Independent research & practical ideas for global prosperity

Growing Business or Development Priority? Multilateral Development Banks' Direct Support to Private Firms

Apr 15, 2011

The Center for Global Development presents

GROWING BUSINESS OR DEVELOPMENT PRIORITY?
Multilateral Development Banks direct support to private firms

Featuring
Guillermo Perry
Center for Global Development

With Discussant
Michael Klein
John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University

Friday, April 15, 2011
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Reception to Follow

at
Center for Global Development
1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Third Floor, Washington, DC
Closest Metro: Dupont Circle (red line)
*Please bring photo identification*

A growing share of the Multilateral Development Banks’ (MDBs) business involves private firms. Lending to, investing in and guaranteeing private firms accounted for more than a third of MDB financial operations in 2008, up from less than a fifth at the start of the decade. What’s driving this surge? Is it appropriate to use scarce global public resources to invest in private firms? Is it good for development? This new CGD report by Guillermo Perry, a former finance minister in Colombia and World Bank chief economist for Latin America, examines this trend. The report identifies the activities, firms, sectors and countries benefiting from the MDB’s private sector operations and explores whether it catalyzes or competes with private financial markets. Perry explores how governments and private firms can benefit, while avoiding conflicts of interest. He concludes the report with a proposed agenda for MDB-private sector activity.