At its annual meetings last week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) pre-empted the Trump administration’s demand that it get “back to basics”. Out went climate concerns and women’s rights in favour of a discussion on the parlous state of the public finances, especially in leading advanced economies.  Opening the meetings, IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said: “What is our loudest call to policymakers right now? Make urgent repairs to the fiscal house before the cracks widen.” Her message was directed at G7 countries too big for rescue financing from the fund. [...]