Your email was sent successfully. Check your inbox.

An error occurred while sending the email. Please try again.

Proceed reservation?

Export
Filter
  • Online Resource  (308)
  • English  (308)
  • Japanese
  • 1995-1999  (308)
  • Washington, D.C : The World Bank  (308)
Datasource
Material
  • Online Resource  (308)
Language
Years
Year
Author, Corporation
Publisher
Keywords
Subjects(RVK)
  • 1
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Adjustment and Poverty in Mexican Agriculture : How Farmers' Wealth Affects Supply Response (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (54 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Lopez, Ramon Adjustment and Poverty in Mexican Agriculture
    Keywords: Access To Irrigation ; Agricultural Activities ; Agriculture ; Agriculture and Farming Systems ; Commercial Bank ; Credit Markets ; Crops and Crop Management Systems ; Economic Theory and Research ; Farm Decisions ; Farm Households ; Farm Income ; Farm Work ; Farmer ; Farmers ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Investment and Investment Climate ; Irrigation ; Landholdings ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Markets and Market Access ; Natural Disaster ; Poor Farmer ; Poor Farmers ; Poverty ; Poverty Reduction ; Rural Development ; Rural Development Knowledge and Information Systems ; Rural Financial Markets ; Rural Poverty ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Rural Sector ; Small Farms ; Access To Irrigation ; Agricultural Activities ; Agriculture ; Agriculture and Farming Systems ; Commercial Bank ; Credit Markets ; Crops and Crop Management Systems ; Economic Theory and Research ; Farm Decisions ; Farm Households ; Farm Income ; Farm Work ; Farmer ; Farmers ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Investment and Investment Climate ; Irrigation ; Landholdings ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Markets and Market Access ; Natural Disaster ; Poor Farmer ; Poor Farmers ; Poverty ; Poverty Reduction ; Rural Development ; Rural Development Knowledge and Information Systems ; Rural Financial Markets ; Rural Poverty ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Rural Sector ; Small Farms
    Abstract: August 1995 - By and large, it appears that the goals of agricultural reform are being met in Mexico. But measures such as decoupling income supports and price supports or reorienting research and extension could help farmers who cannot afford access to machinery and purchased inputs and services. López, Nash, and Stanton report the results of a study of Mexican farm households using 1991 survey data and a smaller resurvey of some of the same households in 1993. One study goal was to empirically examine the relationship between assets and the output supply function. Using a production model focusing on capital as a productive input, they found that both the supply level and the responsiveness (elasticities) to changing input and output prices tend to depend on the farmer's net assets and on how productive assets are used. Regression analysis using data from the surveys shows that farmers who use productive assets such as machinery tend to be positively responsive to price changes, while those with no access to such assets are not. Another study goal was to monitor the condition of Mexican farmers in a rapidly changing policy environment. The 1991 survey data suggest that farmers with more limited use of capital inputs (the low-CI group) were more likely to grow principally corn and to grow fewer crops, on average, than the others. They also had more problems getting credit and were less likely to use purchased inputs, such as seeds, fertilizer, and pesticides, or to use a tractor to prepare the soil. They tended to be less well-educated, and their land tended to be of lower quality. Results from the panel data showed conditions generally improving for the average farmer in the sample area between 1991 and 1993, during a period when agricultural reforms were implemented. Cropping patterns were more diversified, the average size of landholdings increased, the average farmer received more credit (in real terms), more farm households earned income from off-farm work, and more farmers used purchased inputs. Asset ownership and educational attainment also improved modestly. The very small low-CI group in this sample fared as well as, or better than, the other groups. True, their level of educational achievement fell, and fewer of them had off-farm income than in 1991. But their use of credit, irrigation, machinery, and purchased inputs increased more than for other groups. The limited data are not proof of a causal link, but the fact that the goals are being met should at least ensure that adverse conditions are not undermining reform. Farmers that lacked access to productive assets did not respond as well to incentives or take advantage of the opportunities presented by reform and may need assistance, particularly to get access to credit markets. There may be a good argument for decoupling income supports from price supports for farmers, since income payments that are independent of the vagaries of production could provide a more stable signal of creditworthiness than price supports do. Possibly reorienting research and extension services more to the needs of low-CI producers could also improve the efficiency with which the sector adjusts to new incentives. Hypotheses and tentative conclusions from this study will be explored further when more data are collected in 1995. This paper - a product of the International Trade Division, International Economics Department---is part of a larger effort in the department to investigate the effects of international trade policy on individual producers. The study was funded by the Bank's Research Support Budget under the research project Rural Poverty and Agriculture in Mexico: An Analysis of Farm Decisions and Supply Responsiveness (RPO 678-23)
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 2
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    The Dynamics of Poverty : Why Some People Escape from Poverty and Others Don't?An African Case Study (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (32 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Kanbur, Ravi The Dynamics of Poverty
    Keywords: Chronically Poor ; Communities & Human Settlements ; Debt Markets ; Economic Policies ; Economic Theory and Research ; Farm Size ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Household Income ; Household Size ; Household Welfare ; Housing and Human Habitats ; Human Capital ; Incidence Of Poverty ; Income ; Investment and Investment Climate ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; New Poor ; Nonfarm Income ; Old Age ; Poor People ; Poverty ; Poverty Diagnostics ; Poverty Incidence ; Poverty Lines ; Poverty Monitoring and Analysis ; Poverty Reduction ; Rural ; Rural Areas ; Rural Development ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Targeting ; Temporarily Poor ; Transfers ; Chronically Poor ; Communities & Human Settlements ; Debt Markets ; Economic Policies ; Economic Theory and Research ; Farm Size ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Household Income ; Household Size ; Household Welfare ; Housing and Human Habitats ; Human Capital ; Incidence Of Poverty ; Income ; Investment and Investment Climate ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; New Poor ; Nonfarm Income ; Old Age ; Poor People ; Poverty ; Poverty Diagnostics ; Poverty Incidence ; Poverty Lines ; Poverty Monitoring and Analysis ; Poverty Reduction ; Rural ; Rural Areas ; Rural Development ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Targeting ; Temporarily Poor ; Transfers
    Abstract: August 1995 - In urban areas of Côte d'Ivoire, human capital is the endowment that best explains welfare changes over time. In rural areas, physical capital - especially the amount of land and farm equipment owned - matters most. Empirical investigations of poverty in developing countries tend to focus on the incidence of poverty at a particular point in time. If the incidence of poverty increases, however, there is no information about how many new poor have joined the existing poor and how many people have escaped poverty. Yet this distinction is of crucial policy importance. The chronically poor may need programs to enhance their human and physical capital endowments. Invalids and the very old may need permanent (targeted) transfers. The temporarily poor, on the other hand, may best be helped with programs that complement their own resources and help them bridge a difficult period. Results from analyses of panel surveys show significant mobility into and out of poverty and reveal a dynamism of the poor that policy should stimulate. Understanding what separates chronic from temporary poverty requires knowing which characteristics differentiate those who escape poverty from those who don't. In earlier work, Grootaert, Kanbur, and Oh found that region of residence and socioeconomic status were important factors. In this paper they investigate the role of other household characteristics, especially such asset endowments as human and physical capital, in the case of Côte d'Ivoire. In urban areas of Côte d'Ivoire, human capital is the most important endowment explaining welfare changes over time. Households with well-educated members suffered less loss of welfare than other households. What seems to have mattered, though, is the skills learned through education, not the diplomas obtained. Diplomas may even have worked against some households in having oriented workers too much toward a formal labor market in a time when employment growth came almost entirely from small enterprises. In rural areas, physical capital - especially the amount of land and farm equipment owned - mattered most. Smallholders were more likely to suffer welfare declines. Households with diversified sources of income managed better, especially if they had an important source of nonfarm income. In both rural and urban areas, larger households suffered greater declines in welfare and households that got larger were unable to increase income enough to maintain their former welfare level. Households whose heads worked in the public sector maintained welfare better than other households, a finding that confirms earlier observations. The results also suggest that government policies toward certain regions or types of household can outweigh the effects of household endownments. Surprisingly, migrant non-Ivorian households tended to be better at preventing welfare losses than Ivorian households, while households headed by women did better than those headed by men (after controlling for differences in or changes in endowment). The implications for policymakers? First, education is associated with higher welfare levels and helps people cope better with economic decline. Second, targeting the social safety net to larger households - possibly through the schools, to reach children - is justified in periods of decline. Third, smallholders might be targeted in rural areas, and ways found to encourage diversification of income there. This paper - a joint product of the Social Policy and Resettlement Division, Environment Department, and the Africa Regional Office, Office of the Chief Economist - is the result of a research project on The Dynamics of Poverty: Why Some People Escape Poverty and Others Don't, A Panel Analysis for Côte d'Ivoire (RPO 678-70)
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 3
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Aid Allocation and Poverty Reduction (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (46 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Dollar, David Aid Allocation and Poverty Reduction
    Keywords: Development Efforts ; Domestic Poverty ; Economic Growth ; Elimination Of Poverty ; Emergencies ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Level Of Poverty ; Living Standards ; National Policy ; Policies ; Policy Level ; Poor People ; Population Policies ; Poverty ; Poverty Reduction ; Poverty Reduction ; Pro-Poor Growth ; Quantitative Measures ; Recipient Countries ; Respect ; Rule Of Law ; Rural Development ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Sectoral Policies ; Services and Transfers to Poor ; Sustainable Growth ; War ; Development Efforts ; Domestic Poverty ; Economic Growth ; Elimination Of Poverty ; Emergencies ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Level Of Poverty ; Living Standards ; National Policy ; Policies ; Policy Level ; Poor People ; Population Policies ; Poverty ; Poverty Reduction ; Poverty Reduction ; Pro-Poor Growth ; Quantitative Measures ; Recipient Countries ; Respect ; Rule Of Law ; Rural Development ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Sectoral Policies ; Services and Transfers to Poor ; Sustainable Growth ; War
    Abstract: In the efficient allocation of aid, aid is targeted disproportionately to countries with severe poverty and adequate policies. For a given level of poverty, aid tapers in with policy reform. In the actual allocation of aid, aid tapers out with reform. - Aid now lifts about 30 million people a year out of absolute poverty. With a poverty-efficient allocation, the same amount of aid would lift about 80 million people out of poverty. Collier and Dollar derive a poverty-efficient allocation of aid and compare it with actual aid allocations. They build the poverty-efficient allocation in two stages. First they use new World Bank ratings of 20 different aspects of national policy to establish the current relationship between aid, policies, and growth. Onto that, they add a mapping from growth to poverty reduction, which reflects the level and distribution of income. They compare the effects of using headcount and poverty-gap measures of poverty. They find the actual allocation of aid to be radically different from the poverty-efficient allocation. In the efficient allocation, for a given level of poverty, aid tapers in with policy reform. In the actual allocation, aid tapers out with reform. In the efficient allocation, aid is targeted disproportionately to countries with severe poverty and adequate policies - the type of country where 74 percent of the world's poor live. In the actual allocation, such countries receive a much smaller share of aid (56 percent) than their share of the world's poor. With the present allocation, aid is effective in sustainably lifting about 30 million people a year out of absolute poverty. With a poverty-efficient allocation, this would increase to about 80 million people. Even with political constraints introduced to keep allocations for India and China constant, poverty reduction would increase to about 60 million. Reallocating aid is politically difficult, but it may be considerably less difficult than quadrupling aid budgets, which is what the authors estimate would be necessary to achieve the same impact on poverty reduction with existing aid allocations. This paper - a joint product of the Office of the Director, and Macroeconomics and Growth, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to examine aid effectiveness. The authors may be contacted at pcollierworldbank.org or ddollar@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 4
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Do Depositors Punish Banks for Bad Behavior? : Market Discipline in Argentina, Chile, and Mexico (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (57 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Peria, Maria Do Depositors Punish Banks for Bad Behavior?
