Newman: Should the World Bank consider non-Americans for its next president?

By: /
19 March, 2012
By: Don Newman
Chairman of Canada 2020, Senior Columnist with ipolitics.ca

Indeed it should.

Not only would a wider talent pool from which to choose its next President be helpful to the Bank, it would also set an important precedent.

Part of the agreement creating the Breton Woods Institutions was that the head of the Bank would always be American, and the head of the International Monetary Fund would be European.

But the world has changed a lot since that agreement was reached at the end of the Second World War. There are a lot of very able people from healthier economies than either the United States or Europe can presently boast who could lead either the Bank or the Fund.

Until 1996 the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development was always lead by a European. Canadian Donald Johnston broke that precedent. Now the OECD is lead by a Mexican.

It is time for that same kind of change now at the World Bank and the IMF.

Before you click away, we’d like to ask you for a favour … 

 

Open Canada is published by the Canadian International Council, but that’s only the beginning of what the CIC does. Through its research and live events hosted by its 18 branches across the country, the CIC is dedicated to engaging Canadians from all walks of life in an ongoing conversation about Canada’s place in the world.

By becoming a member, you’ll be joining a community of Canadians who seek to shape Canada’s role in the world, and you’ll help Open Canada continue to publish thoughtful and provocative reporting and analysis.

Join us