In international economic organisations, which of the following institutions is commonly referred to as the World Bank in popular usage?

Introduction / Context:
The term World Bank is frequently used in discussions about international development finance, but it has a specific institutional meaning. The World Bank Group comprises several organisations, and one of them is most directly associated with the name World Bank. General knowledge and economics questions often test whether candidates can distinguish between this body and other global institutions such as the International Monetary Fund or the World Trade Organization.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question asks for the institution that is also called the World Bank. - The options include IMF, IBRD, WTO and IDA. - The focus is on popular usage of the term World Bank within the World Bank Group. - All listed bodies are significant in global economic governance.

Concept / Approach:
The World Bank Group includes the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, IBRD, and the International Development Association, IDA, among other entities. In strict terms, the name World Bank refers collectively to IBRD and IDA. However, in many competitive exams and general discussions, IBRD is treated as the institution that is commonly called the World Bank. The IMF is a separate institution dealing mainly with balance of payments and macroeconomic stability, while WTO handles trade rules. Therefore, the approach is to identify IBRD as the core institution associated with the term World Bank.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that IBRD stands for International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Step 2: Understand that the World Bank Group consists of IBRD, IDA and a few other entities, but IBRD was the original World Bank institution. Step 3: Recognise that the term World Bank is frequently used in textbooks and exam questions as a synonym for IBRD. Step 4: Distinguish IMF as a separate organisation focusing on monetary cooperation, and WTO as dealing with trade, so neither is the World Bank. Step 5: Therefore, from the given options, IBRD is the one that is also called the World Bank.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard macroeconomics and international relations materials introduce the Bretton Woods institutions and clearly state that the World Bank originally referred to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Later, IDA was created as its associate for concessional lending, and together they are often collectively called the World Bank. Exam oriented notes usually simplify this by stating that IBRD is also known as the World Bank, while IMF is the International Monetary Fund and WTO is the World Trade Organization. This consistency supports IBRD as the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
IMF: The International Monetary Fund is a separate Bretton Woods institution focusing on international monetary cooperation and balance of payments support, not the same as the World Bank, so this option is incorrect.
WTO: The World Trade Organization deals with global trade rules and dispute settlement and is not part of the World Bank Group, so it cannot be the institution also called the World Bank.
IDA: The International Development Association is part of the World Bank Group and works closely with IBRD, but exam questions traditionally identify IBRD as the body known as the World Bank in popular usage, so IDA alone is not the correct choice here.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners confuse the IMF and the World Bank because both were founded at Bretton Woods and work with countries on financial matters. Others may pick IDA, knowing that it is closely associated with the World Bank Group, without recalling that IBRD is the main body linked with the original World Bank name. A further pitfall is to ignore the word Bank and think of any well known global organisation like WTO. To avoid such mistakes, it is helpful to remember that IBRD is the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and that this bank has long been identified with the name World Bank in exam contexts.

Final Answer:
The institution that is commonly referred to as the World Bank is the IBRD, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.