    Keywords: Bank ; Bank Deposits ; Bank Risk ; Banking ; Banking Crises ; Banking Sector ; Banks ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Debt Markets ; Deposit Insurance ; Deposit Insurance Schemes ; Deposits ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Intermediation ; Financial Literacy ; Guarantees ; Industry ; Interest ; Interest Rates ; Loans ; Market Discipline ; Monetary Policies ; Moral Hazard ; Prudential Regulations ; Savings ; Bank ; Bank Deposits ; Bank Risk ; Banking ; Banking Crises ; Banking Sector ; Banks ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Debt Markets ; Deposit Insurance ; Deposit Insurance Schemes ; Deposits ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Intermediation ; Financial Literacy ; Guarantees ; Industry ; Interest ; Interest Rates ; Loans ; Market Discipline ; Monetary Policies ; Moral Hazard ; Prudential Regulations ; Savings
    Abstract: February 1999 - A study of the banking industries of Argentina, Chile, and Mexico in the 1980s and 1990s finds that across countries and across deposit insurance schemes, market discipline exists even among small insured depositors - who punish risky banks by withdrawing their deposits. Bank fundamentals are at least as important as other factors affecting deposit behavior. Peria and Schmukler examine the banking industries of Argentina, Chile, and Mexico to see if market discipline existed there in the 1980s and 1990s. Using a set of bank panel data, they test for the presence of market discipline by studying whether depositors punish risky banks by withdrawing their deposits. They find that across countries and across deposit insurance schemes, market discipline exists even among small insured depositors-who punish risky banks by withdrawing their deposits. Standardized coefficients and variance decomposition of deposits indicate that bank fundamentals are at least as important as other factors affecting deposits. GMM estimates confirm that the results are robust to the potential endo-geneity of bank fundamentals. This paper-a joint product of Finance, Development Research Group and the Office of the Chief Economist, Latin America and Carribean Region-is part of a larger effort in the Bank to study banking issues affecting developing countries. The study was funded by the LAC Regional Studies Program and by the Bank's Research Support Budget under research project Deposit Insurance Design and Use (RPO 682-90). The authors may be contacted at mmartinezperiaworldbank.org or sschmukler@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 5
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Mutual Funds and Institutional Investments : What Is the Most Efficient Way to Set Up Individual Accounts in a Social Security System? (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (65 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: James, Estelle Mutual Funds and Institutional Investments
    Keywords: Administrative Costs ; Bank ; Contribution ; Debt Markets ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Industry ; Financial Literacy ; Financial Markets ; Financial Sustainability ; Individual Accounts ; Investment ; Investment Companies ; Investment and Investment Climate ; Investments ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Money ; Money Market ; Mutual Fund ; Mutual Funds ; Populations ; Private Sector Development ; Research Assistance ; Retirement ; Retirement Benefits ; Saving ; Social Security ; Administrative Costs ; Bank ; Contribution ; Debt Markets ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Industry ; Financial Literacy ; Financial Markets ; Financial Sustainability ; Individual Accounts ; Investment ; Investment Companies ; Investment and Investment Climate ; Investments ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Money ; Money Market ; Mutual Fund ; Mutual Funds ; Populations ; Private Sector Development ; Research Assistance ; Retirement ; Retirement Benefits ; Saving ; Social Security
    Abstract: April 1999 - Among three options for constructing funded social security pillars, one system - individual accounts invested in the institutional market, with constrained choice among investment companies - appears to offer reduced administrative and marketing costs, significant worker choice, and more insulation from political interference than a single centralized fund or individual investments in the retail market would offer. One of the main criticisms of the defined-contribution, individual-account components of social security systems is that they are too expensive. James, Ferrier, Smalhout, and Vittas investigate the cost-effectiveness of three options for constructing funded social security pillars: ° Individual accounts invested in the retail market with relatively open choice. ° Individual accounts invested in the institutional market with constrained choice among investment companies. ° A centralized fund without individual accounts or differentiated investments across individuals. The authors asked several questions: What is the most cost-effective way to organize a system with mandatory individual accounts? How does the cost of an efficient individual account system compare with that of a single centralized fund? And are the cost differentials great enough to outweigh other important considerations? The authors concentrate on countries with well-functioning financial markets, such as the United States, but make comparative references to developing countries. Based on empirical evidence about U.S. mutual and institutional funds, the authors found that the retail market (option 1) allows individual investors to benefit from scale economies in asset management-but at the cost of the high marketing expenses needed to attract large pools of small investments. By contrast, a centralized fund (option 3) can be much cheaper because it achieves scale economies without high marketing costs. But it gives workers no choice and is subject to political manipulation and misallocation of capital. The system of constrained choice (option 2) is much cheaper than the retail option and only slightly more expensive than a single centralized fund. It allows scale economies in asset management and record-keeping while incurring low marketing costs and allowing significant worker choice. It is also more effectively insulated from political interference than a single centralized fund. The authors estimate that option 2 would cost only 0.14 percent-0.18 percent of assets annually. Such large administrative cost savings imply a Pareto improvement-so long as choice is not constrained too much. This paper-a product of Poverty and Human Resources and Finance, Development Research Group-was prepared for a National Bureau of Economic Research Conference on Social Security held on December 4, 1998. The authors may be contacted at ejames3worldbank.org or dvittas@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 6
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    The Relative Effects of Skill Formation and Job Matching on Wage Growth in Ethiopia (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (49 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Mengistae, Taye The Relative Effects of Skill Formation and Job Matching on Wage Growth in Ethiopia
    Keywords: Earning ; Economic Theory and Research ; Employees ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Firm Level ; Human Capital ; Job ; Job Match ; Job Matches ; Job Separation ; Job Skill ; Jobs ; Labor Markets ; Labour ; Labour Market ; Labour Market Experience ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Older Workers ; Political Economy ; Productivity Increase ; Social Protections and Labor ; Wage Determination ; Wage Rate ; Wage Rates ; Worker ; Workers ; Earning ; Economic Theory and Research ; Employees ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Firm Level ; Human Capital ; Job ; Job Match ; Job Matches ; Job Separation ; Job Skill ; Jobs ; Labor Markets ; Labour ; Labour Market ; Labour Market Experience ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Older Workers ; Political Economy ; Productivity Increase ; Social Protections and Labor ; Wage Determination ; Wage Rate ; Wage Rates ; Worker ; Workers
    Abstract: April 1999 - Estimated age and job seniority profiles of wages and marginal productivity in Ethiopia suggest that both skill formation and job matching significantly affect growth of wages and productivity over time. However, job matching is by far the more important of the two sources of growth in wages and productivity. Mengistae analyzes production and labor market data for a random selection of small to medium-size firms in Ethiopia to answer two questions: ° Does a worker's marginal productivity increase with time in the labor market or with job seniority, as must be the case if on-the-job skill formation or job matching has anything to do with the dynamics of wages observed in the data? ° Assuming that marginal productivity grows with experience or seniority, is skill formation more or less important than job matching as a source of growth in productivity? The main feature of Mengistae's analysis is the joint regression of the log of the average product of hours in a firm and the log of average hourly earnings of a firm's employees on the shares of experience-seniority cells of workers in total annual hours in the firm. Marginal productivity falls as experience in the labor market passes the 15-year mark, but the expected marginal product of a mobile worker with 16 or more years of experience is still nearly 80 percent higher than that of the base group. The between-jobs growth of hourly wages with potential experience is also large, but not as large as growth in marginal productivity for workers with less than 15 years of experience. Mengistae concludes that job matching is far more important than skill formation as a source of growth in productivity. Net mobility gains account for at least twice the share of the return to skill formation in the observed between-jobs growth of wages with market experience. The rate of return to skills formation is higher in the United States than in Ethiopia. The relative return to skills formation is probably lower in Ethiopia partly because the flow of information about the labor market is more restricted there. This paper-a product of the Development Research Group-is part of a larger effort in the group to identify firm-level sources of growth in productivity. The author may be contacted at tmengistaeworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 7
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Can Africa Export Manufactures? : The Role of Endowment, Exchange Rates, and Transaction Costs (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (23 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Elbadawi, A. Ibrahim Can Africa Export Manufactures?
    Keywords: Capital Markets ; Comparative Advantage ; Comparative Advantages ; Competitiveness ; Costs ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Debt Markets ; Development ; Economic Stabilization ; Economic Theory and Research ; Elasticity ; Emerging Markets ; Exchange ; Exports ; Failures ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Free Trade ; Goods ; Human Capital ; Income Elasticity Of Demand ; Inequality ; International Economics & Trade ; Investment ; Macroeconomic Management ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Natural Resources ; Poverty Reduction ; Private Sector Development ; Pro-Poor Growth ; Taxation ; Taxes ; Theory ; Trade ; Variables ; Capital Markets ; Comparative Advantage ; Comparative Advantages ; Competitiveness ; Costs ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Debt Markets ; Development ; Economic Stabilization ; Economic Theory and Research ; Elasticity ; Emerging Markets ; Exchange ; Exports ; Failures ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Free Trade ; Goods ; Human Capital ; Income Elasticity Of Demand ; Inequality ; International Economics & Trade ; Investment ; Macroeconomic Management ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Natural Resources ; Poverty Reduction ; Private Sector Development ; Pro-Poor Growth ; Taxation ; Taxes ; Theory ; Trade ; Variables
    Abstract: May 1999 - Africa's poor performance in manufactured exports in the 1990s (relative to East Asia) appears to be largely the result of bad policies-especially policies that affect transaction costs. Elbadawi analyzes the determinants of manufactured exports in Africa and other developing countries, guided by three pivotal views on Sub-Saharan Africa's (Africa's) prospects in manufactured exports: ° Adrian Woods holds that Africa cannot have comparative advantage in exports of labor-intensive manufactures (even if broadly defined to include raw material processing) because its natural resources endowment is greater than its human resources endowment (endowment thesis). ° Paul Collier argues that, for most of Africa, unusually high (policy-induced) transaction costs are the main source of Africa's comparative disadvantage in manufactured exports (transaction thesis). ° A third approach (Elbadawi and Helleiner) emphasizes the importance of stable, competitive real exchange rates for profitability of exports in low-income countries (exchange rate-led strategy). Elbadawi tests the implications of these three views with an empirical model of manufactured export performance (manufactured exports' share of GDP), using a panel of 41 countries for 1980-95. His findings: ° Corroborate the predictions of the transaction thesis, in that transaction costs are major determinants of manufactures exports. Investing in reducing these costs generates the highest payoff for export capacity. ° Lend support for the exchange rate-led strategy. After controlling for other factors, ratios of natural resources per worker were not robustly associated with export performance across countries, but this cannot be taken as formal rejection of the endowment thesis - unless one is prepared to assume that manufactured exports' share of GDP was highly correlated with ratios of manufactured to aggregate (or primary) exports. But this is not unlikely. This paper-a product of Public Economics, Development Research Group-is part of a larger effort in the group to research manufactures exports' competitiveness. The author may be contacted at ielbadawiworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 8
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Access to Land in Rural India (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (56 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Mearns, Robin Access to Land in Rural India
    Keywords: Agrarian Structure ; Agriculture ; Common Property Resource Development ; Communities & Human Settlements ; Countries ; Farm Size ; Farmland ; Land ; Land Administration ; Land Distribution ; Land Markets ; Land Ownership ; Land Records ; Land Reform ; Land Reforms ; Land Registration ; Land Rights ; Land Tenure ; Land Transfers ; Land Use and Policies ; Land and Real Estate Development ; Landlessness ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Municipal Housing and Land ; Political Economy ; Poverty Reduction ; Private Sector Development ; Public Access To Land ; Public Land ; Public Sector Management and Reform ; Real Estate Development ; Rural Development ; Rural Development Knowledge and Information Systems ; Rural Land Policies for Poverty Reduction ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Agrarian Structure ; Agriculture ; Common Property Resource Development ; Communities & Human Settlements ; Countries ; Farm Size ; Farmland ; Land ; Land Administration ; Land Distribution ; Land Markets ; Land Ownership ; Land Records ; Land Reform ; Land Reforms ; Land Registration ; Land Rights ; Land Tenure ; Land Transfers ; Land Use and Policies ; Land and Real Estate Development ; Landlessness ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Municipal Housing and Land ; Political Economy ; Poverty Reduction ; Private Sector Development ; Public Access To Land ; Public Land ; Public Sector Management and Reform ; Real Estate Development ; Rural Development ; Rural Development Knowledge and Information Systems ; Rural Land Policies for Poverty Reduction ; Rural Poverty Reduction
    Abstract: May 1999 - Access to land is deeply important in rural India, where the incidence of poverty is highly correlated with lack of access to land. The author provides a framework for assessing alternative approaches to improving access to land by India's rural poor. He considers India's record implementing land reform and identifies an approach that includes incremental reforms in public land administration to reduce transaction costs in land markets (thereby facilitating land transfers) and to increase transparency, making information accessible to the public to ensure that socially excluded groups benefit. Reducing constraints on access to land for the rural poor and socially excluded requires five key issues: restrictions on land-lease markets, the fragmentation of holdings, the widespread failure to translate women's legal rights into practice, poor access to (and encroachment on) the commons, and high transaction costs for land transfers. Among guidelines for policy reform the author suggests: -Selectively deregulate land-lease (rental) markets, because rental markets may be important in giving the poor access to land. -Reduce transaction costs in land markets, including both official costs and informal costs (such as bribes to expedite transactions), partly by improving systems for land registration and management of land records. -Critically reassess land administration agencies and find ways to improve incentive structures, to reduce rent-seeking and base promotions on performance. -Promote women's independent land rights through policy measures to increase women's bargaining power within the household and in society generally. -Improve transparency of land administration and public access to information, to reduce rent-seeking by land administration officers and to strengthen poor people's land rights (and knowledge thereof). -Strengthen institutions in civil society to provide the awareness, monitoring, and pressure needed for successful reform and to provide checks and balances on inappropriate uses of state power. -In a companion paper (WPS 2124) the author addresses these issues at the level of a particular state - Orissa, one of India ' s poorest states - in an empirical study, from a transaction costs perspective, of social exclusion and land administration. This paper - a product of the Rural Development Sector Unit, South Asia Region - is part of a larger effort in the region to promote access to land and to foster more demand-driven and socially inclusive institutions in rural development
