International Financial Institutions: Funding U.S. Participation

摘要

The United States is a member of six international financial institutions (IFIs): the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, Asian Development Bank (AsDB), African Development Bank (AfDB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). All told since 1945, the United States has contributed the equivalent of $98 billion to the IFIs and has also agreed to provide another $96.6 billion in callable capital. The latter is a legal obligation of the United States, but only about 12% of the total has been appropriated. This report discusses the ways in which the United States funds its participation in the IMF and the multilateral development banks (MDBs). The IFIs differ in the ways they finance their operations. Consequently, the procedures the United States uses to fund its financial support for each IFI also vary from organization to organization. This report has two parts. First, it discusses how U.S. contributions are negotiated and authorized. Second, it explains the procedures the United States uses to appropriate funds or otherwise approve U.S. financial support for the IFIs. The report will not be updated.