Stiglitz served on President Clinton's Council of Economic Advisors and then spent three years as chief economist at the World Bank. His book clearly explains the functions and powers of the main institutions that govern globalisation - the IMF, the World Bank and the WTO - along with the ramifications, both good and bad, of their policies. He argues that globalisation can be beneficial, particularly for the poor, but only if these bodies dramatically alter the way they operate, beginning with increased transparency and self-examination.