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 9
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Deep Integration, Nondiscrimination, and Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (44 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Hoekman, Bernard Deep Integration, Nondiscrimination, and Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade
    Keywords: Bilateral Free Trade Agreement ; Competition Laws ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Customs Clearance ; Debt Markets ; Domestic Regulatory Policies ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Foreign Suppliers ; Free Trade ; Free Trade ; International Economics & Trade ; Law and Development ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Market Access ; Market Access Costs ; Market Segmentation ; Market Segmenting ; Market Segmenting Effect ; Preferential Trade ; Preferential Trade Agreements ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Development ; Regional Integration ; Regionalism ; Regulatory Barriers ; Regulatory Stance ; Safety Regulations ; Tariff ; Tariff Barriers ; Trade Law ; Trade Policy ; Trade and Regional Integration ; Bilateral Free Trade Agreement ; Competition Laws ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Customs Clearance ; Debt Markets ; Domestic Regulatory Policies ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Foreign Suppliers ; Free Trade ; Free Trade ; International Economics & Trade ; Law and Development ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Market Access ; Market Access Costs ; Market Segmentation ; Market Segmenting ; Market Segmenting Effect ; Preferential Trade ; Preferential Trade Agreements ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Development ; Regional Integration ; Regionalism ; Regulatory Barriers ; Regulatory Stance ; Safety Regulations ; Tariff ; Tariff Barriers ; Trade Law ; Trade Policy ; Trade and Regional Integration
    Abstract: May 1999 - Preferential trade agreements that are limited to the elimination of tariffs for merchandise trade flows are of limited value at best and may be as easily welfare-reducing as welfare-enhancing. It is important that preferential trade agreements go beyond eliminating tariffs and quotas to eliminating regulatory and red tape costs and opening up service markets to foreign competition. Deep integration-explicit government actions to reduce the market-segmenting effect of domestic regulatory policies through coordination and cooperation-is becoming a major dimension of some regional integration agreements, led by the European Union. Health and safety regulations, competition laws, licensing and certification regimes, and administrative procedures such as customs clearance can affect trade (in ways analogous to nontariff barriers) even though their underlying intent may not be to discriminate against foreign suppliers of goods and services. Whether preferential trade agreements (PTAs) can be justified in a multilateral trading system depends on the extent to which formal intergovernmental agreements are technically necessary to achieve the deep integration needed to make markets more contestable. The more need for formal cooperation, the stronger the case for regional integration. Whether PTAs are justified regionally also depends on whether efforts to reduce market segmentation are applied on a nondiscriminatory basis. If innovations to reduce transaction or market access costs extend to both members and nonmembers of a PTA, regionalism as an instrument of trade and investment becomes more attractive. Using a standard competitive general equilibrium model of the Egyptian economy, Hoekman and Konan find that the static welfare impact of a deep free trade agreement is far greater than the impact that can be expected from a classic shallow agreement. Under some scenarios, welfare may increase by more than 10 percent of GDP, compared with close to zero under a shallow agreement. Given Egypt's highly diversified trading patterns, a shallow PTA with the European Union could be merely diversionary, leading to a small decline in welfare. Egypt already has duty-free access to the European Union for manufactures, so the loss in tariff revenues incurred would outweigh any new trade created. Large gains in welfare from the PTA are conditional on eliminating regulatory barriers and red tape-in which case welfare gains may be substantial: 4 to 20 percent growth in real GNP. This paper-a product of the Development Research Group-is part of a larger effort in the group to analyze regional integration agreements. The authors may be contacted at bhoekmanworldbank.org or konan@hawaii.edu
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 10
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Interlinkage, limited liability, and strategic interaction (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (37 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Basu, Kaushik Interlinkage, Limited Liability, and Strategic Interaction
    Keywords: Amount Of Cred Borrower ; Contract Law ; Contracts ; Contractual Obligations ; Credit Contract ; Debt Markets ; Default ; Discount ; Discount Rates ; Economic Theory and Research ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Instrument ; Instruments ; Labor Policies ; Law and Development ; Limited Liability ; Loan ; Loan Contracts ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Moneylender ; Moral Hazard ; Option ; Risk Aversion ; Risk Neutral ; Social Protections and Labor ; Unlimited Liability ; Amount Of Cred Borrower ; Contract Law ; Contracts ; Contractual Obligations ; Credit Contract ; Debt Markets ; Default ; Discount ; Discount Rates ; Economic Theory and Research ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Instrument ; Instruments ; Labor Policies ; Law and Development ; Limited Liability ; Loan ; Loan Contracts ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Moneylender ; Moral Hazard ; Option ; Risk Aversion ; Risk Neutral ; Social Protections and Labor ; Unlimited Liability
    Abstract: June 1999 - When will a landlord prefer to supply both land and credit to a tenant rather than allow the lender to borrow from a separate moneylender? The paper shows that if tenancy contracts are obtained prior to contracting with the moneylender, and the tenant has limited liability, interlinked deals will predominate over the alternative situation where the landlord and the moneylender act as noncooperative principals. Basu, Bell, and Bose analyze the example of a landlord, a moneylender, and a tenant (the landlord having access to finance on the same terms as the moneylender). It is natural to assume that the landlord has first claim on the tenant's output (as a rule, if they live in the same village, he may have some say in when the crop is harvested). The moneylender is more of an outsider, not well placed to exercise such a claim. A landless, assetless tenant will typically not get a loan unless he has a tenancy. Without interlinkage, the landlord is likely to move first. In the noncooperative sequential game where the landlord is the first mover and also enjoys seniority of claims if the tenant defaults, interlinkage is superior, even if contracts are nonlinear - a result unchanged with the incorporation of moral hazard. The main result is that if a passive principal - one whose decisions are limited to exercising his property rights to determine his share of returns - is the first mover, allocative efficiency is impaired unless his equilibrium payoffs are uniform across states of nature. The limited liability of the tenant creates the strict superiority of interlinkage by making uniform rents nonoptimal when, with noncollusive principals, the landlord (the passive principal) is the first mover. A change in seniority of claims from the first to the second mover (the moneylender) further strengthens this result. But uniform payoffs for the first mover are not essential for allocative efficiency if he is the only principal with a continuously variable instrument of control. So, the main result is sensitive to changes in the order of play but not to changes in the priority of claims. This paper - a product of the Office of the Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, Development Economics - is part of a larger effort in the Bank to understand the institutional structure of rural markets and its welfare implications. The authors may be contacted at kbasuworldbank.org, clive.bell@urz.uni-heidelberg.de, or psbose@cc.memphis.edu
    DOI: 10.1596/1813-9450-2134
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 11
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    An Empirical Analysis of Competition, Privatization, and Regulation in Telecommunications Markets in Africa and Latin America (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (27 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Wallsten, Scott An Empirical Analysis of Competition, Privatization, and Regulation in Telecommunications Markets in Africa and Latin America
    Keywords: Telekommunikation ; Telekommunikationspolitik ; Privatisierung ; Deregulierung ; Afrika ; Lateinamerika ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Business ; Business Services ; Data ; E-Business ; Economic Theory and Research ; Education ; Emerging Markets ; ICT Policy and Strategies ; Information and Communication Technologies ; Infrastructure Economics and Finance ; Infrastructure Regulation ; Institutions ; Knowledge Economy ; Knowledge for Development ; Labor Policies ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Performance ; Price ; Prices ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Regulation ; Reliability ; Results ; Social Protections and Labor ; Technology ; Telecom ; Telecommunication ; Telecommunication Reforms ; Telecommunications ; Telephone ; Telephone Connections ; Telephone Service ; Telephones ; User ; Users ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Business ; Business Services ; Data ; E-Business ; Economic Theory and Research ; Education ; Emerging Markets ; ICT Policy and Strategies ; Information and Communication Technologies ; Infrastructure Economics and Finance ; Infrastructure Regulation ; Institutions ; Knowledge Economy ; Knowledge for Development ; Labor Policies ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Performance ; Price ; Prices ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Regulation ; Reliability ; Results ; Social Protections and Labor ; Technology ; Telecom ; Telecommunication ; Telecommunication Reforms ; Telecommunications ; Telephone ; Telephone Connections ; Telephone Service ; Telephones ; User ; Users
    Abstract: June 1999 - Empirical analysis of telecommunications reforms in 30 African and Latin American countries yields results largely consistent with conventional wisdom. Competition seems to be the most successful change agent, so granting even temporary monopolies may delay the arrival of better services to consumers. Reformers are correct to emphasize that regulatory reform accompany privatization, as privatization without regulation reform may be costly to consumers. Wallsten explores the effects of privatization, competition, and regulation on telecommunications performance in 30 African and Latin American countries from 1984 through 1997. Competition is associated with tangible benefits in terms of mainline penetration, number of pay phones, connection capacity, and reduced prices. Fixed-effects regressions reveal that competition-measured by mobile operators not owned by the incumbent telecommunications provider-is correlated with increases in the per capita number of mainlines, pay phones, and connection capacity, and with decreases in the price of local calls. Privatizing an incumbent is negatively correlated with mainline penetration and connection capacity. Privatization combined with regulation by an independent regulator, however, is positively correlated with connection capacity and substantially mitigates privatization's negative correlation with mainline penetration. Reformers are right to emphasize a combination of privatization, competition, and regulation. But researchers must explore the permutations of regulation: What type of regulation do countries adopt (price caps versus cost-of-service, for example)? How does the regulatory agency work? What is its annual budget? How many employees does it have? Where do the regulators come from? What sort of training and experience do they have? What enforcement powers does the regulatory agency have? In addition, researchers must deal with endogeneity of privatization, competition, and regulation to deal with issues of causality. This paper-a product of Regulation and Competition Policy, Development Research Group-is part of a larger research effort to analyze the role of competition in telecommunications with special emphasis on Africa. The author may be contacted at wallstenstanford.edu
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 12
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    A New Database on Financial Development and Structure (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (67 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Levine, Ross A New Database on Financial Development and Structure
    Keywords: Bank ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Bond ; Bond Markets ; Commercial Banks ; Corporate Law ; Debt Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Equity ; Equity Markets ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Crises ; Financial Institutions ; Financial Intermediaries ; Financial Literacy ; Financial Sector ; Financial Systems ; Insurance ; Insurance Companies ; Law and Development ; Money ; Non Bank Financial Institutions ; Ownership ; Pension ; Pension Funds ; Private Sector Development ; Stock ; Stock Market ; Bank ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Bond ; Bond Markets ; Commercial Banks ; Corporate Law ; Debt Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Equity ; Equity Markets ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Crises ; Financial Institutions ; Financial Intermediaries ; Financial Literacy ; Financial Sector ; Financial Systems ; Insurance ; Insurance Companies ; Law and Development ; Money ; Non Bank Financial Institutions ; Ownership ; Pension ; Pension Funds ; Private Sector Development ; Stock ; Stock Market
    Abstract: July 1999 - This new database of indicators of financial development and structure across countries and over time unites a range of indicators that measure the size, activity, and efficiency of financial intermediaries and markets. Beck, Demirgüç-Kunt, and Levine introduce a new database of indicators of financial development and structure across countries and over time. This database is unique in that it unites a variety of indicators that measure the size, activity, and efficiency of financial intermediaries and markets. It improves on previous efforts by presenting data on the public share of commercial banks, by introducing indicators of the size and activity of nonbank financial institutions, and by presenting measures of the size of bond and primary equity markets. The compiled data permit the construction of financial structure indicators to measure whether, for example, a country's banks are larger, more active, and more efficient than its stock markets. These indicators can then be used to investigate the empirical link between the legal, regulatory, and policy environment and indicators of financial structure. They can also be used to analyze the implications of financial structure for economic growth. Beck, Demirgüç-Kunt, and Levine describe the sources and construction of, and the intuition behind, different indicators and present descriptive statistics. This paper - a product of Finance, Development Research Group - is part of a broader effort in the group to understand the determinants of financial structure and its importance to economic development. The authors may be contacted at tbeckworldbank.org, ademirguckunt@worldbank.org, or rlevine@csom.umn.edu
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 13
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    How Has Regionalism in the 1990s Affected Trade? (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (30 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Soloaga, Isidro How Has Regionalism in the 1990s Affected Trade?
