Fortunately, due to a terrible misunderstanding, I soon found myself working as a consultant to the World Bank. I am not exactly sure what it was that led the World Bank to believe I had any expertise in infrastructure finance. I had never even balanced a checkbook. I hadn't even tried. There is not much reason to balance a checkbook when your checking account rarely tops the three-figure mark. And so, to the Third World countries who had the misfortune of working with me on their infrastructure projects, I wish to apologize.
In a comically ironic twist of fate, the author J. Maarten Troost found himself mistakenly hired as a consultant for the World Bank, despite having no background in infrastructure finance. His lack of financial literacy was apparent, as he had never balanced a checkbook, largely due to his personal financial situation where his checking account rarely exceeded three figures. This absurd misunderstanding highlights the sometimes arbitrary nature of professional qualifications.
Troost...
