July 25, 2016

Pray the Paul Romer/World Bank union realizes the dangers of regulatory risk-aversion and the benefits of risk-taking

Sir, I refer to the appointment of Paul Romer, one of the pioneers of “endogenous growth theory”, as the new chief economist of the World Bank, “The World Bank recruits a true freethinker” July 24.

Hopefully the Paul Romer/World Bank link could help both sides realize that risk-taking is the oxygen of any development, and so that then they could both push against the silly risk-aversion of bank regulators, that which only causes safe-havens to become dangerously populated, and risky-bays dangerously unexplored.

From what I have read the vital willingness to take risks is not included in Romer’s vision of endogenous growth; and I myself have failed miserably in convincing the World Bank, the world’s premier development bank, to stand up against bank regulators, the Basel Committee and the Financial Stability Board, as well as the IMF… though God knows how I tried… even as an Executive Director of the World Bank 2002-04.

“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are for.” John A Shedd, 1850-1926



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