Institute of International Finance
The Institute of International Finance, Inc. (IIF) is the world's only global association or trade group of financial institutions. It was created by 38 banks of leading industrialized countries in 1983 in response to the international debt crisis of the early 1980s.[1] The IIF serves its membership in three ways:
- Providing analysis and research to its members on emerging markets and other issues in global finance.
- Developing and advancing views and proposals that influence the public debate on policies, including those of multilateral agencies, and on themes of common interest to participants in global financial markets.
- Coordinating a network for members to exchange views and offer opportunities for dialogue among policymakers, regulators, and private sector financial institutions.
The Institute's Board of Directors [2] consists of 35 men, led by Chairman Douglas Flint; Vice Chairmen Roberto Setúbal, Walter Kielholz, Richard E. Waugh, and Marcus Wallenberg (also Treasurer of the IIF). The IIF's Managing Director is Timothy D. Adams, who has held the position since February 1, 2013.[3] The Institute is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and opened its Asia Representative Office in Beijing in November 2010.
Key events
Acting on behalf of private creditors, the IIF has played a role in the global financial crisis of 2008 by advocating to relax subsequent attempts of self-regulation, as in the Basel III rules, the debt crises of Latin American, Asia, and the Euro zone.[4]
Greek debt crisis
In 2011 the IIF was the main negotiating partner of the EU government, acting on behalf of the private creditors of Greece, on its debt restructuring. In the second bailout plan in July, some academics raised issues about its communication about "haircuts" on Greece's debt (estimates biased upward), and, more generally, the IIF's undue influence in favor of banks, at the expense of Greece's future.[5][6][7]Felix Salmon said in January 2012 that "the real negotiations are the ones which are certainly going on behind the scenes, between the troika (the EU, the ECB, and the IMF) and the Greeks" (as opposed to between the troika and the IIF), because, ultimately, it is in Greece's power to default, and may do so in March when €14.4 billion are due for reimbursement.[8][9]
Membership
IIF members include most of the world's largest commercial banks and investment banks, as well as a growing number of insurance companies and investment management firms. Associate members include multinational corporations, trading companies, export credit agencies, and multilateral agencies.
Approximately half of the Institute's members are European-based financial institutions, while representation from leading financial institutions in emerging market countries is increasing steadily. By 2010, the Institute's members included over 450 of the world's leading banks and finance houses, headquartered in more than 70 countries.[10]
Former chairmen
- William S. Ogden (Chairman of the formation committee and Interim Board, 1983)
- Richard D. Hill (1984–1986)
- Barry F. Sullivan (1986–1991)
- Antoine Jeancourt-Galignani (1991–1994)
- William R. Rhodes, Acting Chairman (April - October 1994)
- Toyoo Gyohten (1994–1997)
- Georges Blum (1997–1998)
- Sir John R.H. Bond (1998–2003)
- Josef Ackermann (2003–2012)
References
- ^ "Institute of International Finance" in Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific, 2000. 27 April 2000.
- ^ http://www.iif.com/about/bod/
- ^ "Tim Adams appointed to succeed Charles Dallara as IIF Managing Director". IIF Press Release. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
- ^ "The IMF vs. the private sector". news.bbc.co.uk. 23 September 23, 1999.
- ^ Ricardo Cabral (29 July 2011). "Greece’s 2nd bailout: Debt restructuring with no debt reduction?". voxeu.org. "This results in an IIF haircut estimate that may be over optimistic."
- ^ Harald Hau (17 July 2011). "Europe's €200 billion reverse wealth tax explained". voxeu.org. "How did the financial sector manage to negotiate such a gigantic wealth transfer from the Eurozone taxpayer and the IMF to the richest 5% of people in the world?"
- ^ Nouriel Roubini (28 July 2011). "Greece Financing Offer: I Am Not Going to Say I Told You So, But…". economonitor.com. "Overall, the IIF debt exchange proposal is quite generous to banks, and does not provide enough enhanced debt sustainability to Greece..."
- ^ Felix Salmon (January 2012). "Greece’s game plan". blogs.reuters.com. "The real negotiations are the ones which are certainly going on behind the scenes, between the troika (the EU, the ECB, and the IMF) and the Greeks."
- ^ Felix Salmon (January 2012). "Greece's endgame looms". blogs.reuters.com. "The big deadline in Greece is March 20—that’s when the country has a €14.4 billion bond maturing that it cannot afford to repay. So Greece and its creditors are playing chicken with each other right now."
- ^ http://www.iif.com/about/ unchanged figures, when accessed 3-13-13
