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Creating poverty: the flawed economic logic of the World Bank's revised involuntary resettlement policy (PDF)

by Theodore E Downing In preparation for the Bank's promised future review of its revised policy, I suggest they adhere to the precautionary principle and avoid actions that might cause harm. They should a) finance risk assessments, b) opportunely inform people of the risks and possible mitigations, c) provide independent, competent legal representation and d) arrange for independent and transparent monitoring of all development-induced , displacement projects. They should also e) protect those at risk by introducing 'induced-displacement insurance' as a safety net - in case their policies do not work. (PDF-35)

http://www.ted-downing.com/Publications/creating%20poverty_the%20flawed%20economic%20logic.pdf

(Added: Thu Oct 16 2003   Modified: Fri Mar 28 2008   Hits: 311)

Kicking the Habit: How the World Bank and the IMF are still addicted to attaching economic policy conditions to aid

Despite numerous commitments to reform, The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are still using their aid to make developing countries implement inappropriate economic policies, with the tacit approval of rich-country governments. These economic policy conditions undermine national policy-making, delay aid flows, and often fail to deliver for poor people. If the world is to make poverty history, this practice must be stopped. Aid must be conditional on being spent transparently and on reducing poverty, and nothing more. (Oxfam, November 2006)

http://www.oxfam.org/en/policy/briefingpapers/bp96_kicking_the_habit_061127

(Added: Fri Dec 15 2006   Hits: 208)

Stagnation or revival : Israeli disengagement and Palestinian economic prospects, Vol. 1 of 1

The World Bank ' s June 23 report, " Disengagement, the Palestinian Economy and the Settlements, " warns of the potential disintegration of the Palestinian economy under the sustained pressures of conflict and Israeli closure policies--a situation which is potentially ruinous for both Palestinians and Israelis. Currently there is hope that the Israeli and Palestinian governments are once again ready to discuss their shared future. At this juncture, it is vital that policy-makers focus on stabilizing and reviving the economy as part of any new political process. While money, and in particular donor money, has an important role to play, the underlying causes of economic decline need to be addressed. For a recovery to take place, the Government of Israel needs to roll back the system of restrictions on the movement of people and goods imposed since the beginning of the intifada - it is these various closure measures that are the proximate cause of four years of Palestinian economic distress. The Government of Israel has given encouraging signs of a willingness to reform the management of border gateways, to enable a much faster and more reliable throughput of cargo and people. For its part, the Palestinian Authority faces two sets of challenges if it is to play its part in bringing about revival. First is the need to demonstrate strong commitment to security reform, politically risky though this may be. The PA also needs to reinvigorate its program of governance reforms in order to create an internal environment more attractive to private investors. Chapter Six lays out an agenda of actions that the Bank believes would lay the basis for economic regeneration. It is further proposed that the donor community track progress by the parties in tackling these key preconditions for economic revival. If significant progress is made against a set of agreed indicators, a major new donor effort would then be justified - and a donor pledging conference should be called.

http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDS_IBank_Servlet?pcont=details&eid=000160016_20050719120558

(Added: Wed Sep 21 2005   Hits: 164)

The Soy Case

Soy production has been booming the past 25 years. Most of this protein and oil containing bean goes as animal feed to the meat industry in Europe and China. Protein from fish meal has become scarce, other animal sources have been forbidden because of BSE, but the demand for meat is rising rapidly world-wide. As a result of the focus on monoculture export crops, such as soy, millions of people in one of the world's biggest food exporting regions are now suffering from malnutrition. GM-soy is contaminating the countryside and the risen use of pesticides is polluting water and soil. This resource discusses the soy case in Latin America. (A SEED, 2006)

http://aseed.tuxic.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=108

(Added: Wed May 24 2006   Hits: 300)

