Does the G-8 Suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder?
July 10, 2006 As leaders from the world’s most powerful nations prepare to gather in St. Petersburg, Russia, this weekend, observers with even a modicum of memory could be forgiven for wondering whether the leaders suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). After all, it was only one year ago that G-8 leaders met in Gleneagles, Scotland, and–against the background of a massive popular anti-poverty campaign–agreed to do more to reduce global poverty. CGD senior program associate Owen Barder read the flurry of reports assessing whether the G-8 leaders had followed through on their pledges and offered his own thoughtful summary scorecard. Bottom line: • Trade: Progress has been disappointing with the near collapse of the Doha Round trade talks that were supposed to address inequities in the global trading system. CGD research fellow Kimberly Elliott has criticized a “lack of leadership” at the trade talks in Geneva. A strong statement on the need for a successful conclusion to the ro
