In recent years, one of the most notable manifestations of globalization has been the rapid growth of international private capital flows, ie loans and investments from one country to another. These flows have produced great economic benefits, but have also exposed countries to periodic crises of confidence when the capital inflows have become suddenly exits.
These crises can impose a considerable economic and social cost. Thus, international financial institutions and member governments, which face a double challenge: preventing the crisis as far as possible and contribute to their solution when you need it. The “constructive engagement” of borrowers, creditors and international financial institutions during periods of normality can significantly contribute to achieving both goals. Opening and maintaining channels of communication and cooperation among these partners are needed at home and across the entire international financial system.
The IMF encourages countries to do everything in their power to be less vulnerable to crisis, for example, maintaining the level of public debt, fighting inflation and avoid unsustainable exchange rate regimes, accountability debt and strengthening domestic financial systems.
To achieve this, the IMF has intensified the work of regular scrutiny of the economic policy of member countries, by conducting assessments of national financial systems in cooperation with the World Bank, and also offering precautionary credit lines to countries that put in place measures crisis prevention but, nevertheless, continue to feel vulnerable. Together with other agencies, the IMF encourages countries to adhere to the rules and codes of good practice in a wide range of economic measures.
However, the crises have not disappeared. When there, government institutions lack sufficient resources to bear all the burden of financing needs of a country. It would also be desirable to have that level of resources. It is therefore important to encourage the participation of private sector creditors in resolving the crisis, reaching cooperative solutions to payment problems. If the effort to agree to a voluntary approach would not result, creditors may have to accept some limitation to their immediate demands for repayment, and to bear some losses.
The international community has sought the participation of private sector creditors in resolving financial crises in several countries in recent years. The specific mechanism has evolved on a case by case, depending on the nature of the crisis and the characteristics of the creditors. There are now several important questions: Can you clearly identify the “rules of the game” for private sector involvement? How can private sector involvement in resolving a crisis is less painful and more efficient? The answer to these questions is one of the most difficult challenges facing the global community when it comes to reforming the international financial architecture.