The US and the Asian Development Bank: Origins, structure and lending operations

Donor influence in multilateral development banks: The case of the Asian Development Bank

“…However, several studies of World Bank lending uncover patterns of apparent donor influence that reflect trade and commercial financial flows (Fleck & Kilby, 2006;Frey & Schneider, 1986;Weck-Hannemann & Schneider, 1991) and UN voting (Andersen et al, 2006). Japanese and U.S. influence is the focus of much of the literature on ADB governance (Dutt, 1997(Dutt, , 2001Krasner, 1981;Wan, 1995;Wihtol, 1988;Yasutomo, 1983Yasutomo, , 1995. Japan has significant sway because of its generous funding (especially for the ADF) and Bank staffing (Japanese president and close ties with Japan's Ministry of Finance).…”

“…U.S. influence derives from its leading economic and military position in world affairs, the ADB charter which gives the U.S. and Japan equal voting weights, and funding mechanisms which allow the most recalcitrant member-typically the U.S.-significant leverage (Wihtol, 1988). Mirroring patterns in bilateral aid, analysis of governance suggests that the ADB promotes both Japanese commercial interests and U.S. economic and geopolitical interests (Dutt, 1997(Dutt, , 2001Wihtol, 1988).…”

Informal influence in the Asian Development Bank

“…14 The sample excludes eight influential observations (Afghanistan 1992;Solomon Islands 1995, 2001Tuvalu 2003-5;Vanuatu 2003;Vietnam 1985). Excluding these data points, results are robust across specifications and sub-samples (e.g., omitting individual countries or years).…”

“…The ADB charter gives the U.S. and Japan equal voting weights and the organization's funding mechanisms allow the most recalcitrant member-typically the U.S.-significant leverage (Wihtol 1988). Analysis of the ADB's formal governance structure suggests that the institution serves both Japanese and U.S. interests (Dutt 1997(Dutt , 2001Wihtol 1988).…”

“…Research on ADB governance focuses primarily on Japanese and U.S. influence (Dutt 1997(Dutt , 2001Kilby 2006;Krasner 1981;Wan 1995;Wihtol 1988;Yasutomo 1983Yasutomo , 1995. Japan has significant sway for two key reasons: its generous funding of the ADF and technical assistance grants; and high ranking Japanese nationals in the Bank staffing (including the president).…”