The IMF in focus

Leaders of the world’s largest economies met in Washington to discuss how to prevent a global depression and how to reform the global financial system.

At the heart of the discussions was the future role of the International Monetary Fund, the institution charged with supervising and backstopping the world economy.

Some of its radical critics might think the IMF is a sinister world government, but in essence it is simply a big credit union.

Its 185-member countries place money on deposit at the IMF - on which they receive interest - which is lent out to governments in crisis.

To provide some context to the Washington summit, in this graphic we explain how the fund works, examine the controversies that have dogged its 64 year history and flag up some potential future recipients of IMF support.