But not only have the usual group of "anti-globalization protestors" (can we please change that description???) criticizing this defence, but those within its own ranks chide it....KRD
World Bank defends globalisation By Alan Beattie The World Bank is preparing a detailed defence of economic globalisation ahead of its annual meetings next month, which are expected to be besieged by anti-globalisation protesters.
The publication - a draft copy of whose conclusions has been seen by the Financial Times - argues that while globalisation produces losers as well as winners, it is a "powerful force for poverty reduction".
The report, "Globalisation, Growth and Poverty", says that globalisation has mostly reduced inequality between countries, though admits that it has not much affected inequality within countries.
It reiterates the World Bank's support for a new round of trade liberalisation talks within the World Trade Organisation, but argues that poor countries can enrich themselves by unilateral trade liberalisation.
Development campaigners reacted angrily to the report, draft copies of which are circulating widely among non-governmental organisations.
One of its authors is David Dollar, the World Bank economist who has repeatedly been criticised by NGOs for arguing that trade liberalisation can produce economic growth and benefit the poor.
"The bank seems to be under attack from all sides," said Oliver Buston, a spokesman for Oxfam International.
"The protesters want to shut it down, while the new US administration's motives remain murky. This paper is the bank's response. It should be setting an agenda for making globalisation work for the poor, but instead seems to be promoting business as usual."
Buston said that the paper was positive in that it attacked high tariff barriers in rich countries. But he said it was wrong to advocate widespread trade liberalisation in poor countries as an effective means of poverty reduction.
"Countries which have done best are those which have retained control of their own economic destiny," he said.
On Monday night, Dollar defended the report.
"This report is a detailed and accurate statement of how global integration can benefit the poor, and as such it is fair and balanced," he said.
Dollar said it went far wider than merely stressing the benefits of trade liberalisation, pointing out that migration and the creation of good environments for inward investment were also important.
He said that the bank had no intention of forcing economic liberalisation on poor countries.
"I am not interested in compelling countries to integrate with the global economy," he said. "This report merely suggests there are good and bad ways to do it."
The debate over economic globalisation has been a source of controversy within the World Bank ever since Ravi Kanbur, the author of last year's World Development Report, resigned from the bank in protest that his moderate views were being overridden.
Financial Times
===== Kevin Dean Buffalo, NY ICQ: 8616001 http://www.yaysoft.com
__________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger http://phonecard.yahoo.com/