Allocation Of Special Drawing Rights For The Eleventh Basic Period

On June 25, 2021, the Executive Board discussed a staff paper setting forth the considerations underlying the case for a general allocation of special drawing rights (SDRs) of an amount equivalent to US$650 billion (about SDR 456 billion) during the Eleventh Basic Period and the key features that could be included in the Managing Director’s proposal for this general allocation.

On June 25, the Executive Board discussed a proposal for a historic US$650 billion general allocation of SDRs to address the long-term global need to supplement existing reserve assets. Following concurrence by the Executive Board on July 8, the Managing Director submitted the proposal to the Board of Governors on July 9 for its approval by August 2. If approved, which requires an 85 percent majority of the total voting power, the allocation would become effective by the end of August. The proposal makes a case for an allocation of US$650 billion (about SDR 456 billion), based on an assessment of IMF member countries’ long-term global reserve needs. It also includes measures to enhance the transparency and accountability in the reporting and use of SDRs while preserving the reserve asset characteristic of the SDR. The general allocation would help many EMDCs that are liquidity constrained smooth needed adjustment and avoid distortionary policies, while providing scope for spending on crisis response and vaccines.

This report is submitted pursuant the provisions of the Articles of Agreement relating to a general allocation or cancellation of Special Drawing Rights (SDR). The Articles provide for periodic consideration and decisions on SDR allocations or cancellations in the context of consecutive basic periods of normally five years of duration (Article XVIII, Section 2(a)). The Tenth Basic Period for a general allocation or cancellation of SDRs began on January 1, 2012 and is scheduled to end on December 31, 2016. The Eleventh Basic Period will commence on January 1, 2017.

This paper deals with one aspect of the drafting of the amendment, the choice of language, and more particularly the two expressions—special drawing rights and a supplement to existing reserve assets. It shows the contribution that language can make, if not to the reconciliation of opposing views, then at least to their accommodation. The paper highlights that the effort expended in the search for a suitable terminology was only part of the much larger effort required to reach agreement, but was considerable. The choice of terminology enabled the proponents of divergent views to insist that their opinions had prevailed.