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The World Bank COVID-19 response: Politics as usual?

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  • Christopher Kilby

    (Villanova University)

  • Carolyn McWhirter

    (Villanova University)

Abstract

Do the normal rules of the game apply in international organizations during a global pandemic? We explore this question by comparing regular and COVID-19 World Bank loans. Analyzing lending from April 2, 2020 (the start of COVID-19 lending) to December 31, 2020, we find different results for the two types of World Bank loans. Looking at regular loans, countries that vote more in line with the U.S. on UN General Assembly resolutions are more likely to receive loans. For COVID-19 loans, geopolitics is not a significant factor. In contrast to ordinary business, the World Bank appears to have kept politics out of its pandemic response, instead more effectively focusing on provision of an important international public good.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher Kilby & Carolyn McWhirter, 2022. "The World Bank COVID-19 response: Politics as usual?," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 627-656, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:revint:v:17:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s11558-021-09440-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11558-021-09440-2
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    1. ROUKANAS A. Spyros & VITZILEOS Vaggelis, 2023. "The Response Of International Financial Institutions To The Covid-19 Crisis," Studies in Business and Economics, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 18(2), pages 257-269, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; Pandemic; World Bank; Foreign aid; International public goods;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F35 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Aid
    • F53 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Agreements and Observance; International Organizations
    • F55 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Institutional Arrangements
    • O19 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - International Linkages to Development; Role of International Organizations

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