CGD Survey Finds Strong Support for Reform of World Bank President Selection Process

Results Summary: Results from a Center for Global Development survey after one week of polling show strong support for reforming the process for selecting the president of the World Bank. About 85% of the nearly 700 respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed with continuing the status quo, in which the U.S. nominates a single American candidate after informal consultations with Bank members, while a similar number agreed or strongly agreed with a merit-based selection process, without regard to nationality.

Specific suggestions for reforming the process to ensure the selection of a highly qualified candidate also garnered wide support. For example, more than 60% of the 700 respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the suggestion that the board adopt a new voting system in which confirmation of a new president would require a so-called double majority: a majority of countries and a majority of the Bank's shares (rich countries hold most of the shares; the U.S., for example, has 16 percent). Variations on this approach are used in two regional multilateral banks: the Inter-American Development Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

The survey, which was launched on May 22 and is on-going (take the survey now), is directed at members of the international development community: employees of governments, universities and think tanks, non-governmental organizations, and staff at the World Bank and other multilateral organizations. About one-in-four respondents reported that they work for universities and think tanks; employees of private companies and staff at the World Bank each accounted for about 15 percent of the respondents; employees of governments and non-governmental organizations each accounted for about 10 percent of respondents, and the rest of the respondents identified themselves as working for other types of organizations.

Respondents were also asked for their views on desired qualifications, and to score some of the possible candidates mentioned in press reports. A majority ranked all five of the criteria proposed in the survey as either very important or somewhat important. Knowledge of development topped the list, with 86 percent ranking it as "very important". Other criteria, in order of ranked importance: effective manager, political and diplomatic experience, international organization experience, and banking and finance experience.

About half of respondents suggested additional qualifications, including honesty, integrity, economics proficiency, experience in a developing country, demonstrated leadership ability and international stature.

Ten possible candidates who had been widely mentioned in the press were initially listed on the survey. CGD staff did not consult with those listed before posting the survey and inclusion on the list does not imply CGD endorsement. Center staff arbitrarily limited the number of candidates, in order to make the survey manageable, while attempting to include a broad range of qualified individuals. (One of the people initially listed, Ernesto Zedillo, the former finance minister and president of Mexico, was removed at his request. CGD staff agreed in order to avoid the possible appearance of a conflict of interest, since Zedillo is a member of the CGD’s Advisory Group.)

Scoring the Candidates: Respondents were asked to score the possible candidates as follows: 0=lacks this qualification or experience; 1=fair; 2=good; 3=excellent. All of the nine people listed on the survey received "good" or "excellent" scores for "effective manager," the second most important criteria for most respondents.

There was greater divergence on "knowledge of development," the most important qualification for most respondents. Majorities or pluralities ranked four of the possible candidates as "fair," one as "good" and four as "excellent."

Many respondents suggested other possible candidates, submitting a total of more than 50 additional names. Several respondents chided CGD for not including a women on the list (they're right, we goofed). Among the additional names proposed: former Nigerian finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a woman who negotiated a $36 billion dollar debt relief package for the struggling democracy; Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner and founder of the Grameen Bank, and former U.S. president Bill Clinton.

CGD senior fellow David Wheeler, who recently joined CGD after 16 years as a researcher at the World Bank, proposed the survey based on his extensive experience with designing and implementing public information disclosure programs.

"Over and over again we have seen that when credible, appropriately targeted information is made available, people in positions of power and influence are more likely to make sound decisions and to act in the public interest," Wheeler said.

CGD president Nancy Birdsall said that she hopes the survey findings will contribute to a lively, informed debate about the selection process and appropriate criteria.

"Of course a simple survey like this does not allow for the actual weighing and sifting of core qualifications, or of the personal and leadership qualities that can only be determined through personal interaction," she said. "We recognize that the survey is not scientific—for example, we did not use a random sample, which would be necessary for it to have any scientific validity. Even so, we think that the results can be useful in raising awareness about the selection process."

Survey results as of noon on Friday, May 25, are presented below. Additional responses have since been received, bringing the total to nearly 700 by the afternoon of Tuesday May 29th. We plan to update the results online later this week.

Table 1: Selection Process

Selection Process: Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements.

Table 2: Qualifications Needed

Qualifications: Please indicate the importance you attach to each of the following qualifications for becoming World Bank president.

Table 3: Candidates’ Qualifications

Candidates Qualifications: Following are some of the individuals mentioned in press reports as possible candidates to become president of the World Bank.

Table 4: Demographics

Which type of organization best describes your current or most recent employment?.