The top job at the World Bank is unexpectedly up for grabs. Out of the blue, its incumbent president, the Korean-American Jim Yong Kim announced his resignation on Jan 7, saying he will step down on Feb 1 to join a private equity firm. He is leaving with more than three years remaining till the end of his second term.

The resulting vacancy has raised a big question: Will Dr Kim's successor be an American male, for the 13th time in a row?