The 1996 recommendations of the Center for Strategic and International Studies Task Force on whether, from the perspective of the U.S., the five multilateral development banks (MDBs) are effective and necessary. The Task Force concluded that MDBs are still useful but need to incorporate a host of recommendations on changing access to and use of resources, the flexibility and scale of operations, self evaluation, and accepting new approaches to U.S. financial backing. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Upton examines the U.S. policy process toward the five multilateral development banks-the World Bank Group, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the African Development Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development-as a case study in how the United States manages its participation in multilateral institutions. The management of the U.S. role in these institutions is significant primarily because these institutions play an increasingly important role in the U.S. relationship with the developing world and because, for the most part, they are mature institutions being called upon to adapt their roles and operating styles to new financial and political realities. After examining the evolving role of the MDBs from the U.S. perspective, Upon describes the U.S. policy process toward the banks and assesses its strengths and weaknesses. She then sets out recommendations for improving the process and looks at the broader, more general lessons for U.S. policy formulation on multilateral institutions. An important assessment for scholars, researchers, and policy makers involved with international relations and economic policy.

This report analyzes how the U.S. makes policy towards the multilateral development banks (MDBs) and identifies ways by which Congress can shape U.S. policy and influence the activities of the banks themselves. Contents: (1) Introduction; (2) The Executive Branch and the MDBs: Treasury Department Leadership; U.S. Executive Directors at MDBs; Other U.S. Agencies; Policy Coordination; (3) Congress and the MDBs: Relevant Committees; Sources of Congressional Authority: Authorizing Actions; Power of the Purse; Appropriations for MDBs, FY 2000-2010; Congressional Oversight; Budgetary Issues; (4) Conclusion. Illus. This is a print on demand edition of an important, hard-to-find report.