David Lilienthal, la Banca Mondiale e lo sviluppo una rete transnazionale di economic advising (1950-1957)

International economic advising is built on the complex interaction between different actors on many levels. Multiple entities are positioned between international lending institutions and local governments in the coordination of development programs. Our article focuses on the interaction between the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, commonly called “The World Bank”, and David Lilienthal who collaborated with the international missions led by the Bank during the 50s. We analyze their first projects together, shedding light on the way in which their policies emerged and on the reception of these policies by host countries, through the development of a “know-how” in the interaction with the World Bank. The three cases taken in exam illustrate how the first steps of the collaboration between David Lilienthal and the World Bank contributed to the development of a transnational network of economic advisors that shaped developmental policies and projects as a set of institutions continually readapted by actors’ strategies.