CEOs and business leaders on the COMPAS business panel were asked for their views in the wake of the cool reaction of the G7 to a World Bank request for more funds to help Third World countries in their adjustment to the recession. Panelists tend to agree with the G7 reaction. Their main concerns are that

• for aid to be effective, priority should be given to countries whose governments meet relatively high standards of transparency and honesty;
• less emphasis should be placed on aid to governments and more emphasis on small scale projects that help private sector producers;
• The World Bank lacks adequate transparency and sufficient evidence of good governance to be entrusted with a lot more capital.

The idea that the “G7 simply cannot afford major new contributions to the World Bank in today’s economy” is the least persuasive reason to respond coolly to the World Bank request.

These are the key findings from this past week’s Internet survey of CEOs and business leaders on the COMPAS panel. The weekly business survey is undertaken for Canadian Business magazine under sponsorship of BDO Dunwoody LLP.

View / Download complete poll in PDF