World Bank economist sidelined after demanding shorter emails and reports

Paul Romer asked research staff to cut use of the word 'and' in reports or emails and write more succinctly and clearly

The chief economist at the World Bank has stepped down from its research arm after staff were vexed by demands to write succinctly, including cutting superfluous uses of the word "and" in reports or emails.

Paul Romer, 61, will leave the Development Economics Group (DEC), according to a staff announcement reported by Bloomberg. He had asked for shorter emails, while also cutting staff off if they talked for too long during presentations, it said.