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WSJ's @JoshZumbrun has the story on political manipulation of the World Bank Doing Business data.
The Saudi angle is still confusing...
1/ https://www.wsj.com/articles/world-bank-delays-report-on-national-competitiveness-rankings-amid-concerns-of-data-manipulation-11598554654?st=yiwbivwi57h7wcb&reflink=article_copyURL_share
The Saudi angle is still confusing...
1/ https://www.wsj.com/articles/world-bank-delays-report-on-national-competitiveness-rankings-amid-concerns-of-data-manipulation-11598554654?st=yiwbivwi57h7wcb&reflink=article_copyURL_share
Note the Saudis *pay* the World Bank for consulting services to improve their "investment climate" -- creating a potential conflict of interest with their ranking in Doing Business.
https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/gcc/brief/saudi-arabia-country-program
2/
https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/gcc/brief/saudi-arabia-country-program
2/
Coincidentally perhaps (and shortly after Trump's nominee David Malpass became World Bank president, and agreed to attend MBS's "Davos in the Desert"), Saudi Arabia was crowned as the world's "top reformer" on Doing Business.
https://twitter.com/charlesjkenny/status/1299062847503298560
3/
https://twitter.com/charlesjkenny/status/1299062847503298560
3/
Confusion enters because, as my colleague @vijramachandran notes, the WSJ reports that Saudi Arabia's Doing Business ranking *fell* over five years from 49th to 62nd.
But I think @charlesjkenny resolves the confusion here:
https://twitter.com/charlesjkenny/status/1299067065765158914
4/
But I think @charlesjkenny resolves the confusion here:
https://twitter.com/charlesjkenny/status/1299067065765158914
4/
In sum, the World Bank has finally acknowledged deliberate manipulation of Doing Business. And it appears this was done specifically to benefit the Saudis. Who paid for the honor. And got a big photo op for MBS with the Trump-nominated WB president.
Thoroughly corrupt.
5/5
Thoroughly corrupt.
5/5
