BANGKOK — Barbados is joining countries calling for an international panel to address inequality, Prime Minister Mia Mottley said at the IMF and World Bank annual meetings, according to Reuters.
Supporters aim for a United Nations General Assembly resolution to formally establish the panel before next summer, according to Reuters. Countries backing the plan include Spain, Brazil, South Africa, Norway, Germany, Mexico, Iceland, Japan and Bangladesh, according to Reuters.
Norway’s Minister of International Development Asmund Aukrust said 15 countries have signed up and more were expected to pledge support at a meeting on Friday in Bangkok, according to Reuters.
Policymakers from developing economies have raised concerns about debt burdens, food and fuel costs and being left behind in artificial intelligence investment, according to Reuters. IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva warned current trends and rapid AI advances could deepen the gap between advanced and developing economies, according to Reuters.
Mottley said addressing inequality is central to ending poverty and creating jobs and ownership, according to Reuters. Aukrust said inequality is shaped by political decisions and can be addressed by them, according to Reuters.
