## What is the International Monetary Fund?

_Pamphlet Series, August 25, 2004_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [What is the International Monetary Fund?](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/exr-pamphlets/issues/2016/12/31/what-is-the-international-monetary-fund-17679)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/publications/exr-pamphlets/issues/2016/12/31/what-is-the-international-monetary-fund-17679/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/exr-pamphlets/issues/2016/12/31/what-is-the-international-monetary-fund-17679/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/publications/exr-pamphlets/issues/2016/12/31/what-is-the-international-monetary-fund-17679/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Authors: International Monetary Fund
- Published: August 25, 2004
- Series: Pamphlet Series
- Pages: 55
- Stock No: WIMFEA2004001
- ISBN: 9781557759207
- ISSN: 0538-8759

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### Overview
- An introductory guide to the IMF, its history, and its role in the international financial system.
- Explains for a general audience:
  - the IMF’s lending policies,
  - how decisions are made,
  - where the money comes from.
- Gives details of:
  - the structure of the IMF,
  - its increasing transparency,
  - how it provides technical assistance to member countries,
  - its role in crisis prevention,
  - how it is helping the world’s poorest countries.
- Reprinted in 2003. Revised July 2004.

### Publication and access
- Publication title: What is the International Monetary Fund?
- By: International Monetary Fund
- Date on page: August 25, 2004
- Format options referenced: Download PDF; Order a Print Copy
- Series: Pamphlet Series, No.
- Stock No: WIMFEA2004001
- ISBN: 9781557759207
- ISSN: 0538-8759
- Pages: 55
- Volume: ---
- DOI: 

### Key content themes (topics covered)
- History of the IMF.
- Role of the IMF in the international financial system.
- IMF lending policies.
- Decision-making processes within the IMF.
- Sources of IMF financing.
- Institutional structure of the IMF.
- Trends toward increasing transparency.
- Technical assistance provided to member countries.
- Role in crisis prevention.
- Activities supporting the world’s poorest countries.

### Distribution and outreach
- Pamphlet Series entry in the IMF eLibrary offering over 25,000 IMF publications in multiple formats.
- Promotional items on the page: Explore eLibrary; IMF Publications Newsletter (Subscribe).

*International Monetary Fund. What is the International Monetary Fund?, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2004) accessed 9/21/2026*

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/exr-pamphlets/issues/2016/12/31/what-is-the-international-monetary-fund-17679_