This powerful volume provides a highly effective critique of the 'knowledge' activities of the World Bank, both substantively and methodologically. It is highly recommended to anyone who wants to really understand how ideas are developed, legitimised, and propagated in the development policy establishment. -- Ha-Joon Chang, University of Cambridge, author of Kicking Away the Ladder and Bad Samaritans Most critical analyses of the World Bank have focused on the adverse impact of the tens of billions of dollars it lends each year. Only a few of us have ventured into the equally important terrain of World Bank research. Bayliss, Fine and Van Waeyenberge do a great service by putting together what I believe to be the first book, and certainly the most comprehensive, on this subject. -- Dr Robin Broad, Professor at American University, Washington DC and co-author of Development Redefined: How the Market Met its Match Excellent... a profound, convincing critique of the World Bank approach to development research and policy. The Bank's continuing dominance in these areas after the global financial crisis makes this book valuable and urgent. It is analytically sound, empirically grounded and carefully argued. Scholars and researchers will benefit...policy makers and practitioners in developing countries must read it. -- Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics at Jawaharlal Nehru university, New Delhi, and the Executive Secretary of International Development Economics Associates (IDEA)
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