Structural Adjustment Policies

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses structural adjustment policies (SAPs), which are those policies that the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have put forward over many years to developing nations. The paper particularly discusses the problems with these policies and how they have negatively affected developing nations. The paper then proposes solutions to the problems that have been created by these policies.

Table of Contents:
Thesis
Explanation Of Structural Adjustment
What Is The World Bank's Impact
Pros/Cons
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"On the subject of Africa, the WB, and structural adjustment programs, an article in the Journal of Asian and African Studies (Gibson 2004) asserts that it is "now generally accepted in African studies" that the 20-plus years that Africa has been under the dictates of structural adjustment "...has been a devastating failure." Not only have the WB policies "failed," Gibson writes, but indeed the continent of Africa has "moved from 'crisis' to 'tragedy.'" And what is the reason for this reported slide into tragedy? From the WB's perspective, Gibson explains, Africa's economic performance has been poor; African "elites" and "government patronage" have drained the nations in Africa of the resources that the WB has tried to provide, in the view of the WB. The promises of security, health, and education, made by the WB when the loans were approved, "can no longer be met," Gibson goes on."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Ankomah, Kofi. "IMF and World Bank Sponsored Structural Adjustment Programs in Africa: Ghana's Experience." University of Chicago Press (2001): 499-501.
• Bello, Walden, & Guttal, Shalmali. "Crisis of Credibility: The Declining Power of the International Monetary Fund." Multinational Monitor, July/August 2005, 19-22.
• Brym, Robert J.; Chung, Stephanie; Dulmage, Sarah; Farahat, Christian; Greenberg, Mark; Ho, Manki; Housein, Khadra; Kulik, Dina; Lau, Matthew; Maginley, Olivia; Nercessian, Armen; Le Blanc, Emilio Reyes; Sacher, Adrian; Sachewsky, Nadia; Sadovsky, Alex; Sing, Stephen; Sivanathan, Shankar; Toller, Nick; Vossoughi, Sara; Weger, Krista; & Wu, Tommy. "Note on Society." Canadian Journal of Sociology, 30.1 (2005): 95-105.
• Cavanagh, John; Welch, Carol; & Retallack, Simon. "The IMF Formula: Generating Poverty." The Ecologist Report, September 2000.
• George, Susan. A Fate Worse than Debt. New York: Grove Weidenfeld, 1990.

More papers on Structural Adjustment Policies:

• Research Paper # 9662 : "Structural Adjustment Programs in Africa"
• Research Paper # 120190 : "The IMF Structural Adjustment Program in Zambia"
• Essay # 137674 : "The Negative Impact of Structural Adjustment Programs upon the Nation of Kenya"

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