Rethinking the World Bank

These years are unusual ones for the World Bank. The impact of the global economic crisis on the poorest people in the world’s poorest countries raises some very uncomfortable questions for the World Bank.

Should the commitment to a model of "development by openness and integration with the global economy" be maintained? To what extent do the difficulties experienced by this model mean that the World Bank self-proclaimed status as a "knowledge bank" is threatened? Can the World Bank’s governance structure be reformed to reflect the realities of a post-crisis international economic order? Will the World Bank be able to contribute to more efficient and effective development assistance in the future? Or will it gradually become marginalized, as regional development banks and bilateral aid agencies adopt a more diverse array of agendas?

Program

14.00-14.05 Introduction by Jakob Vestergaard 14.05-14.50 Robert Wade: What the World Bank Should do Now
14.50-15.00 Coffee Break 15.00-15.45 Ngaire Woods: Reform or Retire: The World Bank in the Emerging Global Economy 15.45-16.00 Coffee Break 16.00-16.15 Discussant Morten Ougaard 16.15-16.45 Open Discussion

Read more and register no later than Friday, 26 March at http://diis.dk/sw91220.asp. Please await confirmation by e-mail from DIIS for participation. If you have not received a confirmation from us within two workdays, please contact DIIS directly at event@diis.dk or 3269 8751.