Washington, June 07: Sixty per cent of people in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa believe that reforms recommended by the World Bank hurt more people than they help, according to a poll conducted by Princeton University. Majority of the people in Europe, Central Asia, China, Vietnam and Cambodia, however, favoured the bank's policies.
The bank had more reason to cheer because a majority of the 2,600 respondents in 48 countries felt it had become "less arrogant" in the last few years.

Opinion leaders polled had a generally positive view of the bank and an overwhelming majority of them said reducing poverty was the key to achieving world peace.
They also said that the gap between rich and poor countries was increasing.
In South Asia, 87 per cent of opinion leaders said poverty reduction was critical to achieving peace. It was 91 per cent in Sub-Saharan Africa, 79 per cent in the Middle East and North Africa and 70 per cent in rich countries.
Social problems were a concern for leaders in South Asia, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa while economic issues led the concerns of leaders in Central and East Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, the poll found.
Bureau Report