What progress? A shadow review of World Bank conditionality

A growing body of evidence about the failure of conditionality to build ownership or lead to pro-poor reform started to force a rethink about World Bank lending policy. A year after beginning its review process, One year on, the World Bank has published a rather optimistic stock-take which suggests that "recent operations are broadly consistent with the good practice principles." This shadow review assesses how the principles are affecting the overall burden and impact of conditionality. The findings are not encouraging. There is no clear plan to ensure implementation of the principles. Moreover, a limited and superficial approach towards country ownership and reluctance to embrace full transparency - reflected in the continuing use of loan conditions to push controversial economic policy reforms without the full involvement or even knowledge of the public -undermines the prospects for substantive progress. (Action Aid, 2006)

http://www.actionaid.org.uk/doc_lib/what_progress.pdf

(Added: Wed Oct 04 2006   Hits: 205)

World Bank Moves into the Middle East

The Middle East and North Africa region has become the fastest-growing area for investments from the World Bank's private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which surpassed one billion dollars for the first time last year, according to the Bank Information Centre, a Washington-based research group on international public lenders. (Emad Mekay, IPS, 16 July 2007).

http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=38556

(Added: Tue Jul 24 2007   Hits: 111)

60 years of serving the poor?

World Vision New Zealand, 14 May 2004, by Simon Duffy. In the diamond anniversary year of the World Bank and the IMF, World Vision's Simon Duffy reflects on the history of two institutions that New Zealand taxpayers help to fund.

http://staging.worldvision.org.nz/news/archive/20040513_21.asp

(Added: Mon Jun 28 2004   Modified: Fri Aug 25 2006   Hits: 306)

Africa Development Indicators 2007

Africa Development Indicators 2007 provides the most detailed collection of data on Africa. It contains over 1,000 indicators covering 53 African countries. Findings suggest that the economic outlook for Africa is improving (World Bank, 2007)

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTSTATINAFR/Resources/adi2007_final.pdf

(Added: Mon Nov 19 2007   Hits: 233)

All that glitters is too much gold: the IFC at 50

As the International Finance Corporation (IFC) marks its golden anniversary, the institution claims to serve "as a catalyst for innovative, market-based solutions for reducing poverty and addressing environmental and social challenges". The reality fails to justify such a glittering perspective. Problem projects in Ghana, Peru and Kyrgyzstan, criticisms over its recent performance standards, and serious weaknesses in its recent human rights impact assessment programme undermine the future credibility of an institution that is increasingly losing out to private finance. (Bretton Woods, 11 September 2006)

http://brettonwoodsproject.org/art.shtml?x=542312

(Added: Tue Sep 12 2006   Hits: 150)

An evaluation of World Bank Research 1998-2005

The quality and relevance of the World Bank's research comes under fire in a recent audit that examines a large random sample of the nearly 4,000 reports, books and papers produced by the Bank between 1998 and 2005. This new report seriously calls into question the credibility of the Bank as the "Knowledge Bank" and provides significant support to civil society campaigns against ideologically based conditionality and policy advice. The report says that Bank research is used to "proselytise on behalf of Bank policy, often without taking a balanced view of the evidence" and that outside views that disagree with Bank positions are little taken into consideration - "internal research that was favourable to Bank positions was given great prominence and unfavourable research ignored". The Bank is accused of "trumpet(ing) these early empirical results without recognising their fragile and tentative nature" and "seriously over-reaching in prematurely putting its globalization, aid and poverty publications on a pedestal". Arguments frequently used by the Bank that "aid is most effective in countries with good policies" and "growth is good for the poor" were found to be based on unreliable results. The report says that "in some cases, where groups are almost entirely inward looking, the degree of self-reference rises almost to the level of parody". (World Bank, September 2006)

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DEC/Resources/84797-1109362238001/726454-1164121166494/RESEARCH-EVALUATION-2006-Main-Report.pdf

(Added: Thu Jan 11 2007   Hits: 272)

Annual and Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group

The Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group (Bank) and the Board of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (Fund) normally meet once a year to discuss the work of their respective institutions. Each Spring, the IMF's International Monetary and Financial Committee and the joint World Bank-IMF Development Committee hold meetings to discuss progress on the work of the Fund and Bank. This page links to past and upcoming meetings.

http://www.imf.org/external/am/index.htm

(Added: Wed Sep 24 2003   Modified: Tue Jun 27 2006   Hits: 206)

