IMF Involvement in the Latin American Debt Crisis and Structural Adjustment Programs (1982–1995)

1. Mexico signals inability to service external debt

   Aug 1, 1982Labels: Mexico, External debt, Commercial banks

   • Debt Crisis

2. IMF approves major Mexico rescue and conditions

   Dec 23, 1982Labels: IMF, Mexico, Austerity program

   • UPI Mexico
   • CIA FOIA
   • IMF Exhibit

3. IMF “bails in” commercial banks to co-finance Mexico

   Mar 24, 1983Labels: IMF, Commercial banks, Mexico

   • IMF Exhibit
   • CIA FOIA

4. Brazil enters intensified IMF-supported adjustment cycle

   Jul 19, 1983Labels: Brazil, IMF, Performance targets

   • UPI Brazil
   • UPI Brazil

5. Baker Plan promotes adjustment plus new lending

   Oct 1, 1985Labels: Baker Plan, IMF, World Bank

   • IMF Chron
   • Baker Plan

6. World Bank expands structural adjustment lending in region

   Mar 1, 1986Labels: World Bank, Structural Adjustment, Latin America

   • World Dev
   • Cambridge

7. IMF creates Structural Adjustment Facility (SAF)

   Mar 27, 1986Labels: IMF, Structural Adjustment, Low-income

   • IMF Chron
   • IMF Pamph

8. Mexico commits to trade opening via GATT entry

   Aug 24, 1986Labels: Mexico, GATT, Trade liberalization

   • WTO Mexico
   • UPI GATT

9. Brady Plan shifts strategy toward debt reduction

   Mar 10, 1989Labels: Brady Plan, U S, Commercial banks

   • UPI Brady
   • WP Brady

10. IMF adopts guidelines to participate in Brady operations

    May 23, 1989Labels: IMF, Brady operations, Mexico

    • UPI IMF
    • UPI Mexico

11. Argentina’s 1989 crisis underscores social and political costs

    Jun 1, 1989Labels: Argentina, Hyperinflation, Political crisis

    • UN ECLAC
    • Argentina 1989

12. Mexico reaches landmark Brady-style debt agreement

    Jul 23, 1989Labels: Mexico, Brady restructuring, Commercial banks

    • WP Mexico
    • LAT Mexico

13. Argentina adopts Convertibility Law to end hyperinflation

    Apr 1, 1991Labels: Argentina, Convertibility Law, Fixed exchange

    • Convert Law

14. Mexico’s 1995 crisis prompts unprecedented IMF stand-by

    Feb 1, 1995Labels: Mexico, IMF, Stand-by arrangement

    • IMF PR 95