How getting dollars from IMF, World Bank would make the borrower country’s situation worse off

As globalisation and international trade continue to increase, countries are becoming increasingly dependent on one another for economic support. While the idea of receiving financial assistance from other countries may seem beneficial, it is essential to consider the long-term consequences of relying on foreign funding. In this article, we will explore the reasons why obtaining dollars from other countries may not improve a nation’s situation.

One of the major issues with relying on foreign aid is the potential for a cycle of dependency. When a country becomes reliant on external aid, it can lead to a situation where it is unable to sustain its own economy without outside support. This is a dangerous situation because it can create a vicious cycle where the country continually needs more and more aid just to stay afloat.

For example, if a country receives aid in the form of a loan, it will need to repay the loan with interest. This can be difficult if the country is not generating enough revenue to meet its existing financial obligations, like the case with Pakistan where IMF has given $6.52bn as per 2019 according to al Jazeera news.

accepting foreign aid can result in a loss of autonomy for the recipient country. When a country accepts financial aid, it must adhere to the stipulations of the donor country or organization. These stipulations can range from structural adjustments to changes in the recipient country’s policies or systems. These changes may not necessarily align with the values or beliefs of the recipient country and can have unintended consequences.

For instance, a country that accepts aid from another nation may be required to implement specific economic policies to align with the donor’s interests. While the donor may have good intentions, these policies may not be suitable for the recipient country’s unique economic conditions. This loss of autonomy can have significant long-term consequences for a nation’s economic and political stability.

Furthermore, foreign aid can also create an incentive for the recipient country to focus on producing goods that are exportable to the donor country. This focus can lead to the neglect of domestic industries that could potentially contribute to the country’s long-term economic growth.

when a country relies on foreign aid and loans, it can create a cycle of dependency that is hard to break. Instead of developing its own economy, a country that is dependent on foreign aid becomes trapped in a cycle of always needing more aid to survive. This can lead to a lack of innovation and productivity, as well as a lack of incentives for the government to implement necessary economic reforms.

For example, many African countries have been receiving foreign aid for decades, but their economies remain stagnant, and their people continue to live in poverty. The reason for this is that the aid has created a culture of dependency that has prevented these countries from developing their own economies and becoming self-sufficient. As a result, they continue to rely on foreign aid, and the cycle of dependency continues.

Secondly, foreign aid and loans can also lead to the creation of a debt trap. When a country borrows money from other countries or international institutions like the World Bank or IMF, it is required to pay back that money with interest. If the country is unable to pay back the debt, it can become trapped in a debt cycle that can be difficult to break.

For example, many developing countries have borrowed large sums of money from China to fund infrastructure projects like roads and ports. While these projects have helped to improve the country’s infrastructure, they have also left the country with a large debt burden. In some cases, the debt has become so large that the country is unable to pay it back, and it becomes trapped in a debt cycle that can be difficult to break.

As a nation, it is natural to seek foreign investment and aid to support its economic growth and development. However, it is essential to realize that getting dollars from other countries may not always be the best solution to address a country’s economic challenges. In fact, it can lead to plenty of problems that may exacerbate the current situation.

Foreign aid can create a dependency culture, where a country becomes reliant on the help of others to sustain its economy. This often leads to the abandonment of initiatives that would have driven growth in the economy, as it is more comfortable to rely on handouts rather than working towards self-sufficiency. A dependency culture also makes a nation vulnerable to the whims of other countries, who may withdraw their support without warning, leaving the country with a sudden and severe economic downturn.

Another challenge with getting dollars from other countries is the exchange rate risk. When a country borrows money in a foreign currency, it becomes susceptible to fluctuations in the exchange rate. For instance, if a country borrows money in US dollars, and the US dollar appreciates against the local currency, the debt burden becomes more significant, and it becomes harder to pay back. This can create a vicious cycle of borrowing to pay back previous loans, leading to an unsustainable debt situation.

foreign aid and investment can create a situation where the recipient country becomes a dumping ground for substandard goods and services from the donor countries. For example, in Africa, there have been reports of donated clothes from western countries causing local textile industries to collapse, as people prefer the cheap second-hand clothes from the west. This creates a vicious cycle of dependency on foreign goods, leading to the closure of local industries, job losses, and an erosion of local culture.

Another challenge with getting dollars from other countries is that it may lead to the exploitation of natural resources. For instance, foreign investors may demand favorable policies that allow them to extract resources from the host country at minimal cost, leaving the country with minimal benefits. This creates a situation where the host country is merely an exporter of raw materials, and the foreign investors reap the benefits.

Critics argue that the loans provided by the IMF and other entities often comes with strict conditions  attached. Such as imposing austerity measures or liberalizing markets.

whether IMF and World Bank lending helps poor countries or not depends on a variety of factors, including the specific terms and conditions of the loans, how the funds are used, and the broader economic and political context in which the lending takes place.