Multilateral Development Banks

If you pay attention to how the World Bank and the other multilateral development banks (MDBs) fare in the US budget process each year, you have by now gotten used to the feeling of despondence over the House bill, followed by great relief in seeing the Senate version.

As Congress looks for cost savings, a logical first step would be to compare the various investments the USG makes to figure out what gets taxpayers the highest returns. One debate is bilateral versus multilateral, and the administration has signaled a preference toward the latter wherever possi...