IMF economists work closely with member countries on a variety of issues. Their unique perspective on country experiences and best practices on global macroeconomic issues are often shared in the form of books on diverse topics such as cross-country comparisons, capacity building, macroeconomic policy, financial integration, and globalization.

This paper comprises documents relating to the history of the IMF, including some that preceded the drafting of the Articles of Agreement. The paper highlights that the first draft of Lord Keynes’ plan for a Clearing Union was circulated within the British Treasury on September 8, 1941. A fourth draft was given to Ministers on February 11, 1942. The first definitive version of Mr. White’s plan for a stabilization fund was a mimeographed draft dated April 1942. This covered both the IMF and the World Bank.