As the U.S. nominee, Jim Yong Kim is the most likely choice to succeed Robert Zoellick as World Bank president. But don’t take Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala out of the race just yet, a Harvard University professor says.
The Nigerian finance minister “can and should win” because she is more qualified than Kim, Pritchett argues. Okonjo-Iweala is the “best candidate” for countries looking for a broad and inclusive development agenda for the World Bank, he adds.
Pritchett draws up a five-stage scenario of how Okonjo-Iweala could end up as World Bank president. First, countries will inevitably say “very nice things about Kim.” Pritchett says it’s only right, since Kim is a “terrific individual.” But countries should then not rush to judge and instead “remain on the fence” as Kim goes on a global tour to rally support for his candidacy, the Harvard professor writes.
Then comes close examination of Kim’s record. Germany and the United Kingdom, for instance, should look at and question Kim’s views on economic growth and private investment, Pritchett suggests. Kim’s background and “narrowness” of expertise might also be a cause for concern “given the array of issues a full service development organisation must address,” Pritchett adds.
Pritchett then predicts the United States is likely to signal “willingness to accept defeat.” Citing possible implications of Kim’s win on U.S. President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign, Pritchett says the United States will not go all-out in supporting its candidate.
What follows would be a “stampede to be on the right side of history,” Pritchett concludes, explaining countries are likely to rally behind Okonjo-Iweala once it becomes clear that she can win.
“Who wants to be in the position of defending a less qualified American man against a stronger candidate who just happens to be African and a woman?” he asks.
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