Question

Difficulty: MediumInternational Economic Organizations and Regional Integration (ECOWAS, OPEC, IMF, World Bank, WTO, AfDB)

Match each international economic organization on the left with its primary operational mandate on the right.

  • Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)Promotes regional trade integration and free movement of goods and persons across West Africa.
  • Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)Coordinates petroleum production policies to ensure crude oil price stability in global markets.
  • International Monetary Fund (IMF)Provides short-term financial support to member nations experiencing balance of payments deficits.
  • World Bank Group (IBRD/IDA)Finances long-term capital infrastructure projects and economic development initiatives.

Answer

ECOWAS matches with promoting regional trade integration and free movement in West Africa; OPEC matches with coordinating petroleum production policies for crude oil price stability; the IMF matches with providing short-term balance of payments support; and the World Bank Group matches with financing long-term capital infrastructure projects.
Each economic organization is matched to its core mandate: ECOWAS advances West African integration and mobility; OPEC coordinates oil supply quotas for price stability; the IMF grants short-term balance of payments relief; and the World Bank funds long-term developmental projects.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the primary purpose of ECOWAS
ECOWAS targets West African regional integration.
Regional economic blocs work to eliminate trade barriers and promote factor mobility among neighboring member states.
2
Identify the main operational mechanism of OPEC
OPEC manages petroleum production quotas to stabilize oil prices.
As an international cartel of oil producers, OPEC regulates market supply to secure stable prices and fair returns for oil-exporting nations.
3
Distinguish the roles of the Bretton Woods institutions (IMF and World Bank)
The IMF handles short-term balance of payments stabilization, whereas the World Bank finances long-term development projects.
The IMF is designed as a monetary stabilization institution, while the World Bank functions as a long-term development finance institution.

Key Concept

Mandates and Operational Roles of International Economic Organizations
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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