Bretton Woods - Another Birthday

In 1944, in the tourist town of Bretton Woods, it was confirmed that the twin brothers humanity needed were in gestation.

One was to be called International Monetary Fund and the other World Bank.

Like Romulus and Remus, the twins were nursed by a she-wolf until they took up residence in the city of Washington, cheek by jowl with the White House.

Ever since, these two have governed the governments of the world. In countries where no one elected them the twins impose obeisance as if it were destiny: they keep watch, they threaten, they punish, they quiz - 'Have you behaved yourself? Have you done your homework?'

TWINS by Eduardo Galeano from Children of the Days


Preparing to rebuild the main international economic system as World War II was still raging, 730 delegates from all 44 Allied nations gathered at the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, United States, for the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference, also known at the Bretton Woods Conference. The delegates deliberated during 1–22 July 1944, and signed the Agreement on its final day.