Chapter 5 > The Global Economy > The World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund

U.S. Report - pdf version Leaders Questionnaire - pdf version Public Questionnaire - pdf version

The World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund

Consistent with their support for trade in principle, Americans show a fairly warm attitude toward the World Trade Organization (WTO), giving it an average rating of 55 degrees on the feeling thermometer. When asked whether or not the WTO should be strengthened, a substantial majority of 63% says it should—more than favor strengthening most of the six other international institutions they were asked about.

Most Americans also seem comfortable with the WTO having power to make decisions that bear on the United States. When asked whether the United States should comply with a ruling against the United States as the result of a complaint filed by another country, a strong 64% say the United States should comply with the ruling, while just 24% say that it should not.

By contrast, the public shows limited enthusiasm for the International Monetary Fund. On the feeling thermometer, the IMF gets a coolish 48 degree rating. Asked whether the IMF needs to strengthened, just 42% say it does need to be strengthened, while 38% say it does not. This is the lowest level among eight international organizations evaluated (see Figure 4-4). It appears that some criticisms of IMF policies (e.g., of stringent conditions on loans) may have filtered through to the public.