To help balance the budget, the fund demanded a quick end to expensive subsidies that keep the price of food and gasoline artificially low.

The fund often demands austerity measures combined with market-oriented financial overhauls as the price of its assistance.

Argentine officials argue, on the other hand, that they have done many of the things the fund has demanded, often over strong internal opposition.

Thirdly, even if the stupendous funds demanded were available, should one not look a little more carefully at the begging queue?

These are among the strict conditions the fund usually demands before lending money.

So far, these funds have not demanded the kind of restructuring of industry that is probably necessary, some economists said.

Venerable but bloated firms found they could not survive on the thin commissions that mutual funds and other big investors demanded.

The fund has demanded that Russia restructure its tax code, cut Government spending and take several other fiscal actions as a condition for getting the money.

The fund has demanded that Russia improve its tax system as a condition for further loans.

In addition, the countries being asked for money say they do not know where the funds would go and are demanding more details, they said.