Cases / Finance, funds and markets · Africa (regional) · 1991–1993
1991 World Bank memo signed by Lawrence Summers on pollution in Africa
Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.
Nature's voice · report
No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Did nature suffer? Not measured.
Not on record
- The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
A December 1991 World Bank memo signed by chief economist Lawrence Summers said less-populated African countries were under-polluted. The memo's author later called the text satirical, and Summers said he had signed it without adequate review.
What?
A December 1991 World Bank internal memo signed by Lawrence Summers said less-populated African countries were under-polluted. Wikipedia
Where?
Internal World Bank memo; its subject is less-populated countries in Africa. Wikipedia
When?
Dated 12 December 1991; Summers acknowledged in 1993 that he had signed it after inadequate review. Wikipedia
Who?
Gained
None on recordLost
None on recordHarmed
None on recordWhy?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
How?
An internal memo; the sources reviewed do not describe how it was circulated or acted on. Wikipedia
5 of 6 questions answered from the record · open: who
What happened
The record, in order.
In December 1991 the World Bank's chief economist, Lawrence Summers, signed an internal memo that said less-populated African countries were under-polluted, according to Wikipedia's account of the memo.
The memo's author, Lant Pritchett, said the text was satirical.
Summers acknowledged in 1993 that he had signed the memo after reviewing it inadequately.
In court and with insurers
Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.
Lawsuits and rulings
No court case on record. No court has ruled on this case.
Insurers
No insurer decision on record.
What we don't know
Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.
Nature
- Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.
Record
- Insufficient Reported but not verified: the memo argued that toxic waste should be moved to low-wage countries on economic grounds.
- Disputed Disputed: the memo's authorship and whether it was meant ironically are contested in the sources.
- None on record Not stated: any policy, shipment or outcome that followed the memo.
Did the harm stop?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Who paid?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
Sources
Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations— Communities and civil society— Researchers
Press and investigations
- Summers memo (encyclopaedia article)Wikipedia ·
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