    Keywords: Andean Pact ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Economic Policy ; Economic Theory and Research ; Exports ; Extra-Bloc Trade ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Free Trade ; Free Trade ; Free Trade Area ; Geographical Patterns Of Trade ; Gravity Equation ; Gravity Model ; Gravity Models ; International Economics & Trade ; Law and Development ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Patterns Of Trade ; Preferential Trade ; Preferential Trade Agreements ; Preferential Trade Area ; Public Sector Development ; Regionalism ; Trade ; Trade Diversion ; Trade Effects ; Trade Flows ; Trade Law ; Trade Liberalization ; Trade Policy ; Andean Pact ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Economic Policy ; Economic Theory and Research ; Exports ; Extra-Bloc Trade ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Free Trade ; Free Trade ; Free Trade Area ; Geographical Patterns Of Trade ; Gravity Equation ; Gravity Model ; Gravity Models ; International Economics & Trade ; Law and Development ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Patterns Of Trade ; Preferential Trade ; Preferential Trade Agreements ; Preferential Trade Area ; Public Sector Development ; Regionalism ; Trade ; Trade Diversion ; Trade Effects ; Trade Flows ; Trade Law ; Trade Liberalization ; Trade Policy
    Abstract: August 1999 - The results of a modified gravity model suggest that the new wave of regionalism has not boosted intra-bloc trading significantly. Trade liberalization in Latin America did have a positive impact on the imports of bloc members, although MERCOSUR's exports did poorly over the mid-1990s. Soloaga and Winters apply a gravity model to data on annual nonfuel imports for 58 countries for the years 1980-96, to quantify the effects on trade of recently created or revamped preferential trade agreements (PTAs). They modify the usual gravity equation to identify the separate effects of PTAs on intra-bloc trade, members' total imports, and members' total exports. They also formally test the significance of changes in the estimated coefficients before and after the blocs' formation. Their estimates give no indication that the new wave of regionalism boosted intra-bloc trade significantly. They found convincing evidence of trade diversion only for the European Union and the European Free Trade Association. For the same blocs they also observed export diversion, which would be consistent with these blocs' imposing a welfare cost on the rest of the world. Trade liberalization efforts in Latin America have had a positive impact on the imports of bloc members (Andean Group, Central American Common Market, Latin American Integration Association, and MERCOSUR). Increasing propensities to export generally accompanied increasing propensities to import, suggesting that general trade liberalization had a strong effect. The exception was MERCOSUR, for which import and export propensities displayed opposite movements, with exports performing worse than expected over the mid-1990s. Although MERCOSUR members have undoubtedly liberalized since the mid-1980s, these results suggest that their trade performance has been influenced more by competitiveness than by trade policy. This paper - a product of Trade, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to study the effects of regional integration. The authors may be contacted at isoloagaworldbank.org or l.a.winters@sussex.ac.uk
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 14
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Will the Real Natural Trading Partner Please Stand Up? (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (29 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Schiff, Maurice Will the Real Natural Trading Partner Please Stand Up?
    Keywords: Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Customs Unions ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; External Trade ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Free Trade ; Free Trade ; Free Trade Agreements ; Free Trade Areas ; International Economics & Trade ; International Trade ; Law and Development ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Markets and Market Access ; Perfect Competition ; Preferential Trade ; Preferential Trade Agreement ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Development ; Regional Integration ; Regional Trade ; Tariff ; Tariff Revenues ; Trade ; Trade Creation ; Trade Diversion ; Trade Law ; Trade Policy ; Trade Policy ; Trade and Regional Integration ; Transport Costs ; Volume Of Trade ; World Trade ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Customs Unions ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; External Trade ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Free Trade ; Free Trade ; Free Trade Agreements ; Free Trade Areas ; International Economics & Trade ; International Trade ; Law and Development ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Markets and Market Access ; Perfect Competition ; Preferential Trade ; Preferential Trade Agreement ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Development ; Regional Integration ; Regional Trade ; Tariff ; Tariff Revenues ; Trade ; Trade Creation ; Trade Diversion ; Trade Law ; Trade Policy ; Trade Policy ; Trade and Regional Integration ; Transport Costs ; Volume Of Trade ; World Trade
    Abstract: August 1999 - Adherents of the natural trading partner hypothesis argue that preferential trade agreements are more likely to improve welfare if participating countries already trade disproportionately with each other. Opponents argue the opposite. Neither side is right. The hypothesis holds up only if two countries are natural trading partners in the sense that one country tends to import what the other exports. Adherents of the natural trading partner hypothesis argue that preferential trade agreements (PTAs) are more likely to improve welfare if participating countries already trade disproportionately with each other. Opponents of the hypothesis claim that the opposite is true: welfare gains are likely to be greater if participating countries trade less with each other. Schiff shows that neither analysis is correct. The natural trading partner hypothesis can be rescued if it is redefined in terms of complementarity or substitutability in the trade relations of countries, rather than in terms of their volume of trade. Schiff asks not whether a country should form or join a trading bloc but which partner or partners it should select if it does join such a bloc. He shows that the pre-PTA volume of trade is not a useful criterion for selecting a partner. The pre-PTA volume is equal to zero if the partner is an importer of the good sold to the home country and it is indeterminate if the partner is an exporter of that good. Among Schiff's conclusions: ° The home country is better off with a large partner country. First, a large partner is more likely to satisfy the home country's import demand at the world price. Second, the home country is likely to gain more on its exports to a large partner country, because that partner is likely to continue importing from the world market after formation of the trading bloc. And since the partner charges a tariff on imports from the world market, the home country is more likely to improve its terms of trade by selling to the partner at the higher tariff-inclusive price if the partner is large. ° The PTA as a whole is likely to be better off if each country imports what the other exports (rather than each country importing what the other imports). Losses are similar but less likely, while gains are both more likely and the same or larger. This paper - a product of Trade, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to understand the economics of regional integration. The author may be contacted at mschiffworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 15
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Social Capital and the State : Complementarity and Substitution (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (60 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Narayan, Deepa Social Capital and the State
    Keywords: Civil Society ; Civil Society Organizations ; Community ; Community Development and Empowerment ; Corruption ; Disability ; Economic Development ; Education ; Education and Society ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Full Participation ; Governance ; Governance ; Governance Indicators ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Human Development ; Income ; Indicators ; Institutions ; National Governance ; Participation ; Policy Implications ; Population Policies ; Poverty ; Service ; Service Delivery ; Social Activities ; Social Capital ; Social Cohesion ; Social Development ; Social Development ; Social Groups ; Social Inclusion and Institutions ; Social Justice ; Social Protections and Labor ; Civil Society ; Civil Society Organizations ; Community ; Community Development and Empowerment ; Corruption ; Disability ; Economic Development ; Education ; Education and Society ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Full Participation ; Governance ; Governance ; Governance Indicators ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Human Development ; Income ; Indicators ; Institutions ; National Governance ; Participation ; Policy Implications ; Population Policies ; Poverty ; Service ; Service Delivery ; Social Activities ; Social Capital ; Social Cohesion ; Social Development ; Social Development ; Social Groups ; Social Inclusion and Institutions ; Social Justice ; Social Protections and Labor
    Abstract: August 1999 - Whatever their nature, interventions to reduce poverty should be designed not only to have an immediate impact on poverty, but also to foster a rich network of cross-cutting ties within society and between society's formal and informal institutions. Using the lens of social capital - especially bridging or cross-cutting ties that cut across social groups and between social groups and government - provides new insights into policy design. Solidarity within social groups creates ties (bonding social capital) that bring people and resources together. In unequal societies, ties that cut across groups (bridging social capital) are essential for social cohesion and for poverty reduction. The nature of interaction between state and society is characterized as complementarity and substitution. When states are functional, the informal and formal work well together - for example, government support for community-based development. When states become dysfunctional, the informal institutions become a substitute and are reduced to serving a defensive or survival function. To move toward economic and social well-being, states must support inclusive development. Investments in the organizational capacity of the poor are critical. Interventions are also required to foster bridging ties across social groups - ethnic, religious, caste, or racial groups. Such interventions can stem from the state, private sector, or civil society and include: ° Changes in rules to include groups previously excluded from formal systems of finance, education, and governance, at all levels. ° Political pluralism and citizenship rights. ° Fairness before the law for all social groups. ° Availability of public spaces that bring social groups together. ° Infrastructure that eases communication. ° Education, media, and public information policies that reinforce norms and values of tolerance and diversity. This paper - a product of the Poverty Division, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network - is part of a larger effort in the network to understand the role of social capital. The author may be contacted at dnarayanworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 16
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Jamaica's Food Stamp Program : Impacts on Poverty and Welfare (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (42 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Ezemenari, Kene Jamaica's Food Stamp Program
    Keywords: Agricultural Sector ; Dates ; Debt Markets ; Farm-Gate ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Food ; Food Consumption ; Food Policy ; Food Price ; Food Stamps ; Food Subsidies ; Food Subsidy ; Food and Beverage Industry ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Incidence Of Poverty ; Industry ; Milk ; Population Policies ; Poverty ; Poverty Gap ; Poverty Impact ; Poverty Lines ; Poverty Reduction ; Poverty Reduction ; Poverty Reduction Strategies ; Poverty Severity ; Pro-Poor Growth ; Rice ; Rural Development ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Safety Net ; Safety Nets ; Services and Transfers to Poor ; Small Area Estimation Poverty Mapping ; Urban Partnerships and Poverty ; Agricultural Sector ; Dates ; Debt Markets ; Farm-Gate ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Food ; Food Consumption ; Food Policy ; Food Price ; Food Stamps ; Food Subsidies ; Food Subsidy ; Food and Beverage Industry ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Incidence Of Poverty ; Industry ; Milk ; Population Policies ; Poverty ; Poverty Gap ; Poverty Impact ; Poverty Lines ; Poverty Reduction ; Poverty Reduction ; Poverty Reduction Strategies ; Poverty Severity ; Pro-Poor Growth ; Rice ; Rural Development ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Safety Net ; Safety Nets ; Services and Transfers to Poor ; Small Area Estimation Poverty Mapping ; Urban Partnerships and Poverty
    Abstract: Without the food stamp program, the poverty gap in Jamaica would have been much worse during the early 1990s, when the Jamaican dollar was being devalued. Households with elderly members and young children benefited most from the program. - Ezemenari and Subbarao examine how the food stamp program affected measures of poverty during devaluation of the Jamaican dollar in the early 1990s. They find that without the food stamp program, the poverty gap in Jamaica would have been much worse, especially in 1990 and 1991. For the country as a whole, not having a food stamp program wouldn't have affected the incidence of poverty significantly, but particular groups among the poor would have fared worse. Households with elderly residents benefited most from the program. Households with young children benefited more than households without, in terms of the poverty headcount and gap. The program also appears to have had more effect on extremely poor households than on those of the transient poor (people who move in and out of poverty). Explicitly incorporating behavioral responses into the model reduces the contribution of food stamps to household consumption and poverty, but the poorest benefited most from the program even after accounting for behavioral responses. The program contributed more to reducing poverty than to smoothing consumption. This paper - a product of the Poverty Division, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network - was presented at the World Bank Institute workshop Evaluating the Impact of Development Interventions: Concepts, Methods and Cases, December 9-10, 1998. The authors may be contacted at kezemenariworldbank.org or ksubbarao@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 17
