What Wolfowitz did right

IT would be a damning indictment of the international donor community if the resignation of World Bank chief Paul Wolfowitz brings an end to the focus on corruption that he brought to the development institution.

Since taking the helm in 2005, Wolfowitz made the fight against corruption in poor countries a hallmark issue, waging an aggressive campaign that led to the suspension (temporary in most cases) of hundreds of millions of dollars in loans and contracts to nations including India, Chad, Kenya, Congo, Ethiopia and Bangladesh.

Wolfowitz threw his full weight behind his predecessor James Wolfensohn’s anti-corruption stance, prodding the bank into taking action.