关注社会:世界银行属于世界

Robert Zoellick announced on February 17 that he would not seek a second mandate as president of the World Bank. Little has been heard since from Washington or Brussels about possible replacements. Does this mean there is some hesitation in the US administration about which American to nominate? Or does it mean that the unwritten convention, Robert Zoellick announced on February 17 that he would not seek a second mandate as president of the World Bank. Little has been heard since from Washington or Brussels about possible replacements. Does this mean there is some hesitation in the US administration about which American to nominate? Or does it mean that the unwritten convention, allocating the leadership of the IMF and the Bank respectively to Europe and the US, is at last giving way to the idea that the World Bank should be managed by the most qualified person, whatever his or her origin?
罗伯特·佐利克(Robert Zoellick)在2月17日宣布不再寻求连任世界银行(World Bank)行长职务。从那以后，华盛顿和布鲁塞尔对可能的接替人选都几乎没有做出任何表态。这是否意味着美国政府对提名哪个美国人有些犹豫？还是意味着国际货币基金组织(IMF)和世界银行的领导职务分别由欧洲人和美国人担任的不成文惯例终于开始松动，取而代之的观点是世界银行应当由最有资格的人领导，无论他来自哪个国家？
As chief economists and senior vice-presidents of the World Bank from 1997 to 2007, we urge the US administration and the international development community to end an outdated and counterproductive monopoly on selecting the head of that global institution. We believe it is time to adopt an open and efficient selection procedure, clearly open to candidates from developing countries. And it is time that the pious declarations of commitment to such a process showed some sincerity. To say it is merit-based, and to choose an American repeatedly, shows scant respect to the citizens of other countries.
作为1997年至2007年间世界银行的首席经济学家和高级副行长，我们敦促美国政府和该国际发展机构，终止对这家全球性机构负责人选择程序的垄断，这种垄断已经不合时宜，且产生了负面的作用。我们相信，采取一种公开、高效的，对发展中国家候选人明确开放的遴选程序的时机已经到来。对这样一种程序的庄严承诺，现在也该显示出一些诚意了。一边声称遴选程序“任人唯贤”，一边却总是选择美国人，并没有对其他国家的公民显示足够的尊重。
Developed countries have a majority of voting shares in the World Bank and the IMF, and so control the leadership of these institutions. We are now close to the turning point where developing countries will represent half of real global output. They already drive global growth. More important, the developing countries represent 6bn of the 7bn world population.
发达国家在世界银行和IMF中拥有多数的投票权份额，因而控制着这两家机构的领导权。我们现在已经逼近发展中国家在全球实际经济产出中贡献一半的时刻。它们已经是全球经济增长的推动力量。更重要的是，发展中国家代表着70亿全球总人口中的60亿人口。
Our recommendation is not to swap an arbitrary rule, by which the president of the World Bank must be American, for another, only slightly less arbitrary, by which he or she should come from a developing country. It is to allow the best people to be considered for that position, whatever their origin.
我们的建议并不是把一种随意的规则（世界银行行长必须是美国人），替换成另一种没那么随意的规则（行长应当来自发展中国家），而是允许考虑让最佳人选担任行长职务，无论他来自哪个国家。

The developed countries have declared the importance of an "open, transparent and merit-based process" many times. They have recognised the importance of trust, credibility and collaboration in overcoming global challenges, particularly that of poverty. Yet when the moment comes for decision, they cannot resist the temptation to perpetuate the monopoly. This is not only hypocritical, it also destroys the trust and spirit of collaboration needed to manage the profound problems facing the world.
发达国家已经多次公开强调一种“开放、透明、任人唯贤”的程序的重要性。它们认识到，要想克服全球挑战，尤其是贫困的挑战，互信、公信力以及协作具有重要意义。然而到了做出决定的时刻，它们却难以抵挡继续垄断的诱惑。这不仅虚伪，而且还会破坏应对当前世界面临的深远问题所需的信任和协作精神。
Developed countries' control of the selection process also discourages developing countries from putting forward a candidate who might have broad support among them. As a result, there is a risk that the choices offered the Executive Board will, in practice, be very limited.
发达国家对选择程序的控制，也会打击发展中国家提名本来可能在发展中国家中拥有广泛支持的候选人的积极性。结果，提交给理事会(Executive Board)的候选人名单也会十分有限。
A more open procedure could rely, as with some other international organisations, on a small selection committee appointed by the board of the Bank. Its task would be to draw up a shortlist from candidates nominated by member countries or by others. The final choice would then be made by the World Bank's board according to its usual voting rules. This simple procedure would be consistent with the institution's present governance and with the plurality of well-qualified candidates.
更开放的程序，可以像其他国际组织一样，依靠一个由世界银行理事会任命的、小型的遴选委员会来执行，其任务将是从各成员国及其他各方提名的候选人中，挑选出入围名单。最终人选则由世行理事会按照正常的投票规则确定。这个简单的程序，既符合世界银行当前的治理方式，也能实现胜任的候选人的多样性。
Criteria for shortlisting candidates could be similar to those listed by the IMF board in the procedure that led to the appointment of Christine Lagarde: distinguished record as an economic policymaker, outstanding professional background, familiarity with banking and finance, diplomatic and managerial skills. In the case of the World Bank, solid knowledge and experience of development policy should be added to this list.
挑选入围候选人的标准，与IMF理事会任命克里斯蒂娜·拉加德(Christine Lagarde)为总裁的程序相似：作为经济政策制定者的杰出履历、出色的专业背景、熟悉银行和金融业、拥有外交和管理技巧。对于世界银行而言，除了以上这些标准，还应加上在发展政策方面需具备扎实知识和丰富经验这条要求。
This last requirement means that suitable candidates are more likely to come from developing countries, where there are leaders who combine the other qualifications with proven ability to put development into practice and international experience.
最后一项要求意味着合适的候选人更有可能来自发展中国家。发展中国家有一些领导者，既拥有其他领域的能力，在将发展政策应用到实践方面又有公认的能力，同时还具有国际经验。
We do not wish to name candidates; we simply note that there is an important principle at stake, that breaking it is destructive, that the appropriate criteria are reasonable and clear, and that there are first-class people from developing countries with skills and experience that are difficult to match. Let the competition be open; let the US and Europe live up to their words and let them behave as if it really is a World Bank.
我们不想给出候选人的名字。我们只是想指出，一个重要的原则正在动摇，如果这个原则被打破，会有破坏性的后果，恰当的选择标准应当合理、明确，而且发展中国家拥有一些能力和经验都令人难以匹敌的一流人才。竞争应当公开。美国和欧洲也应当遵守诺言。应当把世界银行当作真正的“世界”银行。
The writers are former chief economists and senior vice-presidents of the World Bank
作者曾任世界银行首席经济学家和高级副行长
译者:王柯伦