Initially the IMF was created to help ward off what was thought to be an imminent post war depression. It was founded at the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire in July of 1944. The conference focused on several conditions which member nations would have to comply with. Each would agree to set a par value for its currency. This meant a fixed value would be given to each member's unit of currency to halt great fluctuations in the their prices in relation to each other. An agreement was also made to apply the principle of convertible currencies. E

The Articles of Agreement, to create the IMF, were signed by 29 countries on December 27, 1945. The head office was to be placed in Washington D.C. It would begin financial operations on March 1, 1947. Since then, 153 more countries have joined the IMF which now totals 182 member nations. In 1971, the United States informed the IMF that it would no longer buy and sell gold to settle international transactions. Par values for currencies could not exist, and this system was abolished. Currencies have since been allowed to float in relation to each other. A system based on economic performance and where the price of a currency is allowed to rise and fall; although, the system is still very flexible and currencies can be converted easily. After the creation of the International Monetary Fund, membership grew and it remains one of the most important financial organizations in the world.

Today, the International Monetary Fund has 3 areas of activity in an attempt pr

Some common words found in the essay are:
Monetary Fund, Secondly IMF, Washington DC, Hampshire July, Articles Agreement, Monetary FundIMF, Initially IMF, War II, international monetary, International Monetary, monetary fund, international monetary fund, imf created, nations providing, world war, financial assistance, international trade, World War,
Approximate Word count = 653
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)