IMF doles out ‘tough love’ to frail nations

WHAT the IMF does when it comes in to assist a country is the “economic equivalent of tough love”, a former member of the fund’s board has said.

Michael Casey, also a former chief economist with the Central Bank, maintains negative views of the IMF, a specialised agency of the UN which was set up in 1944 to help countries in difficulty, are unjustified

According to Mr Casey, its role is to encourage countries to do the right thing — even though it may be deeply unpopular.