Decades of investment and improved policies have greatly increased women's education and health and have reduced their fertility rate. However, the expected payoffs in higher employment and economic g
Benson and Clay of the London based Overseas Development Institute were the principal researchers for this three-year study, initiated to investigate the short- and long-term economic and financial co
Ten years after the 1994 genocide—in which an estimated 10 percent of the country's population perished—Rwanda's devastated education system is now back on its feet. Classrooms have been repaired and
'Causes of Deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon' is part of the World Bank Working Paper series. The report suggests that, in contrast to the 1970s and 1980s, when occupation of Brazilian Amazonia wa
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has been facing considerable economic challenges. Left behind by the industrial revolution, overly dependent on oil resources, and on the fringes of the
Properly used tax expenditures can play an important role in implementing countries' economic and social policies. But they often go unnoticed because they take many forms of revenue forgone, from tax
This book reviews techniques and tools that can be used to evaluate the poverty and distributional impact of economic policy choices. It describes the most robust techniques and tools now available-fr
Good governance—in which public institutions function responsibly, transparently, and accountably—is essential to reducing poverty and stimulating growth. As numerous studies have shown, weak governan
Recent corporate scandals highlight the importance of both public sector initiatives and sound internal company policies in the fight against fraud and corruption. Policymakers, international organiza
International trade in services is affected by a variety of domestic regulations, ranging from qualification and licensing requirements in professional services to pro-competitive telecommunications r
Recent evidence suggests that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is increasing in the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Mediterranean (MENA/EM) region, and that the total number of AIDS-related deaths ha
'The Money Exchange Dealers of Kabul' is an exploratory piece of research on how the informal financial sector operates in conflict-afflicted countries. This paper presents the findings, analyses and
This book, arising from over twenty years experience of working with the world's major faiths, draws extensively upon joint World Bank and ARC (Alliance of Religion and Conservation)/WWF (World Wildli
'Trade, Investment, and Development in the Middle East and North Africa: Engaging with the World' describes why expanding trade and investment is vital for this region. The greatest economic challenge
Violent conflict can spell catastrophe for developing countries and their neighbors, stunting and even reversing the course of economic growth. Recent World Bank research on the causes of conflict and
Over the last few decades the quality of many international water bodies has deteriorated, resulting in economic losses from declines in the fishing industry and in tourism, as well as a loss of biodi
This volume examines the possibilities and pitfalls to successful financial sector tax reform from theoretical, empirical and practical perspectives. It explores the possibilities and limitations of '
This book offers five geographically and institutionally diverse case studies from Latin America, where some of the longest-running and most successful programs in this field have been conducted. Repr
Sustainable poverty reduction and equitable economic development depend on the solid foundation of the rule of law. These reforms are underpinned by legal reform, whether it be to increase efficiency
'State-Owned Banks in the Transition: Origins, Evolution, and Policy Responses' reviews the experience with state banking over the last decade in the transition economies of Europe and Central Asia.
Hospitals remain an important source of critical health care services in most countries, providing both basic and advanced care to their populations. They are often the provider 'of last resort' for t
The salience of East Asia in the global economy is now unquestionable, and with a population of nearly 1.9 billion, its expanding markets will strongly influence the tempo of international trade and t
More than 60 international rivers traverse the continent of Africa. As populations and economies grow, these rivers need to be developed and managed in order to meet the needs of the African people. T
Rapid and sustained growth, in excess of 5% per annum, is key for sustained poverty reduction in Yemen. However, the achievement of such a target is challenging and necessitates aggressive changes in
'Building Competitive Firms: Incentives and Capabilities' explains how firms become competitive in language suitable for both technical and non-technical readers. A simple analytical framework integra
The importance of social capital for sustainable development is well understood. However, the impact of social capital is not easily quantified and to overcome this, the Social Capital Initiative at t
The economies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are diverse in many ways, making it difficult to develop a common social protection strategy. Countries differ in size and per capita in
The trends toward ecosystem degradation and social change are affecting coastal areas around the world, not least in Sub-Saharan Africa. The crisis affecting this region's coastal and marine areas req
The rural populations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region depend, in good part, on forest resources for income generation, fuel-wood for energy, and grazing for livestock, among other us
The development of industrial relations in different countries can be essential in their efforts to balance competitiveness with equitable wages and improved working conditions. Consequently, a well-f
As China continues in its evolution from a planned economy to a market economy, and from an agricultural to a manufacturing and service-oriented economy, issues arising from owner diversification, cor
"'From Many Lands' gives us an opportunity to meet the invisible people, see their invisible world, and hear their voices as they talk among themselves and talk to us. What this will mean to us, that
Globalization is already a powerful force for poverty reduction as societies and economies around the world are becoming more integrated. Although this international integration presents considerable
For decades, governments and donors have attempted to improve social welfare through public support for development finance institutions (DFIs). This monograph presents two measures of social cost. Th
'China: Air, Land, and Water' is a further chapter in the successful and creative dialogue between the World Bank and the People's Republic of China. It focuses on how to promote both China's economic
This book analyzes the cultural heritage sector in the Middle East and North Africa region and the World Bank's policy and operational experiences in this sector over the past six years—1996 to 2001.
This book provides an account of the current understanding of social capital. It covers both theoretical and empirical studies, and the concept is debated throughout. Also included in this volume is t
Reproductive health is a relatively new concept, and this paper constitutes perhaps the first comprehensive overview of reproductive health issues in the region. It presents the complexity of these is
This book is a compendium of Mexico's development process, one that recognizes its comprehensive and multi-faceted nature. It focuses on five overarching themes including fiscal sustainability, growth
'Engendering Development' focuses on gender issues and their broad economic and social implications in developing and transitional countries. The report examines the conceptual and empirical links bet
