Over many years, developing countries have shown apathy toward higher education development and reduced public investment in it. This has allowed market forces to play a larger role in higher education, but since markets in developing nations are incomplete, the outcomes have been imperfect and sometimes disastrous. While international organizations like the World Bank once discouraged higher education expansion, views have shifted to recognize its importance. However, developing country governments continue neglecting higher education, reflected in disinvestment and growth of private provision. Gross enrollment ratios remain much lower in developing regions than developed ones.