By Marie Kasperek

While a downward correction of 0.2 percent in global growth is not outright alarming, experts do warn of potential clouds on the horizon.

International Financial Institutions Macroeconomics

New Atlanticist

Oct 9, 2018

SWIFT action risks unintended consequences

By Samantha Sultoon

Unilateral, isolated policy making that implicates SWIFT risks hampering the flow of global financial transactions and trade, harming US businesses as well as further antagonizing European allies.

International Financial Institutions Trade and tariffs

New Atlanticist

Sep 27, 2018

IMF throws Argentina a $57 billion lifeline

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Argentina’s economy has been battered by a run on the peso, double-digit inflation, and a severe drought that has impacted crop yields in one of the world’s largest exporters of soybean and corn.

International Financial Institutions Latin America

Event Recap

Sep 21, 2018

Roundtable with Sir Suma Chakrabarti, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

By Global Business & Economics Program

On September 21, 2018 Atlantic Council’s Global Business and Economics Center along with the Eurasia Center co-hosted a roundtable with Sir Suma Chakrabarti, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Aug 24, 2018

Will international uncertainty thwart the fed’s plans?

By Alvaro Morales Salto-Weis

Mr. Powell struck a cautiously optimistic tone, defending the current path of gradual rate increases. Market reaction was muted, with the dollar declining slightly following the dovish remarks.

Financial Regulation International Financial Institutions

New Atlanticist

Aug 21, 2018

Trade rules (sometimes) need to be broken

By Robert Dohner

In situations that existing rules don’t cover, a willingness to break the rules is often the only way to bring about the required revisions to international rules.

China Financial Regulation

Event Recap

May 25, 2018

Sanctions in the Trump Era: One Year In

By Global Business & Economics Program

On May 25th, the Atlantic Council’s Global Business and Economics Program together with the Millennium Leadership Program hosted a panel discussion with a delegation of high executives from Santander Bank. The discussion centered around how economic sanctions affect the banking sector and the priorities of the current administration in this area.

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion
Load More

Experts

Fellow

Nizar El Fakih

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Corruption Human Rights

Millennium fellow

Georg Philipp Ettstaller

Director and Investment Banker, Credit Suisse Securities

Millennium Leadership Program

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Advisory Council member

Michael Fisch

Chairman, Freedom and Prosperity Center Advisory Council

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business International Financial Institutions

Advisory Council member

Helga Flores Trejo

Vice President, Special Envoy Multilateral & Sustainability Affairs, Bayer

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Brazil Economy & Business

Fellow

Ruth Goodwin-Groen

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Digital Policy Economy & Business

Fellow

Elmar Hellendoorn

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Defense Policy Dutch
Load More