As I Say Not As I Do:A Critique of G-7 Proposals on Reforming the MDBs (PDF)

By Devesh Kapur, Department of Government, Harvard University, April 2002. "This paper focuses on the World Bank and, where necessary, on other MDBs and the IMF. The paper addresses three key issues raised by the G-7: 1. The restructuring of IDA with a part of its lending in the form of grants rather than loans. 2. The volume of support by MDBs for Global Public Goods (GPGs) and the rankings and priorities among them. 3. Harmonization of procedures, policies and overlapping mandates among MDBs."

http://ksghome.harvard.edu/%7E.drodrik.academic.ksg/G24Kapur.pdf

(Added: Mon Sep 01 2003   Modified: Tue Aug 22 2006   Hits: 386)

Bank anti-corruption framework: "A lot of rhetoric and arm-waving"?

This article takes a critical look at the Bank's new anti-corruption framework, entitled "Strengthening Bank group engagement on governance and anti-corruption". (Bretton Woods Institute, September 2006)

http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/art.shtml?x=542334

(Added: Mon Sep 18 2006   Hits: 170)

Bank Information Centre

The Bank Information Center (BIC) is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization that aims to empower citizens in developing countries to influence World Bank and other Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) activities in a manner that fosters social justice and ecological sustainability. BIC advocates for greater citizen participation, transparency, and public accountability.

http://www.bicusa.org

(Added: Tue Mar 30 2004   Modified: Tue Aug 15 2006   Hits: 370)

Blair calls for merger of IMF, World Bank

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has repeated his call for reform of world bodies such as the United Nations and the World Bank and urged more international support for Iraq in an article published in a French newspaper. (Reuters, Business Day, 29 May 2006)

http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A207357

(Added: Wed May 31 2006   Hits: 278)

Breaking Ranks at the World Bank

This Washington Post article highlights a new World Bank report that recognises that a country can't necessarily grow its way out of poverty, and that poverty can be a huge drag on economies and on growth. The report "Poverty Reduction and Growth: Virtuous and Vicious Circle," concludes that economic growth is not a panacea for the poor and that inequality must be targeted directly.
Whether the report results in a new way of thinking at the World Bank remains to be seen.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/16/AR2006021601663_pf.html

(Added: Fri Feb 24 2006   Hits: 298)

Britain releases development funds to World Bank

Britain said on Tuesday it would release a payment of 50 million pounds ($98.83 million) to the World Bank that it had threatened to withhold due to concerns over the bank's policies in the developing world. Britain had linked payment to the World Bank reforming the conditions it attaches to its aid and said in September it was considering not handing over the funds. But a World Bank report has since said it was moving away from making aid conditional on economic policy changes on developing countries. (Reuters, 5 December 2006)

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L05738856.htm

(Added: Thu Dec 07 2006   Hits: 148)

Building Scrutiny of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund: A toolkit for legislators and those who work with them

This toolkit provides some ideas and examples concerning how legislators can take action to improve their oversight of policy-making in an environment where the International Financial Institutions have significant influence. This document is aimed at both legislators and those who work with them, in developing countries and donor countries. (World Development Movement, February 2007)

http://www.wdm.org.uk/resources/reports/debt/toolkitforlegislators19012007.pdf

(Added: Fri Feb 09 2007   Hits: 145)

Business as usual: The World Bank, the IMF and the liberalisation agenda [pdf] 627 KB

Christian Aid's new report warns against a complacent acceptance of the G8's statement in July 2005 that developing countries should have the right to set their own economic policies. It shows that despite previous commitments from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank to give poor countries more freedom to choose their own trade policies, little of substance has changed.

http://www.christianaid.org.uk/indepth/509condition/

(Added: Mon Sep 26 2005   Modified: Tue Aug 15 2006   Hits: 180)

