IDA at 65: Heading Toward Retirement or a Fragile Lease on Life?

27 Pages Posted: 27 Apr 2011

See all articles by Todd J. Moss

Todd J. Moss

Center for Global Development

Benjamin Leo

Center for Global Development; Georgetown University

Date Written: March 10, 2011

Abstract

Even under conservative assumptions, IDA will likely face a wave of country graduations by 2025. We project that it will lose more than half of its client countries and that the total population living in IDA-eligible countries will plunge by two thirds. The remaining IDA-eligible countries will be significantly smaller in size and overwhelmingly African, and a majority are currently considered fragile or post-conflict. This drastically altered client base will have significant implications for IDA’s operational and financial models. We conclude with three possible options for IDA and recommend that World Bank shareholders and management begin frank discussions on its future sooner rather than later.

Keywords: international development association, economic development, poverty

Suggested Citation

Moss, Todd J. and Leo, Benjamin, IDA at 65: Heading Toward Retirement or a Fragile Lease on Life? (March 10, 2011). Center for Global Development Working Paper No. 246, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1824646 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1824646

Todd J. Moss (Contact Author)

Center for Global Development ( email )

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HOME PAGE: http://www.cgdev.org

Benjamin Leo

Center for Global Development ( email )

2055 L St. NW
5th floor
Washington, DC 20036
United States

Georgetown University

Washington, DC 20057
United States