Why the World Bank Matters to the United States

• AMERICAN VALUES. The United States was a leading force in establishing the World Bank in 1944, in the wake of World War II, and the World Bank is designed to assist developing countries in ways that Americans support – not by giveaways, but through loans and advice that help countries help themselves.

• JOBS. The U.S. Treasury estimates that exports to markets where the World Bank operates are responsible for creating or sustaining millions of U.S. jobs each year.

• EXPORT REVENUES. Today, nearly a third of U.S. exports are to developing countries where the World Bank has lending programs.

• INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES. The World Bank is active in cultivating a climate where it will be easier for U.S. companies to effectively compete in the developing world, through lending programs that can create an environment more conducive to investment and private sector-led development.

• NATIONAL SECURITY. Many of the issues developing countries face – violent conflict, water and air pollution, and diseases such as SARS and AIDS – do not respect borders. By helping address these pressing needs in the developing world, the World Bank supports U.S. national security interests and business interests by helping lessen the chances of these problems being further visited upon the United States.

• PROCUREMENT OPPORTUNITIES. The World Bank is a significant source of direct procurement of goods and services for U.S. businesses. From 1998-2003, the World Bank contracted over 1.7 billion dollars to U.S. companies.

• RELIABLE CONSUMERS. The World Bank is dedicated to improving the lives of the 1.2 billion people who live on less than $1 per day; the billion who do not have access to an adequate water supply; the 1.7 billion people lacking adequate sanitation facilities; and the 130 million children who do not have access to primary education. Addressing these remaining challenges can create increased political and economic stability around the world. A healthier, better-educated, wealthier population in these developing countries leads to more reliable consumers for U.S. goods and services.

• RESULTS. Between 1980 and 2001, the proportion of people living in poverty in the developing world fell by half – from 40 percent to 21 percent. Meanwhile, in the past few decades, life expectancy in developing countries has increased by 20 years, the number of children dying before the age of five has been reduced by half, and adult illiteracy has been halved to 25 percent. Jobs and revenues in the U.S. increase when poorer countries develop economically and socially.

• LEADERSHIP. Because of its leadership role at the World Bank, the U.S. is able to ensure that Bank loans are sensitive to issues important to Americans – such as environmental protection, government transparency, and participation of civil society – and that these loans are designed to address the Millennium Development Goals that the U.S. and 188 other countries are committed to reaching together.

• ANTI-CORRUPTION. Fighting corruption is a mainstream part of the World Bank’s operations. Since 1996, the Bank has launched more than 600 anti-corruption programs in nearly 100 countries. The World Bank also has strict safeguards in its programs to ensure the money the Bank lends goes where it belongs.