Global 3000 # This week's interview is with Francois Bourguignon, a former World Bank chief economist (2003-2007) # 30.03.2009

Developing and emerging countries have been among the hardest hit by the global financial crisis. Many of them are struggling with rising interest rates just as prices for raw materials are falling. Bourguignon says they need substantial financial assistance, because they already have big current account deficits. Soon they will no longer be able to pay for the imported goods they need, threatening to destroy progress that took years to achieve.