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Multilateral institutions and reform

The World Bank Cannot Stop Reorganizing Its Private Sector Work: The Missing Welfare Anchor

Policy analysis
Authors
Álvaro S. González
Publisher
Center for Global Development

What it examines

González argues that repeated reorganisations have not resolved the rationale for the World Bank’s private-sector development work. He proposes tests of market failure, instrument effectiveness and additionality, followed by assessment of net social benefits. The paper focuses principally on nonfinancial private-sector development and excludes conventional financial-sector work.

Why it matters

Provides a framework relevant to UK shareholder scrutiny of the World Bank and IFC, particularly the purpose and additionality of public intervention. This UK application is the Monitor’s interpretation; the paper presents the author’s argument, not UK or World Bank policy.

Institutions and themes

Related documents

Catalogue entry reviewed 21 Sept 2026. The summary describes the publication’s analysis; it does not establish that historical findings remain current.