Printer-friendly versionSend by emailPDF version

The World Bank's trade programs may have helped open markets over the last two decades but they have not done enough to tackle poverty and boost growth in developing countries' exports, a study has found. An assessment by the institution's Independent Evaluation Group of $38 billion worth of trade programs between 1987-2004 said the bank did not pay enough attention to complimentary measures needed to cushion poor countries and help them adapt to the effects of trade liberalization.