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    The Slippery Slope : Explaining the Increase in Extreme Poverty in Urban Brazil, 1976 96 (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (78 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Barros, de Paes Ricardo The Slippery Slope
    Keywords: Economic Growth ; Economic Theory and Research ; Extreme Poverty ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Formal Safety Nets ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Household Composition ; Household Income ; Household Per Capita Income ; Income ; Income Distribution ; Income Inequality ; Inequality ; Inequality ; Labor Markets ; Labor Policies ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Measures ; Poor ; Poor Households ; Population Policies ; Poverty Incidence ; Poverty Indices ; Poverty Line ; Poverty Lines ; Poverty Measures ; Poverty Reduction ; Pro-Poor Growth ; Rural ; Rural Development ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Services and Transfers to Poor ; Social Protections and Labor ; Unemployment ; Economic Growth ; Economic Theory and Research ; Extreme Poverty ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Formal Safety Nets ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Household Composition ; Household Income ; Household Per Capita Income ; Income ; Income Distribution ; Income Inequality ; Inequality ; Inequality ; Labor Markets ; Labor Policies ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Measures ; Poor ; Poor Households ; Population Policies ; Poverty Incidence ; Poverty Indices ; Poverty Line ; Poverty Lines ; Poverty Measures ; Poverty Reduction ; Pro-Poor Growth ; Rural ; Rural Development ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Services and Transfers to Poor ; Social Protections and Labor ; Unemployment
    Abstract: October 1999 - During the turbulent years 1976-96, aggregate data for Brazil appear to show only small changes in mean income, inequality, and incidence of poverty - suggesting little change in the distribution of income. But a small group of urban households - excluded from formal labor markets and safety nets - was trapped in indigence. Based on welfare measured in terms of income alone, the poorest part of urban Brazil has experienced two lost decades. Despite tremendous macroeconomic instability in Brazil, the country's distributions of urban income in 1976 and 1996 appear, at first glance, deceptively similar. Mean household income per capita was stagnant, with minute accumulated growth (4.3 percent) over the two decades. The Gini coefficient hovered just above 0.59 in both years, and the incidence of poverty (relative to a poverty line of R
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 18
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Fiscal Solvency and Sustainability in Economic Management (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (38 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Dinh, T. Hinh Fiscal Solvency and Sustainability in Economic Management
    Keywords: Banks and Banking Reform ; Budget ; Budget Defic Debt Service ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Debt Markets ; Developing Countries ; Economic Stabilization ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Exchange ; Exchange Rate ; External Debt ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Fiscal Adjustment ; Fiscal Defic Fiscal Effort ; Fiscal Policy ; Income Inequalities ; Income Levels ; International Financial Institutions ; Levy ; Long Term Debt ; Macroeconomic Policies ; Macroeconomic Stability ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Political Economy ; Poverty ; Private Sector Development ; Solvency ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Budget ; Budget Defic Debt Service ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Debt Markets ; Developing Countries ; Economic Stabilization ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Exchange ; Exchange Rate ; External Debt ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Fiscal Adjustment ; Fiscal Defic Fiscal Effort ; Fiscal Policy ; Income Inequalities ; Income Levels ; International Financial Institutions ; Levy ; Long Term Debt ; Macroeconomic Policies ; Macroeconomic Stability ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Political Economy ; Poverty ; Private Sector Development ; Solvency
    Abstract: October 1999 - In a financially integrated world, it is misleading to assess fiscal performance separate from other aspects of economic development. The framework proposed here can help assess fiscal performance over time and across countries and point to a pace of fiscal adjustment consistent with a country's economic and social objectives. Fiscal policy is central to a country's economic and social objectives, from macroeconomic stability to sustainable growth and poverty reduction. But evaluations of a country's fiscal performance, over time or relative to other countries, are often conducted independent of other development objectives, disregarding the links between fiscal, monetary, and exchange rate policies. A budget deficit of 4 percent of GDP, for example, may be acceptable in one country but not in another, because of different initial conditions and policy priorities. In the same country, a level of fiscal deficit may be acceptable one year but not the next, depending on developments and changes in policy objectives. Dinh argues for assessing fiscal performance (1) as part of the entire framework of economic policy, (2) against a policy objective, (3) by taking into account both short- and long-term considerations, and (4) with an eye to the quality of adjustment (whether there are income inequalities or other social issues, for example) as well as its magnitude. The approach he proposes for assessing country fiscal performance requires a minimum of data and takes into account flow and stock variables on internal and external debt. The approach addresses the shortcomings of conventional analysis by incorporating the debt dynamics and other macroeconomic targets of growth, inflation, and external and internal debt. While its theoretical foundation is well known in the literature, this approach has not been adapted for assessing fiscal performance either over time or across countries, and he discusses practical issues arising from this adaptation. Dinh proposes two indicators to measure fiscal adjustment efforts: · Fiscal solvency adjustment, which measures how far additional fiscal efforts must be taken to restore solvency to the fiscal sector. · Fiscal sustainability adjustment, which measures how far additional fiscal efforts must be taken to maintain the ratios of internal and external debt to output. Dinh applies the proposed framework to evaluate recent fiscal performance in three countries - Argentina, India, and Zambia - each with a different income level and located on a different continent. The countries were selected on the basis of recent World Bank economic work using the proposed approach or an equivalent. Dinh finds the proposed approach useful for identifying key fiscal issues, for assessing the adequacy and pace of fiscal adjustment consistent with the overall economic and social objectives, and for highlighting the tradeoffs between policy initiatives. Sound fiscal policy is crucial for macroeconomic stability. When fiscal issues are under control, it is easier to coordinate other policies. When fiscal issues are part of the problem, the tradeoffs between policy outcomes become pronounced, and economic management, including the management of capital flows, becomes much more difficult. This paper is a product of Macroeconomics 1, Africa Technical Families. The author may be contacted at hdinhworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 19
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Implementation of Uruguay Round Commitments : The Development Challenge (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (59 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Finger, Michael J Implementation of Uruguay Round Commitments
    Keywords: Agricultural Products ; Agricultural Sector ; Customs ; Customs Administration and Reform ; Customs Procedures ; Customs Valuation ; Debt Markets ; Differential Treatment ; Dispute Settlement ; E-Business ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Intellectual Property ; Intellectual Property Rights ; International Community ; International Conventions ; International Economics & Trade ; International Trade ; International Trading System ; Law and Development ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Market Access ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Development ; Quantitative Restrictions ; Rules of Origin ; Tariff Reductions ; Trade ; Trade Barriers ; Trade Law ; Trade Negotiations ; Trade Policy ; Trade Restrictions ; Trade and Regional Integration ; Agricultural Products ; Agricultural Sector ; Customs ; Customs Administration and Reform ; Customs Procedures ; Customs Valuation ; Debt Markets ; Differential Treatment ; Dispute Settlement ; E-Business ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Intellectual Property ; Intellectual Property Rights ; International Community ; International Conventions ; International Economics & Trade ; International Trade ; International Trading System ; Law and Development ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Market Access ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Development ; Quantitative Restrictions ; Rules of Origin ; Tariff Reductions ; Trade ; Trade Barriers ; Trade Law ; Trade Negotiations ; Trade Policy ; Trade Restrictions ; Trade and Regional Integration
    Abstract: October 1999 - At the Uruguay Round, developing countries took on obligations not only to reduce trade barriers but also to undertake significant reforms of regulations and trade procedures. The Round did not, however, take into account the cost of implementing these reforms - a full year's development budget for many of the least developed countries - nor did it ask whether the money might be more productive in other development uses. At the Uruguay Round, developing countries took on unprecedented obligations not only to reduce trade barriers but to implement significant reforms both of trade procedures (including import licensing procedures and customs valuation) and of many areas of regulation that establish the basic business environment in the domestic economy (including intellectual property law and technical, sanitary, and phytosanitary standards. This will cost substantial amounts of money. World Bank project experience in areas covered by the agreements suggests that an entire year's development budget is at stake in many of the least developed countries. Institutions in these areas are weak in developing countries, and would benefit from strengthening and reform. But Finger and Schuler's analysis indicates that the obligations reflect little awareness of development problems and little appreciation for the capacities of the least developed countries to carry out the functions that these reforms of regulations and trade procedures address. The content of these obligations can be characterized as the advanced countries saying to the others, Do it my way! Moreover, these developing countries had limited capacity to participate in the Uruguay Round negotiations, so the process has generated no sense of ownership of the reforms to which membership in the World Trade Organization obligates them. From their perspective, the implementation exercise has been imposed imperially, with little concern for what it will cost, how it will be carried out, or whether it will support their development efforts. This paper - a product of Trade, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to support effective developing country participation in the WTO system. This research was supported by the global and regional trust fund component of the World Bank/Netherlands Partnership Program. Michael Finger may be contacted at jfingerworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 20
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    The Effect of the United States' Granting Most Favored Nation Status to Vietnam (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (34 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Martin, Will The Effect of the United States' Granting Most Favored Nation Status to Vietnam
    Keywords: Agribusiness and Markets ; Agricultural Commodities ; Apparel ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Economic Theory and Research ; Export Competitiveness ; Exporters ; Exports ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Food and Beverage Industry ; Free Trade ; General Equilibrium Model ; High Tariffs ; Industry ; International Economics & Trade ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Market Access ; Metal Products ; Public Sector Development ; Rural Development ; Tariff ; Tariff Data ; Tariff Rates ; Tariff Schedule ; Tariffs ; Terms Of Trade ; Trade ; Trade Liberalization ; Trade Patterns ; Trade Policy ; Welfare Gains ; World Trade ; World Trade Organization ; Agribusiness and Markets ; Agricultural Commodities ; Apparel ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Economic Theory and Research ; Export Competitiveness ; Exporters ; Exports ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Food and Beverage Industry ; Free Trade ; General Equilibrium Model ; High Tariffs ; Industry ; International Economics & Trade ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Market Access ; Metal Products ; Public Sector Development ; Rural Development ; Tariff ; Tariff Data ; Tariff Rates ; Tariff Schedule ; Tariffs ; Terms Of Trade ; Trade ; Trade Liberalization ; Trade Patterns ; Trade Policy ; Welfare Gains ; World Trade ; World Trade Organization
    Abstract: November 1999 - If the United States grants Vietnam most favored nation status, both countries would benefit. Vietnamese exports to the United States would more than double, and Vietnam would gain substantial welfare benefits from improved market access and increased availability of imports. For the United States, lowering the current high tariffs against Vietnam would improve welfare by reducing costly diversion away from Vietnamese products. Since the U.S. embargo on trade with Vietnam was lifted in 1994, exports from Vietnam to the United States have risen dramatically. However, Vietnam remains one of the few countries to which the United States has not yet granted most favored nation (MFN) status. The general tariff rates that the United States imposes average 35 percent compared with 4.9 percent for the MFN rate. Granting MFN status to Vietnam would improve its terms of trade and help improve the efficiency of resource allocation in the country. Better access to the U.S. market would increase the volume of Vietnamese exports to the United States and the prices received for them while also reducing their costs to U.S. users. Fukase and Martin use a computable general equilibrium model to examine the effects of reducing U.S. tariffs on Vietnamese imports from general rates to MFN rates. They estimate tariff changes using the U.S. tariff schedule for 1997 weighted by Vietnam's exports to the United States. The results suggest that after a change to MFN status for Vietnam, its exports to the United States would more than double, from the 1996 baseline of
