The role of the World Bank in domestic policy

Academics tend to have intense debates about how, when, and how much the World Bank does or does not influence the public policy decisions of developing countries that receive World Bank aid or loans.

According to La Jornada, President Fox’s economic proposals to be presented next week will include some of the World Bank proposals for addressing poverty in Mexico.

The President made the announcment while discussing the results of a recent World Bank study that suggested that poverty is still a serious problem in Mexico, though poverty rates are declining. In attendance at the press conference was Dr. Bourguignon, a VP of the World Bank.

The press conference apparently did not include details about the poverty alleviation plans of the administration. Fox will present his annual state of the union address next week, and more details are likely to appear in the printed Informe de Gobierno that is published concurrently with his address.