A Gloomy Forecast Pervades the Annual IMF-World Bank Meeting

The International Monetary Fund has downgraded its outlook for global growth for this year and next, but that doesn't appear set to spur the big players in global trade to cooperate anytime soon. Indeed, as world economic leaders and financial policymakers converge on Washington from Oct. 15-20 for joint meetings with the World Bank, a lack of coordination is in the air. The meetings are likely to showcase declining collaboration, renewed attacks from some emerging countries about the IMF's lending terms and -- given the absence of U.S. leadership -- a threat to the fund's role in providing emergency financial assistance....