International Monetary Fund Program Compliance and Human Rights

• In Event: Poster Session: International Collaboration & Canadian Politics
  In Poster Session: Poster Session: International Collaboration

Abstract

How does compliance with IMF Structural Adjustment Program conditions impact human rights outcomes in participating states? While existing research demonstrates the harmful effects of structural adjustment program participation on human rights (Abouharb and Cingranelli 2007, among others), policymakers at the IMF argue that if states would fully comply with their conditions, economic outcomes would improve (and be human rights neutral). To test these arguments, we combine recently released data on IMF program compliance with human rights data from the Human Rights Measurement Initiative and CIRIGHTS, finding that greater compliance with conditionality is associated with declines in respect for physical integrity rights, as well as declines in fulfilment of economic and social rights. We explore specific mechanisms through which compliance impacts human rights outcomes quantitatively and qualitatively through the case of Sri Lanka, which recently entered into its sixth agreement with the IMF since 2001.

Authors

• Stephen Michael Bagwell, University of Missouri, St. Louis

• Shristi Rai, University of Missouri- St. Louis