• Research
  • Politika
  • About
Carnegie Russia Eurasia center logoCarnegie lettermark logo
  • Donate
The Role of the Multilateral Development Banks in Emerging Market Economies
Report

The Role of the Multilateral Development Banks in Emerging Market Economies

Should the Multilateral Development Banks continue to lend to this group of countries or, instead, concentrate attention on poorer countries with little such access? Second, what purposes should this lending serve and under what conditions should it take place?

Link Copied
By Nancy Birdsall
Published on Apr 26, 2001

Source: Carnegie

The Role of the Multilateral Development Banks in Emerging Market Economies

Report of the Commission on the Role of the MDBs in the EMEs

Commission Cochairs: José Angel Gurria and Paul Volcker
  
Pub Date: April 26, 2001 
  

Full Text (PDF format)
Commission Members (PDF format)

Transcript of the Press Conference, April 26

Transcript of the report luncheon with Paul Volcker, May 1

 

Does lending by the World Bank and the regional development banks to emerging markets still make sense? Skeptics argue that the banks are no longer relevant for countries with access to private capital. To examine this issue, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, EMP Financial Advisors, LLC, and the Inter-American Dialogue formed a commission, cochaired by former Mexican Finance Minister José Angel Gurria and former U.S. Federal reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, to assess the activities of the multilateral development banks (MDBs) in the emerging market economies.

The Commission addressed two central questions: Should the MDBs continue to lend to this group of countries or instead concentrate attention on poorer countries with little access to private capital? What purposes should this lending serve and under what conditions should it take place?

The report argues that the MDBs should continue to lend to the emerging market economies as an integral part of their ongoing role in the years ahead. At the same time, Commission members recommend changes on long-standing MDB approaches toward the emerging market economies more appropriate to today's global economy.

About the Author

Nancy Birdsall

Former Senior Associate

    Recent Work

  • Report
    Washington Contentious: Economic Policies for Social Equity in Latin America

      Nancy Birdsall, Rachel Menezes

  • Other
    World Bank of the Future: Victim, Villain or Global Credit Union?

      Nancy Birdsall

Nancy Birdsall
Former Senior Associate
ChinaTrade

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    How Trump’s Wars Are Boosting Russian Oil Exports

    The interventions in Iran and Venezuela are in keeping with Trump’s strategy of containing China, but also strengthen Russia’s position.

      • Mikhail Korostikov

      Mikhail Korostikov

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    Japan’s “Militarist Turn” and What It Means for Russia

    For a real example of political forces engaged in the militarization of society, the Russian leadership might consider looking closer to home.

      James D.J. Brown

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    A New World Police: How Chinese Security Became a Global Export

    China has found a unique niche for itself within the global security ecosystem, eschewing military alliances to instead bolster countries’ internal stability using law enforcement. Authoritarian regimes from the Central African Republic to Uzbekistan are signing up.

      Temur Umarov

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    Lithuania’s Potash Dilemma Raises Questions About Sanctions’ Effectiveness

    What should happen when sanctions designed to weaken the Belarusian regime end up enriching and strengthening the Kremlin?  

      Denis Kishinevsky

  • Commentary
    Carnegie Politika
    Is There Really a Threat From China and Russia in Greenland?

    The supposed threats from China and Russia pose far less of a danger to both Greenland and the Arctic than the prospect of an unscrupulous takeover of the island.

      Andrei Dagaev

Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center
Carnegie Russia Eurasia logo, white
  • Research
  • Politika
  • About
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center
© 2026 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. All rights reserved.