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 21
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Labor Market Integration in the Presence of Social Capital (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (32 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Schiff, Maurice Labor Market Integration in the Presence of Social Capital
    Keywords: Bonds ; Capital ; Cred Economic Performance ; Debt Markets ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Equilibrium ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Free Trade ; Goods ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Human Capital ; Labor Markets ; Labor Policies ; Liquidity ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Markets and Market Access ; Negative Externalities ; Population Policies ; Private Sector Development ; Production Function ; Production Functions ; Public Good ; Social Capital ; Social Development ; Social Protections and Labor ; Trade Barriers ; Transactions Costs ; Transport ; Transport Economics, Policy and Planning ; Unemployment ; Utility ; Utility Function ; Voters ; Welfare ; Bonds ; Capital ; Cred Economic Performance ; Debt Markets ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Equilibrium ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Free Trade ; Goods ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Human Capital ; Labor Markets ; Labor Policies ; Liquidity ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Markets and Market Access ; Negative Externalities ; Population Policies ; Private Sector Development ; Production Function ; Production Functions ; Public Good ; Social Capital ; Social Development ; Social Protections and Labor ; Trade Barriers ; Transactions Costs ; Transport ; Transport Economics, Policy and Planning ; Unemployment ; Utility ; Utility Function ; Voters ; Welfare
    Abstract: November 1999 - Social capital raises productivity and falls with labor mobility. Because labor mobility generates a negative externality, integration of labor markets results in too much mobility, too low a level of social capital, and an ambiguous effect on welfare. Trade liberalization is superior to labor market integration because it reduces mobility and the negative externality associated with it. Labor market integration is typically assumed to improve welfare in the absence of distortions, because it allows labor to move to where returns are highest. Schiff examines this result in a simple general equilibrium model in the presence of a common property resource: social capital. Drawing on evidence that social capital raises productivity and falls with labor mobility, Schiff's main findings are that: · Labor market integration imposes a negative externality and need not raise welfare. · The welfare impact is more beneficial (or less harmful) the greater the difference in endowments is between the integrating regions. · Whether positive or negative, the welfare impact is larger the more similar the levels of social capital of the integrating regions are and the lower the migration costs are. · Trade liberalization generates an additional benefit-over and above the standard gains from trade - by reducing labor mobility and the negative externality associated with it. Trade liberalization is superior to labor market integration. · The creation of new private or public institutions in response to labor market integration may reduce welfare. Schiff shows that the welfare implications depend on two parameters of the model, the curvature of the utility function and the cost of private migration. This paper - a product of Trade, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to understand the link between market performance and welfare. The author may be contacted at mschiffworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 22
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    How Did Highly Indebted Poor Countries Become Highly Indebted? : Reviewing Two Decades of Debt Relief (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (44 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Easterly, William How Did Highly Indebted Poor Countries Become Highly Indebted?
    Keywords: Amount Of Debt ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Commercial Banks ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Debt ; Debt Markets ; Debt Payment ; Debt Relief ; Debt Service ; Debt Servicing ; Debt-Service ; Default ; Discount ; Discount Rate ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; External Debt ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Foreign Debt ; Foreign Loan ; Foreign Loans ; Forgiveness ; Good ; Indebted Countries ; International Economics & Trade ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Private Sector Development ; Productive Investments ; Strategic Debt Management ; Third World Debt ; Amount Of Debt ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Commercial Banks ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Debt ; Debt Markets ; Debt Payment ; Debt Relief ; Debt Service ; Debt Servicing ; Debt-Service ; Default ; Discount ; Discount Rate ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; External Debt ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Foreign Debt ; Foreign Loan ; Foreign Loans ; Forgiveness ; Good ; Indebted Countries ; International Economics & Trade ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Private Sector Development ; Productive Investments ; Strategic Debt Management ; Third World Debt
    Abstract: November 1999 - Theoretical models predict that countries with unchanged long-run savings preferences will respond to debt relief by running up new debts or by running down assets. And there are some signs that incremental debt relief over the past two decades has fulfilled those predictions. Debt relief is futile for countries with unchanged long-run savings preferences. How did highly indebted poor countries become highly indebted after two decades of debt relief efforts? A set of theoretical models predict that countries with unchanged long-run savings preferences will respond to debt relief with a mixture of asset decumulation and new borrowing. A model also predicts that a high-discount-rate government will choose poor policies and impose its intertemporal preferences on the entire economy. Reviewing the experience of highly indebted poor countries, compared with that of other developing countries, Easterly finds direct and indirect evidence of asset decumulation and new borrowing associated with debt relief. The ratio of the net present value of debt to exports rose strongly over 1979-97 despite the debt relief efforts. Average policies in highly indebted poor countries were generally worse than those in other developing countries, controlling for income. The trend for terms of trade was no different in highly indebted poor countries than in other developing countries, not were wars more likely in highly indebted poor countries. Over time there has been an important shift in financing for highly indebted poor countries, away from private and bilateral nonconcessional sources to the International Development Association and other sources of multilateral concessional financing. But this implicit form of debt relief also failed to reduce debt in net present value terms. Although debt relief is done in the name of the poor, the poor are worse off if debt relief creates incentives to delay reforms needed for growth. This paper - a product of Macroeconomics and Growth, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to study the effectiveness of aid for growth. The author may be contacted at weasterlyworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 23
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    The Sri Lankan Unemployment Problem Revisited (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (52 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Rama, Martin The Sri Lankan Unemployment Problem Revisited
    Keywords: Educational Attainment ; Export Processing Zones ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; High Unemployment ; High Unemployment Rate ; Job ; Job Security ; Labor ; Labor Force ; Labor Market ; Labor Market Participants ; Labor Market Policies ; Labor Markets ; Labor Study ; Management ; Private Sector ; Private Sector Activities ; Public Sector Jobs ; Social Protections and Labor ; Unemployed ; Unemployment ; Unemployment Problem ; Unemployment Rates ; Educational Attainment ; Export Processing Zones ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; High Unemployment ; High Unemployment Rate ; Job ; Job Security ; Labor ; Labor Force ; Labor Market ; Labor Market Participants ; Labor Market Policies ; Labor Markets ; Labor Study ; Management ; Private Sector ; Private Sector Activities ; Public Sector Jobs ; Social Protections and Labor ; Unemployed ; Unemployment ; Unemployment Problem ; Unemployment Rates
    Abstract: November 1999 - Unemployment in Sri Lanka is largely voluntary. The underlying problem is not a shortage of jobs but the artificial gap between good jobs and bad ones. Policy efforts should be aimed at reducing the gap between good and bad jobs by making product markets more competitive, reducing excessive job security, and reforming government policies on pay and employment. Sri Lanka's high unemployment rate has been attributed to a mismatch of skills, to queuing for public sector jobs, and to stringent job security regulations. But the empirical evidence supporting these explanations is weak. Rama takes a fresh look at the country's unemployment problem, using individual records from the 1995 Labor Force Survey and time series for wages in the economy's formal and informal sectors. He assesses, and rejects, the skills mismatch hypothesis by comparing the impact of educational attainment on the actual wages of those who have a job with the effect on the lowest acceptable wages of the unemployed. However, he finds substantial rents associated with jobs in the public sector and in private sector activities protected by high tariffs or covered by job security regulations. A time-series analysis of the impact of unemployment on wage increases across sectors supports the hypothesis that most of the unemployed are waiting for good job openings but are not interested in readily available bad jobs. In short, unemployment in Sri Lanka is largely voluntary. The problem is not a shortage of jobs but the artificial gap between good and bad jobs. Policy efforts should be aimed at reducing the gap between good and bad jobs by making product markets more competitive, by reducing excessive job security, and by reforming government policies on pay and employment. This paper was written as part of a broader labor study undertaken by the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Sector Unit, South Asia Region. The study was also supported by the Bank's Research Support Budget under the research project The Impact of Labor Market Policies and Institutions on Economic Performance (RPO 680-96). The author may be contacted at mramaworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 24
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Market Access Advances and Retreats : The Uruguay Round and Beyond (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (80 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Finger, Michael J Market Access Advances and Retreats
    Keywords: Agricultural Products ; Agricultural Trade ; Antidumping ; Antidumping Cases ; Border Protection ; Concessions ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Debt Markets ; Exports ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Free Trade ; Industrial Products ; International Economics & Trade ; International Trade and Trade Rules ; Law and Development ; Market Access ; Public Sector Development ; Quantitative Restrictions ; Reciprocal Concessions ; Rules of Origin ; Tariff ; Tariff Concessions ; Tariff Levels ; Tariff Rates ; Tariff Reductions ; Tariffs ; Trade Law ; Trade Policy ; Trade Restrictions ; World Trade ; World Trade Organization ; Agricultural Products ; Agricultural Trade ; Antidumping ; Antidumping Cases ; Border Protection ; Concessions ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Debt Markets ; Exports ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Free Trade ; Industrial Products ; International Economics & Trade ; International Trade and Trade Rules ; Law and Development ; Market Access ; Public Sector Development ; Quantitative Restrictions ; Reciprocal Concessions ; Rules of Origin ; Tariff ; Tariff Concessions ; Tariff Levels ; Tariff Rates ; Tariff Reductions ; Tariffs ; Trade Law ; Trade Policy ; Trade Restrictions ; World Trade ; World Trade Organization
    Abstract: Uruguay Round negotiations on market access were a success. Tariff cuts covered a larger share of world trade than those of the Kennedy or Tokyo Rounds and will save importers some
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 25
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    The Green Revolution and the Productivity Paradox : Evidence from the Indian Punjab (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (34 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Murgai, Rinku The Green Revolution and the Productivity Paradox
    Keywords: Agricultural Production ; Agricultural Research ; Agriculture ; Agriculture ; Cotton ; Crop ; Cropping ; Cropping Systems ; Crops ; Crops and Crop Management Systems ; Development Research ; Drought Management ; Economic Growth ; Economic Theory and Research ; Farmers ; Green Revolution ; Hybrid Seed ; Infrastructure ; Investment ; Irrigation and Drainage ; Labor Policies ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Maize ; Markets ; Poverty Reduction ; Pro-Poor Growth ; Rice ; Seed Varieties ; Social Protections and Labor ; Technology ; Technology Adoption ; Water Resources ; Wheat ; Agricultural Production ; Agricultural Research ; Agriculture ; Agriculture ; Cotton ; Crop ; Cropping ; Cropping Systems ; Crops ; Crops and Crop Management Systems ; Development Research ; Drought Management ; Economic Growth ; Economic Theory and Research ; Farmers ; Green Revolution ; Hybrid Seed ; Infrastructure ; Investment ; Irrigation and Drainage ; Labor Policies ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Maize ; Markets ; Poverty Reduction ; Pro-Poor Growth ; Rice ; Seed Varieties ; Social Protections and Labor ; Technology ; Technology Adoption ; Water Resources ; Wheat
