Governance Matters: Debunking the Afro-pessimism Myth

"Governance Matters: Debunking the Afro-pessimism Myth” featured Daniel Kaufmann, Director of Global Programs at the World Bank Institute. Kaufmann presented the latest set of the World Bank Institute's (WBI) well-known global governance indicators (www.govindicators.org), with a focus on Africa and the potential policy lessons that emerge.

Several discussants, including Obiageli Ezekwesili, Vice President, Africa Region, World Bank; Morton H. Halperin, Director of U.S. Advocacy, Open Society Institute and Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress; and Aart Kraay, Lead Economist, Development Research Group, World Bank, explored the factors that underlie the variance in performance and, in particular, what matters most for the next stage of governance reforms in Africa. Dennis de Tray, Vice President for Special Initiatives, Center for Global Development moderated this discussion.

Download Kaufmann's presentation (pdf, 264K)

Read event transcript (pdf, 122K)