Economist’s “News and Views” Sunday 8-25-2024
CHINA To Leave World Bank: A New Financial System?
Fastepo: 8-25-2024
The World Bank has faced ongoing criticism from Global South nations regarding its lending practices and the conditions tied to financial support.
Developing countries have called for a fairer global financial system, pointing to the negative effects of the Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) of the 1980s and 1990s, which were intended to stabilize economies but often deepened poverty and inequality in regions like sub-Saharan Africa.
A 2002 UNICEF report noted that 60% of countries implementing SAPs saw reduced access to essential services, contributing to long-term instability.
Another issue is the loss of sovereignty imposed by World Bank loans, with nations like Ghana and Zambia forced to adopt austerity measures that sparked unrest.
Environmental and social concerns have also arisen, as World Bank projects in Indonesia and Ethiopia have been linked to deforestation, displacement, and ecosystem damage.
Additionally, the bank's decision-making is seen as disproportionately influenced by powerful Global North shareholders like the U.S. and Japan, leading to accusations that the bank prioritizes wealthier nations' interests over those of developing countries.
Critics argue that the World Bank's efforts to address past mistakes have been inadequate. Despite creating an Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) to review projects, a 2020 report found that only 45% of recommendations had been fully implemented, raising doubts about the bank’s commitment to reform.
This criticism has intensified due to perceived inequalities in global financial aid, particularly during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, where aid pledges to African and Latin American countries were seen as insufficient compared to the swift support for Ukraine during the 2022 Russian invasion.
In response to these challenges, China, alongside other BRICS nations, led the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in 2016.
The AIIB aims to provide a more equitable alternative to the World Bank, focusing on the infrastructure needs of the Global South.
With a capital base of $100 billion and over 100 member states, the AIIB has emerged as a credible competitor to traditional Western-dominated financial institutions, signaling a shift in the global economic order.
ANOTHER Currency Is FAILING In Front Of Our Eyes...
Lynette Zang: 8-24-2024
Today's video is about Ethiopia's Birr and it's recent plummet. Could it be failing? And could this be a sign for what's ahead for the dollar?
PetroYuan Plans?| Saudi Arabia - China Ties Are Expected to Strengthen Crude Oil Trade in Yuan
Lena Petrova: 8-25-2024