    Abstract: In assessing new technologies, policy-makers should allow time between the adoption of the technologies and the realization of productivity gains attributable to them. Productivity growth was much lower than might be expected during the green revolution in the Indian Punjab but improved as learning processes took effect and resource management and the use of inputs became more efficient.Murgai provides district-level estimates of the contribution of technical change to agricultural output growth in the Indian Punjab from 1960 to 1993. Contrary to widespread belief, productivity growth in the Punjab was surprisingly low during the green revolution (in the mid-1960s), when modern hybrid seed varieties were being adopted. It improved later, after adoption of the new varieties was essentially complete. Murgai proposes three reasons for this pattern: · The standard measure of total factor productivity overstates the contribution of capital to output growth at the expense of the productivity residual. High-yielding varieties introduced in the 1960s helped spur output growth by making crops responsive to water and fertilizer, which not only allowed but indeed encouraged far greater use of capital inputs. This increase in the elasticity of the output response to capital inputs is incorporated into the index of factor accumulation and therefore excluded from the measure of total factor productivity growth. As a result, the contribution of technical change to growth in Punjab's agriculture during the green revolution is probably underestimated. · The overstatement of the capital contribution during the green revolution is exacerbated by indivisibilities in capital inputs. · Productivity growth did not come from the adoption of modern varieties alone. Improved resource management and public investment in infrastructure also helped improve productivity. This paper - a product of Rural Development, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to study the determinants and impact of technology adoption and productivity growth in agriculture. The study was funded by the Bank's Research Support Budget under the research project Productivity and Sustainability of Irrigated Systems in South Asia (RPO 680-34). The author may be contacted at rmurgaiworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 26
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Productivity Growth, Capital Accumulation, and the Banking Sector : Some Lessons from Malaysia (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (26 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Ghani, Ejaz Productivity Growth, Capital Accumulation, and the Banking Sector
    Keywords: Accounting ; Accounting Framework ; Bank ; Banking ; Banking Sector ; Banking System ; Banks ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Capital ; Capital Employed ; Cred Debt ; Debt Markets ; Economic Growth ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Foreign Exchange ; Labor ; Labor Policies ; Lending ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Poverty Reduction ; Private Sector Development ; Pro-Poor Growth ; Productivity ; Projects ; Risk ; Risk Management ; Savings ; Social Protections and Labor ; Wages ; Accounting ; Accounting Framework ; Bank ; Banking ; Banking Sector ; Banking System ; Banks ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Capital ; Capital Employed ; Cred Debt ; Debt Markets ; Economic Growth ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Foreign Exchange ; Labor ; Labor Policies ; Lending ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Poverty Reduction ; Private Sector Development ; Pro-Poor Growth ; Productivity ; Projects ; Risk ; Risk Management ; Savings ; Social Protections and Labor ; Wages
    Abstract: How did the East Asian miracle turn into one of the worst financial crises of the century? A case study of Malaysia provides some answers. - How did the East Asian miracle turn into one of the worst financial crises of the century? Ghani and Suri address the question using Malaysia as a case study. Many discussions of the East Asian crisis address proximate and short-run causes of the crisis, such as the current account deficit, exchange rate misalignment, and disproportionate short-run external debt relative to foreign exchange reserves. These indicators of vulnerability are themselves endogenous outcomes of deeper institutional features. Ghani and Suri argue that some long-term features of the development strategy that helped sustain high growth in the first place also contributed to the economy's increasing vulnerability. High output growth was driven by rapid growth in capital stock, for example. The banking sector played a critical role in transforming (and accelerating the transformation of) large savings into capital accumulation. But the banking sector may not have been allocating capital efficiently. Ghani and Suri find that the rapid growth in bank lending in Malaysia is negatively associated with total factor productivity growth. On the other hand, the economy's other structural strengths, such as openness to foreign direct investment and technology, helped improve productivity growth. Malaysia's exceptional growth record over the past quarter century was driven largely by the growth in physical capital stock. Total factor productivity growth may have slowed in the late 1990s, and sustaining high output growth will require greater emphasis on productivity improvements. Policies that encouraged the flow of foreign direct investment and better access to imported capital goods contributed to productivity growth. But rapid growth in bank lending relative to GDP may have slowed it. How policymakers can best slow the growth of credit is a question that remains unanswered. This paper - a product of the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Sector Unit, East Asia and Pacific Region - is part of a larger effort in the region to better understand past and future sources of growth. The authors may be contacted at eghaniworldbank.org or vsuri@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 27
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    How Inadequate Provision of Public Infrastructure and Services Affects Private Investment (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (32 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Reinikka, Ritva How Inadequate Provision of Public Infrastructure and Services Affects Private Investment
    Keywords: Bottlenecks ; Capital Stock ; Debt Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Employment ; Equipment ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; IRU ; Infrastructure ; Interest ; Interest Rates ; International Economics & Trade ; Investment ; Investment Rate ; Investment Rates ; Investment and Investment Climate ; Labor Policies ; M1 ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Non Bank Financial Institutions ; Prices ; Private Sector Development ; Prof Standard Errors ; Roads and Highways ; Social Protections and Labor ; Statistics ; Tax ; Taxes ; Trade and Regional Integration ; Transport ; Vdu ; Bottlenecks ; Capital Stock ; Debt Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Employment ; Equipment ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; IRU ; Infrastructure ; Interest ; Interest Rates ; International Economics & Trade ; Investment ; Investment Rate ; Investment Rates ; Investment and Investment Climate ; Labor Policies ; M1 ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Non Bank Financial Institutions ; Prices ; Private Sector Development ; Prof Standard Errors ; Roads and Highways ; Social Protections and Labor ; Statistics ; Tax ; Taxes ; Trade and Regional Integration ; Transport ; Vdu
    Abstract: Evidence from Uganda shows that poor public provision of infrastructure services - proxied by an unreliable and inadequate power supply - significantly reduces productive private investment. - Lack of private investment is a serious policy problem in many developing countries, especially in Africa. Despite recent structural reform and stabilization, the investment response to date has been mixed, even among the strongest reformers. The role of poor infrastructure and deficient public services has received little attention in the economic literature, where the effect of public spending and investment on growth is shown to be at best ambiguous. Reinikka and Svensson use unique microeconomic evidence to show the effects of poor infrastructure services on private investment in Uganda. They find that poor public capital, proxied by an unreliable and inadequate power supply, significantly reduces productive private investment. Firms can substitute for inadequate provision of public capital by investing in it themselves. This comes at a cost, however: the installation of less productive capital. These results have clear policy implications. Although macroeconomic reforms and stabilization are necessary conditions for sustained growth and private investment, without an accompanying improvement in the public sector's performance, the private supply response to macroeconomic policy reform is likely to remain limited. This paper - a product of Public Economics and Macroeconomics and Growth, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to study public service delivery and economic growth. The authors may be contacted at rreinikkaworldbank.org or jsvensson@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 28
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Malaria and Growth (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (30 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: McCarthy, Desmond F Malaria and Growth
    Keywords: Anopheles Mosquitoes ; Climate Change ; Communicable Diseases ; Disability ; Disease Control and Prevention ; Diseases ; Early Child and Children's Health ; Effects ; Environment ; Females ; Health ; Health Indicators ; Health Monitoring and Evaluation ; Health Service Management and Delivery ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Illnesses ; Impact Of Malaria ; Life ; Malaria ; Malaria ; Malaria Incidence ; Malaria Morbidity ; Malaria Mortality ; Medical Treatment ; Morbidity And Mortality ; Nutrition ; Parasitic Disease ; Population Policies ; Poverty Reduction ; Poverty and Health ; Public Health ; Tuberculosis ; Vaccine ; Anopheles Mosquitoes ; Climate Change ; Communicable Diseases ; Disability ; Disease Control and Prevention ; Diseases ; Early Child and Children's Health ; Effects ; Environment ; Females ; Health ; Health Indicators ; Health Monitoring and Evaluation ; Health Service Management and Delivery ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Illnesses ; Impact Of Malaria ; Life ; Malaria ; Malaria ; Malaria Incidence ; Malaria Morbidity ; Malaria Mortality ; Medical Treatment ; Morbidity And Mortality ; Nutrition ; Parasitic Disease ; Population Policies ; Poverty Reduction ; Poverty and Health ; Public Health ; Tuberculosis ; Vaccine
    Abstract: March 2000 - Malaria ranks among the foremost health problems in tropical countries. Allowing for reverse causation, malaria is estimated to reduce GDP per capita growth rates by at least a quarter percentage point a year in many Sub-Saharan countries. McCarthy, Wolf, and Wu explore the two-sided link between malaria morbidity and GDP per capita growth. Climate significantly affects cross-country differences in malaria morbidity. Tropical location is not destiny, however: greater access to rural health care and greater income equality are associated with lower malaria morbidity. But the interpretation of this link is ambiguous: does greater income equality allow for improved anti-malaria efforts, or does malaria itself increase income inequality? Allowing for two-sided causation, McCarthy, Wolf, and Wu find a significant negative causal effect running from malaria morbidity to the growth rate of GDP per capita. In about a quarter of their sample countries, malaria is estimated to reduce GDP per capita growth by at least 0.25 percentage point a year. This paper - a product of Public Economics, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to study the health-environment-economy nexus. This study was funded by the Bank's Research Support Budget under the research project Health, Environment, and the Economy (RPO 683-73). The authors may be contacted at fmccarthyworldbank.org and holger.wolf@mailexcite.com
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 29
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Disinflation and the Supply Side (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (38 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Pizzati, Lodovico Disinflation and the Supply Side
    Keywords: Aggregate Demand ; Assets ; Capital ; Capital Markets ; Consumption ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Debt Markets ; Devaluation ; Economic Theory and Research ; Elasticity ; Elasticity Of Substitution ; Emerging Markets ; Exchange ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Goods ; Interest ; Investment ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Money ; Open Economy ; Private Sector Development ; Production ; Recession ; Stock ; Supply ; Wages ; Wealth ; Aggregate Demand ; Assets ; Capital ; Capital Markets ; Consumption ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Debt Markets ; Devaluation ; Economic Theory and Research ; Elasticity ; Elasticity Of Substitution ; Emerging Markets ; Exchange ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Goods ; Interest ; Investment ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Money ; Open Economy ; Private Sector Development ; Production ; Recession ; Stock ; Supply ; Wages ; Wealth
    Abstract: March 2000 - What role do supply-side factors play in the dynamics of output and absorption in exchange rate-based stabilization programs? Agénor and Pizzati study the dynamics of output, consumption, and real wages induced by a disinflation program based on permanent and temporary reductions in the nominal devaluation rate. They use an intertemporal optimizing model of a small open economy in which domestic households face imperfect world capital markets, the labor supply is endogenous, and wages are flexible. The model predicts that, with a constant capital stock and no investment, there is an initial reduction in real wages and output expands. Consumption falls on impact but increases afterward. In addition, with a temporary shock, a current account deficit emerges and, later, a recession sets in, as documented in various studies. With endogenous capital accumulation, numerical simulations show that the model can also predict a boom in investment. This paper is a product of the Economic Policy and Poverty Reduction Division, World Bank Institute. The authors may be contacted at pagenorworldbank.org and lpizzati@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 30
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    How Small Should an Economy's Fiscal Deficit Be? : A Monetary Programming Approach (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (38 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Beckerman, Paul How Small Should an Economy's Fiscal Deficit Be?
