WHDAI Economic Subject Files

19270

1958-1989, 1965-1986

series

textual records

29.5 linear feet of textual records

English

Series is open according to the Archives Access Policy. Files will be screened by reference staff for any time restrictions.

Series consists of internal and external correspondence as well as copies of Board documents on a variety of economic subjects both general as well as specific to IMF activities and facilities. Subjects include: (1) the development of aspects of the IMF's work (annual meetings, relations with commercial banks, procedures and guidelines, external debt negotiations, consultations, surveillance, use of gold, statistics reporting liquidity, oil facility, arrears, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) and World Economic Outlook; (2) country status and review and use of programs, (use of facilities, stand-by arrangements projections of need, currency budget, exchange practices, incomes policies and quotas); (3) general economic topics of interest (coffee, commodities, euro-currency, inflation and poverty); and (4) activities of and relations with external groups (Berne Union, Caribbean Aid Consortium and Paris Club)., Most of the files on IMF operational topics contain copies of draft papers and original comments from WHD division staff, as well as comments in the form of office memoranda copied to WHD from other departments and occasionally comments from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) on joint programs. In most cases, these papers eventually became staff memos to the Board and concern such areas as development of IMF facilities, refining procedures and guidelines, and approvals of members activities. Also significant in the files are questionnaires completed by divisional staff and compiled in the Immediate Office on a variety of economic topics for program reviews or updates. Aside from draft and final staff papers, office memoranda, and questionnaires, files also contain statements to the Board by Executive Directors and staff, country briefings, minutes, and informal notes on buck slips. Some press releases, copies of cables, external correspondence, newspaper clippings, articles and related documents are also in the files., In earlier files, correspondence and Board documents on a given topic were often maintained by departmental administrative staff in separate files. Later, both types of records are integrated in the same file. In many cases, departmental administrative staff have weeded drafts of Board and other documents from the files. Files are arranged in their original order alphabetically by subject and chronologically within the subject.