A Unified Approach to Measuring Poverty and Inequality: Theory and Practice

In July 1986, Warren C. Baum was interviewed on behalf of the World Bank Group Archives oral history program by Robert W. Oliver. Mr. Baum earned a PhD in economics from Harvard University, and he joined the World Bank after working on the Marshall Plan with the US Government, During his tenure at the Bank from 1959 to 1986, Mr. Baum worked in the following areas: in the Europe, Africa and Australasia department as an economist/loan officer (1959-1962); in the department of operations, Europe, as a loan officer (1962-1964); in the projects department, transportation, as an assistant director (1964-1968) and associate director (1968-1972); as vice president of projects staff (1972-1974); as chairman of the consultative group on international agricultural research (1974-1984); and in operations policy as a vice president (1982-1986). His transcript concerns his time working on projects for France, Algeria, Spain, and Portugal, as well as becoming a liaison between the projects department and the transportation division. His appreciation of the unique experience inspired him to write two books on the work of the World Bank, Investing in Development: Lessons of World Bank Experience and Partners Against Hunger.