The U.S. announced on Thursday that it was nominating Jim Yong Kim, a health policy expert, as the next World Bank president. The selection came as a surprise to many that do not know Kim.
His nomination should win sufficient support to overcome the criticism that the position always goes to someone from the U.S. Kim was born in South Korea but is a naturalized U.S. citizen. He is a doctor and anthropologist and was once the head of the World Health Organizations department for HIV/AIDS.
Currently Kim is the president of Dartmouth College. World Bank members expressed pleasure in Kim’s nomination. They said it was a pleasant departure from the traditional political or Wall Street appointees.
Other members of the World Bank said there would be tough competition, as they too have qualified nominees. Some economists have expressed fear that the U.S. nominee may slant towards traditional development on education and health instead of on climate change and growth.
President Barack Obama said Kim has worked for over 20 years trying to improve the conditions of developing nations across the globe. Kim may not have the financial background other candidates do but Europe and the U.S. control close to 50% of the votes. Therefore, many believe he will receive the position. Born in 1959 in Seoul, Kim moved to the U.S. as a child and is Harvard educated.
