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Independent research & practical ideas for global prosperity
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Independent research & practical ideas for global prosperity
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Global Prosperity Wonkcast
Posts Tagged: World BankKey Challenges for Jim Kim, New World Bank President—Nancy BirdsallApril 17, 2012Posted by Lawrence MacDonald in International Financial Institutions, World Bank Tags: Fragile States, IDA, International Financial Institutions, World Bank
After an unprecedented competition, with three official nominees, the World Bank announced on Monday that the board had selected Jim Yong Kim, the Korean-born U.S. nominee, as the next president of the World Bank. My guest on this week’s Wonkcast is CGD president Nancy Birdsall, who discusses why it matters who leads the bank and sets out key challenges for the incoming president. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Comment »The Future of the World Bank – Nancy BirdsallFebruary 28, 2012Posted by Lawrence MacDonald in Global Development, International Financial Institutions, World Bank Tags: International Financial Institutions, World Bank
Following Robert Zoellick’s announcement that he will step down from the World Bank presidency at the end of June, the World Bank board has called for member countries to submit nominations for his successor, with a fast-approaching deadline of March 23rd. The board has said it will then narrow the nominations to a short list of three, with the goal of naming a new president before the World Bank/IMF spring meetings in April. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Comment »Implications of Ghana’s New Middle-Income Status – Todd MossNovember 21, 2011Posted by Lawrence MacDonald in Africa, Global Development, Oil Tags: Foreign Aid, Ghana, IDA, World Bank
Ghana’s recent recalculation of its GDP led to an overnight $500 per capita jump, putting in motion unexpectedly rapid graduation from the International Development Association (IDA) and ultimately a new relationship with the World Bank. In this week’s Wonkcast, I speak with Todd Moss, vice president for programs and senior fellow at CGD, about his recent trip to the newly categorized lower-middle income country, the implications of IDA graduation, and a sudden influx of oil wealth. Why Ghana? Todd explains that the country was the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence from colonial rulers after World War II and a pioneer in making the transition to a stable democracy. Many in Africa and elsewhere therefore look to Ghana as a harbinger of things to come for the region. Graduation from IDA may be similar in this way, since many African countries are enjoying moderate-to-high sustained growth and will soon breach the IDA income ceiling of $1,175 GDP per capita. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Comment »A Moveable Feast of Meetings—Owen BarderSeptember 27, 2011Posted by Lawrence MacDonald in G-20, IMF, World Bank Tags: G-20, IMF, UNGA, World Bank
In this week’s Wonkcast, Owen Barder, CGD senior fellow, director of our European program, and host of the podcast Development Drums, updates us on the state of the development debate in these global gatherings. I also invite him to reflect on whether such confabs, including the last week’s UN General Assembly in New York and November’s upcoming High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, South Korea, ultimately make any difference. His conclusion can be summed up simply: “can’t live with em, can’t live without em.” Read More… Podcast: Play in new window | Download 1 Comment »Free Money: How to Unlock $7.5 Billion for the World’s Poorest, with Ben LeoJune 8, 2010Posted by Lawrence MacDonald in Global Development, International Financial Institutions, Poverty Tags: Ben Leo, IBRD, IDA, IFIs, World Bank
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Last week finance ministers and central bankers from around the globe convened in Washington for the annual meetings of the international Monetary Fund and World Bank. While the press and many of the meeting participants focused on the unfolding European financial crisis, below the radar there was plenty of discussion on development issues, including on the legacy of the Seoul Development Consensus and the role of development in the upcoming G-20 Summit in France.
With high deficits across the developed world, aid budgets are tight and likely to remain so. However, a simple change in how the World Bank organizes its lending could free up an extra $7.5 billion for the world’s poorest countries over the next three years. My guest on this Wonkcast is 
