The Global Credit Crisis of 2008-09 has underscored the urgency of reforming the international financial architecture. While a number of short-term reforms are already in train, this paper contemplates more ambitious reforms of the international financial architecture that might be implemented over the next ten years. It proposes routinizing the expansion of IMF quotas and the conduct of exchange rate surveillance. It contemplates an expanded role for the SDR in international transactions, which would require someone-like the IMF-to act as market maker. It considers proposals for reimposing Glass-Steagall-like restrictions on commercial and investment banking, something that will have to be coordinated internationally to be feasible. Other proposals would require banks to purchase capital insurance; here the question is who would be on the other side of the market. Again there is likely to be a role for the IMF. Then there are arguments for a new agency or institution to deal with cross-border bank insolvencies. Any such entity will require staff support, which might plausibly come from the Fund. Finally, some insist that international colleges of regulators are not enough-that it is desirable to create a World Financial Organization (WFO) with the power to sanction members whose national regulatory policies are not up to international standards. A WFO will similarly need staff support, of which the IMF would be one possible source. All this of course presupposes meaningful IMF governance reform so that the institution has the legitimacy and efficiency to assume these additional responsibilities. The paper therefore concludes with some conventional and unconventional proposals for IMF governance reform.

Kenen (economics and international finance, Princeton University) reviews the reform efforts that followed the 1994-95 Mexican crisis, and evaluates their results in the time since then. He compares the existing efforts with the more radical recommendations of the Meltzer Report, and considers the implications of his analysis for the role of the IMF. He then offers his own recommendations for further reform. c. Book News Inc.

Instability has become global and systemic. Strengthening international institutions and arrangements would reduce the threat of crises and allow those that do occur to be better managed. These proposals take the developing world into account.

Papers presented at a conference in London in May 1999.

Recoge: 1. Introduction-2. Summary of recommendations-3. Standars for crisis prevention-4. Banks and capital flows-5. Bailing in the private sector-6. What won't work-7. What the IMF should do (and what we should do about the IMF).

This unique collection of seminal articles reflects on the evolution of international finance in the 1990s, exploring the recurrence of financial crises and the resultant policy responses. The editors have brought together groundbreaking academic research addressing the policy decisions made by the key players. In this way, New International Financial Architecture sheds new light on the important debate of the 1990s which started with the Mexican crisis. This authoritative two volume set will provide a great resource for academics, policymakers and private sector participants.