[7] He founded the China Center for Economic Research (currently the Peking University National School of Development) and was later appointed Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank where he served from 2008 to 2012.

Michael Pillsbury remembered Lin being the president of the student body in 1971 while he was studying Chinese at the same university.

"[13][16] A National Taiwan University alumnus Cheng Hung-sheng [zh] confirmed Lin's reason and motive.

[18] On September 16, 2008, Fordham University honored Lin with a reception for being chief economist and senior vice president of the World Bank.

[19] Lin received an Honorary Doctorate from Fordham University in 2009[20] and was elected a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy in 2010.

His 2012 book, The Quest for Prosperity: How Developing Economies Can Take Off, argued for an active role for government in nurturing development, not just through the traditional provision of infrastructure and legal enforcement, but also by identifying and actively supporting industries that contribute to growth.