Why did Paul Romer resign from the World Bank?

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Paul Romer Resigned from the World Bank Due to Concerns Over the Doing Business Report's Methodology and Perceived Cover-Up

Paul Romer resigned from his position as chief economist at the World Bank in January 2018 following his public disclosure of concerns regarding "arbitrary" changes to the methodology of the institution's flagship Doing Business report. He believed these alterations significantly impacted the country rankings, citing Chile as a notable example, and felt that Kristalina Georgieva, then in a senior role, orchestrated a "whitewash" of his inquiries. Romer stated that he found the lack of integrity among certain leadership members intolerable, leading him to go public with his allegations as a means to force his departure.
Concerns Over Methodological Alterations and Ranking Impacts

Romer's resignation stemmed from his belief that the Doing Business report's methodology was being altered in an arbitrary manner. He specifically pointed to changes that he argued drastically affected the rankings of certain countries, with Chile being a prominent case. These adjustments reportedly lowered the rankings under the socialist administration of Michelle Bachelet while simultaneously elevating them under her more conservative successor, President Sebastian Pinera.
Allegations of a "Whitewash" and Lack of Integrity

Upon raising his concerns about the methodological changes, Romer alleged that Kristalina Georgieva engineered a "cover up, a whitewash" of the situation. He articulated that he was reporting to individuals who lacked integrity, describing the environment as "intolerable." Romer also noted that Georgieva worked closely with Simeon Djankov, who was involved in auditing the report, to address Romer's concerns.
Motivation for Going Public with Allegations

Romer stated that his decision to go public with his allegations was a deliberate strategy to precipitate his dismissal from the World Bank. He expressed discomfort with continuing to report to Kristalina Georgieva, indicating that the perceived lack of integrity within leadership compelled him to make his concerns public as a way to ensure his departure from the institution.

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Why did Paul Romer resign from the World Bank?

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