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Introduction

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Abstract

Since the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which are analysed in Part 1, are specialized agencies linked by special agreements with the United Nations, a few words about the UN and two of the other specialized agencies, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Labour Organization, are called for. This is followed by a short account of the Bank for International Settlements, which is also referred to in connection with the IMF and the IBRD. The rest of this introduction is devoted to some non-European attempts at economic integration (which have not yet been very successful) and to the regional development banks.

Der Worte sind genug gewechselt, lasst mich auch endlich Taten sehn.

J.W. Goethe

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Bibliography

A. General Works on International Institutions

  • Works of a general nature are few and far between. A. Campolongo Organizzazioni economiche internazionali 2nd ed. (Pavia, Cedam, 1972), deals in particular with IMF, IBRD, OECD, ECSC and EEC.

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  • C.H. Alexandrowicz, International economic organizations (London, Stevens, 1952): about a quarter of the book deals with prewar organizations; private organizations (such as the Internationa1 Chamber of Commerce) are also reviewed, and the author adopts a mostly legal approach. World economic agencies. Law and practice (London, Stevens, 1962), is actually the second edition of the previous book, and it is written even more from the point of view of international law.

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  • S.M. Schwebel, The effectiveness of international decisions (Leyden, A.W. Sijthoff, 1971): papers and proceedings of a conference of the American Society of International Law. D. Wallace, Jr. and H. Escobar, The future of international economic organizations (New York, Praeger, 1977 ); P. Taylor and A.J.R. Groom, International organization. A conceptual approach ( London, Francis Pinter, 1978 ).

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  • See also The Europe Year Book. A world survey (published since 1926), especially Volume I, which deals with international organizations; and Euroguide 1977/78 Part 1, Transnational organizations (Luxembourg, Euroguide International, 1977).

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B. The UN

  • In addition to the annual World economic survey (published since 1948), mention should be made of the publications by the Regional Commissions, the Economic survey of Latin America (since 1949; not issued in 1959, 1960 or 1961) and the Economic Bulletin for Latin America (since 1956, twice annually); the Economic survey of Africa (since 1961, published at intervals) and the Economic Bulletin for Africa (since 1961, twice annually); the Economic survey of Asia and the Far East (since 1948; in 1952 issued as No. 3 of the Economic Bulletin for Asia and the Far East) and the Economic Bulletin for Asia and the Far East (since 1948, quarterly); the Economic survey of Europe (since 1948; in 1953 published as a supplement to the Economic Bulletin for Europe) and the Economic Bulletin for Europe (since 1948, issued twice annually). For surveys of the ECE’s functions, see J. Siotis, ECE in the emerging European system’, International Conciliation,January 1967; The work of the Economic Commission for Europe 1947–1972 (New York, UN, 1972).

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  • A critical appraisal of UN development aid is provided by A study of the capacity of the United Nations development system (New York, UN, 1969) (the Jackson report). See also U. Kirdar, The structure of United Nations economic aid to underdeveloped countries (The Hague, Martinus Nijhoff, 1966).

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  • Proposals for new functions for ECOSOC are outlined in W.R. Sharp, The United Nations Economic and Social Council (New York, Columbia University Press, 1969 ).

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  • See also ABC of the United Nations (New York, UN, 1978); H.G. Nicholas, The United Nations as a political institution (London, Oxford University Press, 1971) and E. Luard, International agencies, the emerging framework of interdependence (London, Macmillan, 1977).

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  • A critical study of cooperation is provided by A United Nations structure for global economic co-operation (New York, UN, 1975).

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C. The BIS

  • Apart from the Bank’s annual reports (published in June each year in English, French, German and Italian), see G. Ferras, The role of the Bank for International Settlements today (translation of a paper delivered at the Centre d’Etudes Supérieures de Banque on 26 June 1967; mimeographed); A. D’Aroma, The Bank for International Settlements. Traditional functions and new tasks, Cadres, Review of the International Business Executives Confederation, Jan.—March 1968; R. Larre, La BRI, Centre de coopération monétaire internationale, Centre d’études bancaires et financières, Cahiers des conférences, July 1973. These studies are by former directors-general and the present secretary-general respectively.

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D. Regional Integration

  • Economic cooperation in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. A handbook of documents (ed. M.S. Wionczek, Cambridge, Mass., M.I.T., 1969) is a collection of documents relating to economic integration movements (common markets, free-trade areas, regional cooperation, monetary cooperation arrangements, regional development banks) preceded by short introductions. F. Kahnert et al., Economic integration among developing countries (Paris, OECD, 1969). See also B. Bracewell-Milnes, Economic integration in East and West (London, Croom Helm, 1976); M. Bohnet et al., Integration der Entwickländer in eine instabile Weltwirtschaft. Probleme, Chancen, Gefahren (Berlin, Duncker & Humblot, 1976); also R.J. Langhammer, Die Zentralafrikanische Zoll-und Wirtschaftsunion: Integrationswirkungen bei Ländern im Frühstadium der industriellen Entwicklung (Tübingen, Mohr, 1978); G.W. Keeton and G. Schwarzenberger, The year book of World Affairs 1978 (London, Stevens, 1978); Economic and social survey of Asia and the Pacific 1977 (Bangkok, UN, 1978); CEPAL Review (United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America), twice a year.

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E. Regional Development Banks

  • In addition to Economic cooperation in Latin America, Africa and Asia, op. cit.,see Les banques de développement dans le monde (Paris, Dunod, 1964); J. White, Regional development banks (London, Overseas Development Institute: 1970); J. Syz, International development banks (Leyden, A.W. Sijthoff, 1974).

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© 1980 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers bv, The Hague

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van Meerhaeghe, M.A.G. (1980). Introduction. In: A Handbook of International Economic Institutions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8860-6_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8860-6_1

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