IMF flexibility or neoliberal adaptation

A discursive content analysis of Article IV policy biases in Argentina

Bibliographic Data

ID6263727
AuthorsChristian Hernández (0000-0002-5344-1067, University of Birmingham, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume33
Issue1
Pages135-154
Publication date2020-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGovernance (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0952-1895 • E-ISSN: 1468-0491
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/gove.12407
OpenAlexW2929268307
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited47

At the turn of the century, the consensus among scholars was that the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) policy preferences, which centered on deflation via austerity, privatization, and deregulation, were indicative of its neoliberal bias. However, a subsequent wave of literature has challenged this view by suggesting that the IMF has demonstrated flexibility. While these accounts arrive at their conclusion via different analytical and empirical focuses, this article posits that the flexibility or breath of ideas found within the discourse itself is key to gauging policy biases (previous study). Herein, this article contributes to the question of whether the IMF can be considered a “flexible” institution via its analysis on Argentina (1989–2006; 2016–2017). Extending a previous study's methods, this one provides a “discursive content analysis,” on the IMF–Argentine Article IV consultations. Ultimately, the findings show that policy discourse remained neoliberal throughout

Adaptation (eye · Austerity · Content analysis · Deregulation · Economics · Flexibility (engineering · Macroeconomics · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Positive economics · Social science · Sociology · Fiscal Policies and Political Economy · International Development and Aid · Law · Politics and Society in Latin America · Psychology

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