The World Bank deserves praise for this move

The World Bank has finally decided to make all of its databases (such as the World Development Indicators) publicly available and for free. It has set up a new website that is very easy to use. I just downloaded the entire African Development Indicators back to 1960, for example, in about two minutes.

I would like to sincerely thank the bank for doing this. For years the bank has treated these data as a fee-for-service operation and charged a lot for access to the databases. I always thought this was an unfair business model because it systematically discriminated against the poor folks the bank ostensibly exists to help. I am glad they have re-examined this policy and decided to make the data available free of charge. Go and use it to show your appreciation.

H/T Aid Watch