The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is the institution designed to support global trade and economic growth by helping to maintain stability in the international financial system. Originally created to finance short-term balance of payments deficits during the Bretton Woods Era of gold/dollar fixed exchange rates (1944--1971), in the current world where flexible exchange rates dominate in the industrial economics, it has focused on developing countries where ever larger financial crises have erupted. The book provides a basic understanding of its mission and operations, and how they may have evolved. A comprehensive bibliography is included with easy access by subject, author and title indexes.