A study into large-scale corruption and international aid has finally come to light following reports that its suppression led to the World Bank losing its chief economist.

The paper, commissioned by the Bank and written by one of its own economists along with two academics, found that as much as one-sixth of all international aid sent to the most impoverished countries in the world ends up in tax havens, indicating the potential scale of corrupt officials pilfering donations.

However, the publication of the research was delayed, leading to speculation as to how the findings were received at the Washington-based institution, which dishes out tens of billions of dollars every year in loans, grants, guarantees and investments.

It came after chief economist Pinelopi Goldberg, who joined the Bank in late 2018, announced plans to stand down and return to Yale.

Long-serving director of development economics Simeon Djankov, creator of the Doing Business index on competitiveness, has also resigned.