Development & Finance

This program monitors and encourages citizens’ participation in power shifts and trends that shape economic governance. The West and the institutions it leads (e.g., the World Bank) face greater competition, and emerging market countries, their existing and new institutions (e.g., the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank) and state-owned enterprises are gaining clout. At the same time, transnational corporations exert more influence (relative to governments and citizens) over governance, especially trade and investment rules. Regional institutions and “club governance” such as the G20, G7 and the BRICS countries play bolder roles in global governance. These trends are especially evident in the race to build infrastructure (e.g., energy, transport, water) to access natural resources and markets. This program explicitly encourages citizens’ participation in developing infrastructure and investment rules that serve humanity and the planet in sustainable ways.