Calling Bad Business Good

Last month the World Bank issued a report entitled "Doing Business 2007: How to Reform", which ranks 175 countries in terms of the "ease of doing business" within their borders. The report ranks favourably those countries that lack minimum wages, fail to regulate overtime, and condone union busting. This article argues that the "Doing Business" report is part of a wider phenomenon. In the name of promoting "reform" and "good governance," bodies like the World Bank actually enforce a highly controversial and ideologically loaded set of economic mandates-policies that regularly place corporate profits above the public good. (Mark Engler, IRC, FPIF, 27 November 2006)

http://americas.irc-online.org/am/3726

(Added: Thu Nov 30 2006   Hits: 165)

Challenging conditions: A new strategy for reform at the World Bank and IMF (pdf)

Nations must collectively respond to poverty, but the World Bank and IMF are failing to contribute to this goal because of deeply embedded conflicts of interest, their dominance by the world's richest countries and overlapping roles. One symptom of all this is their continued use of controversial economic policy conditions, such as liberalisation and privatisation, despite their claims to be supporting countries to make their own policy choices. Such conditions force governments to implement policies, even if they are unpopular with their citizens, have failed to achieve the significant gains in economic growth promised and have been shown to impoverish already poor communities. This 35-page report argues that the UK government should halt funding to the WB and IMF until comprehensive reform is acheived. (Christian Aid, July 2006)

http://www.christian-aid.org.uk/indepth/607ifis/challengingconditions.pdf

(Added: Thu Jul 20 2006   Hits: 173)

Consolidating ideology in law?: Legal and judicial reform programmes at the World Bank

The World Bank has vastly increased the resources it commits to good governance, with a large portion of that going to a complex and under-researched area: legal and judicial reform. Researcher Victoria Harris explores how the Bank uses such reforms to cement in place its preferred market-based development paradigm. (Victoria Harris, Bretton Woods Project, 25 July 2007).

http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/article.shtml?cmd[126]=i-126-31a143203d1a6653198cba82eb7469ee

(Added: Fri Aug 03 2007   Hits: 124)

Critique by Joseph E. Stiglitz at whirledbank.org

Joseph E. Stiglitz was Chief Economist at the World Bank from 1996 until 1999, during which time he became quite critical of World Bank policy. Under pressure to keep quiet, he resigned in protest. "I was often asked how smart--even brilliant--people could have created such bad policies. One reason is that these smart people were not using smart economics. Time and again, I was dismayed at how out-of-date--and how out-of-tune with reality--the models Washington economists employed were."

http://www.whirledbank.org/ourwords/stiglitz.html

(Added: Mon Feb 09 2004   Modified: Wed Jun 15 2005   Hits: 232)

Debt sustainability or defensive deterrence?

This paper looks at the mechanics and the internal inconsistencies of the World Bank's policy response to the nascent issue of 'free riding', trying to determine why impoverished developing countries at risk of debt distress may be 'forced' to borrow at non-concessional terms in order to finance MDG investments. Moreover, it looks at who these new lenders are, and tries to establish the consequences of their appearance. China seems to be by far the most important 'new kid on the block' in the lending arena, but there are also other examples of lenders which are offering low conditionality, high cost finance. These include regional institutions such as the Corporación Andina de Fomento (CAF), some other export credit agencies, and perhaps private funds. It is extremely interesting to try to assess the impact of the related conditionalities - or rather the lack of these - on recipients' socio-economic balance. (Francesco Oddone, Eurodad, January 2007)

http://www.eurodad.org/uploadstore/cms/docs/Debtsustainabilityordefensivedeterrence.pdf

(Added: Thu Jan 11 2007   Hits: 206)

Declining Poverty in Latin America? A Critical Analysis of New Estimates by International Institutions

Indicators of progress in overcoming poverty in Latin America have been heralded recently by international institutions. Yet a closer look at data from the World Bank and the United Nations reveals contradictions that are not easily resolved by reference to the underlying methodologies. This paper provides an introduction to how poverty is measured, what the data indicate about trends in poverty, and reasons to tread cautiously in interpreting it as evidence of progress or stagnation (Helwege & Birch, September 2007).

http://www.ase.tufts.edu/gdae/Pubs/wp/07-02LatinAmPoverty.pdf

(Added: Wed Dec 19 2007   Hits: 85)

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