,The World Bank: Toward a Global Club

The World Bank: Toward a Global Club


 

Publication Date: May 2007

Publisher: Center for Global Development; Center for Global Development

Author(s): Nancy Birdsall; Nancy Birdsall

Research Area: Banking and finance

Type:

Abstract:

In this Essay, CGD president Nancy Birdsall describes the World Bank as a global club with a structure close to that of a credit union in which the members are nations. Its mission, as originally conceived–-to promote broadly shared and sustainable global prosperity--serves the common interests of all its country members. In light of this idea of the Bank as a global credit club, Birdsall addresses the issues that arise with respect to its current governance structure and how these issues affect the Bank's legitimacy, effectiveness and relevance in the global system.