    Keywords: Bank Assets ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Central Bank ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Debt Markets ; Economic Stabilization ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Exchange ; Exchange Rate ; External Debt ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial System ; Fiscal Defic Future ; Government Borrowing ; Government Defic Inflation ; Instruments ; Interest ; Interest Rates ; Levy ; Liabilities ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Private Sector Development ; Prof Reserve ; Public Sector Corruption and Anticorruption Measures ; Stocks ; Bank Assets ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Central Bank ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Debt Markets ; Economic Stabilization ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Exchange ; Exchange Rate ; External Debt ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial System ; Fiscal Defic Future ; Government Borrowing ; Government Defic Inflation ; Instruments ; Interest ; Interest Rates ; Levy ; Liabilities ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Private Sector Development ; Prof Reserve ; Public Sector Corruption and Anticorruption Measures ; Stocks
    Abstract: March 2000 - A spreadsheet planning model to help determine the government deficit consistent with a specified vector of country macroeconomic objectives. Beckerman describes a spreadsheet planning model to help determine the government deficit consistent with a policymaker's vector of principal macroeconomic objectives (including real GDP growth, inflation, exchange rate, and international reserve accumulation). The model focuses on the monetary accounts, applying balance-of-payments forecasts formulated separately but based on the same macroeconomic objectives. The model is a consistency exercise, intended as part of a broader consistency exercise for a given macroeconomy. It offers one more perspective on the question of how large a government deficit should be - a perspective that can be used in conjunction with others. For each forecast period, the model determines consistent period-end and period-average stocks for the economy's outstanding central bank assets and liabilities and government obligations. It applies forecasting assumptions about interest rates to forecast central bank profit-and-loss flows, and takes account of these in determining the overall flow of resources that would be available to finance the government deficit. An annex describes a (purely illustrative) simulation carried out during 1999 for Ecuador. This paper - a product of the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Sector Unit, Latin America and the Caribbean Region - is part of a larger effort in the region to strengthen the tools for macroeconomic policy analysis and planning in the region's economies. The author may be contacted at pbeckermanworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 31
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Measuring Governance, Corruption, and State Capture : How Firms and Bureaucrats Shape the Business Environment in Transit (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (50 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Hellman, S. Joel Measuring Governance, Corruption, and State Capture
    Keywords: Banks and Banking Reform ; Bureaucracy ; Citizens ; Corporate Governance ; Corruption ; Corruption and Anticorruption Law ; Debt Markets ; Decrees ; Emerging Markets ; Federation ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Foreign Investors ; Governance ; Governance ; Governance Indicators ; Governments ; Infrastructure Economics and Finance ; Investment Climate ; Law ; Legal Framework ; Legislation ; Microfinance ; National Governance ; Private Participation in Infrastructure ; Private Sector Development ; Public Officials ; Public Procurement ; Public Sector Corruption and Anticorruption Measures ; Regulation ; Small Scale Enterprises ; State ; State Intervention ; States ; Transparency ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Bureaucracy ; Citizens ; Corporate Governance ; Corruption ; Corruption and Anticorruption Law ; Debt Markets ; Decrees ; Emerging Markets ; Federation ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Foreign Investors ; Governance ; Governance ; Governance Indicators ; Governments ; Infrastructure Economics and Finance ; Investment Climate ; Law ; Legal Framework ; Legislation ; Microfinance ; National Governance ; Private Participation in Infrastructure ; Private Sector Development ; Public Officials ; Public Procurement ; Public Sector Corruption and Anticorruption Measures ; Regulation ; Small Scale Enterprises ; State ; State Intervention ; States ; Transparency
    Abstract: April 2000 - In a new approach to measuring typically subjective variables, BEEPS - the 1999 Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Survey, the transition economies component of the World Business Environment Survey - quantitatively assesses governance from the perspective of about 3,000 firms in 20 countries. Unbundling the measurement of governance and corruption empirically suggests the importance of grand corruption in some countries, manifested in state capture by the corporate sector - through the purchase of decrees and legislation - and by graft in procurement. As a symptom of fundamental institutional weaknesses, corruption needs to be viewed within a broader governance framework. It thrives where the state is unable to reign over its bureaucracy, to protect property and contractual rights, or to provide institutions that support the rule of law. Furthermore, governance failures at the national level cannot be isolated from the interface between the corporate and state sectors, in particular from the heretofore underemphasized influence that firms may exert on the state. Under certain conditions, corporate strategies may exacerbate misgovernance at the national level. An in-depth empirical assessment of the links between corporate behavior and national governance can thus provide particular insights. The 1999 Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Survey (BEEPS) - the transition economies component of the ongoing World Business Environment Survey - assesses in detail the various dimensions of governance from the perspective of about 3,000 firms in 20 countries. After introducing the survey framework and measurement approach, Hellman, Jones, Kaufmann, and Schankerman present the survey results, focusing on governance, corruption, and state capture. By unbundling governance into its many dimensions, BEEPS permits an in-depth empirical assessment. The authors pay special attention to certain forms of grand corruption, notably state capture by parts of the corporate sector - that is, the propensity of firms to shape the underlying rules of the game by purchasing decrees, legislation, and influence at the central bank, which is found to be prevalent in a number of transition economies. The survey also measures other dimensions of grand corruption, including those associated with public procurement, and quantifies the more traditional (pettier) forms of corruption. Cross-country surveys may suffer from bias if firms tend to systematically over- or underestimate the extent of problems within their country. The authors provide a new test for this potential bias, finding little evidence of country perception bias in BEEPS. This paper - a joint product of Governance, Regulation, and Finance, World Bank Institute, and the Chief Economist's Office, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development - is part of a larger program to measure governance and corruption worldwide. A companion working paper that econometrically analyzes the effects of state capture is forthcoming. For further details, visit www.worldbank.org/wbi/governance. The authors may be contacted at dkaufmannworldbank.org or hellmanj@ebrd.com
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 32
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Social Transfers and Social Assistance : An Empirical Analysis Using Latvian Household Survey Data (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (36 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Milanovic, Branko Social Transfers and Social Assistance
    Keywords: Cash Transfers ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Household Budget ; Household Per Capita Income ; Household Survey ; Income ; Income Distribution ; Insurance ; Poor ; Poor Households ; Poor Individuals ; Poverty ; Poverty Alleviation ; Poverty Assessments ; Poverty Impact Evaluation ; Poverty Line ; Poverty Reduction ; Rural Development ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Services and Transfers to Poor ; Social Assistance ; Targeting ; Transfers ; Transfers In Kind ; Transition Economies ; Unemployment ; Cash Transfers ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Household Budget ; Household Per Capita Income ; Household Survey ; Income ; Income Distribution ; Insurance ; Poor ; Poor Households ; Poor Individuals ; Poverty ; Poverty Alleviation ; Poverty Assessments ; Poverty Impact Evaluation ; Poverty Line ; Poverty Reduction ; Rural Development ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Services and Transfers to Poor ; Social Assistance ; Targeting ; Transfers ; Transfers In Kind ; Transition Economies ; Unemployment
    Abstract: April 2000 - In Latvia, only 1.5 percent of households receive social assistance, which for those households represents 20 percent of income. The allocation of social assistance is unequal. Urban households outside the capital (Riga) and those headed by male adults are systematically discriminated against. Because social assistance is locally financed, poor households in different parts of the country are treated unequally. Milanovic assesses the performance of Latvia's system of social transfers, in three ways: First, he analyzes the incidence (who receives transfers) of pensions, family allowances, unemployment benefits, and social assistance. Per capita analysis shows pensions tending to be pro-rich and families allowances pro-poor (a finding typical in poverty analyses). Introducing an equivalence scale alters the results and shows all individual cash transfers performing about the same: mildly pro-poor. Next, he examines the performance of social assistance, which is, by definition, directed to the poor. He shows that Latvia's current system is concentrated - meaning that social assistance is disbursed to few households (only 1.5 percent of all households receive it) but among those that do receive it, it represents a relatively high share (20 percent) of income. Households that are systematically discriminated against in the allocation of social assistance are urban households living outside the capital (Riga) and those headed by male adults. Third, he looks at the regional allocation of social assistance. The results confirm earlier findings of large horizontal inequalities - that people with the same income from different parts of the country are treated unequally, because the existing system is based on local financing of social assistance. This paper - a product of Poverty and Human Resources, Development Research Group - is part of the Latvia Poverty Assistance Report (February 2000). The author may be contacted at bmilanovicworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 33
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Financial Intermediary Distress in the Republic of Korea : Small Is Beautiful? (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (42 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Ferri, Giovanni Financial Intermediary Distress in the Republic of Korea
    Keywords: Bank ; Bank Examinations ; Bank Of Korea ; Banking Systems ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Capital Adequacy ; Commercial Banks ; Cred Deposits ; Debt Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Crises ; Financial Institutions ; Financial Intermediation ; Financial Literacy ; Financial Ratios ; Loans ; Merchant Banking ; Private Sector Development ; Risk ; Risk Management ; Savings ; Services ; Small Banks ; Supervisory Agencies ; Bank ; Bank Examinations ; Bank Of Korea ; Banking Systems ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Capital Adequacy ; Commercial Banks ; Cred Deposits ; Debt Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Crises ; Financial Institutions ; Financial Intermediation ; Financial Literacy ; Financial Ratios ; Loans ; Merchant Banking ; Private Sector Development ; Risk ; Risk Management ; Savings ; Services ; Small Banks ; Supervisory Agencies
    Abstract: May 2000 - During a systemic financial crisis in Korea, the probability of financial distress was greater for large financial intermediaries (such as commercial banks and merchant banking corporations) than it was for tiny mutual savings and finance companies. Taking the Korean experience as a laboratory experiment in systemic financial crisis, Bongini, Ferri, and Kang analyze distress in individual institutions among two groups of financial intermediaries. They pool together a group of large financial intermediaries (commercial banks, merchant banking corporations) and another group of tiny mutual savings and finance companies. Both the too-big-to-fail doctrine and the credit channel approach suggest that the probability of distress would be greater for small intermediaries. But Bongini, Ferri, and Kang find that proportionately fewer small intermediaries were distressed than were large intermediaries. They offer two hypothetical explanations for this unexpected result: · Exchange rate exposure - a major shock to Korean intermediaries - was presumably negligible for the small financial intermediaries. · Small financial intermediaries allocated loans better, because of the peer monitoring natural to their mutual nature and deep local roots. Available data did not allow the authors to test the first hypothesis, but they did find support for the second one. Estimating a logit model, they find that the probability of distress was systematically smaller for the mutual savings and finance companies that stayed closer to their origins (for example, collecting many deposits as credit mutual installment savings) and for those with a longer history of doing business in their local community. This paper - a product of Finance, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to study the financial crises in East Asia. The authors may be contacted at pbonginimi.unicatt.it, gferri@worldbank.orgor tkang@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 34
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Competition, Corporate Governance, and Regulation in Central Asia : Uzbekistan's Structural Reform Challenges (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (28 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Broadman, G. Harry Competition, Corporate Governance, and Regulation in Central Asia
    Keywords: Business Performance ; Competition ; Competition Policy ; Corporate Governance ; Corporate Law ; Corporate Performance ; Debt Markets ; E-Business ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Enforcement ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Governance ; Investment ; Labor Policies ; Law and Development ; Legal Frameworks ; Macroeconomic Policy ; Macroeconomic Stability ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Market Economy ; Market Share ; Market Structure ; Markets and Market Access ; Microfinance ; Monopoly ; National Governance ; Output ; Price ; Prices ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Corruption and Anticorruption Measures ; Reform Program ; Social Protections and Labor ; Trade ; Trade Associations ; Business Performance ; Competition ; Competition Policy ; Corporate Governance ; Corporate Law ; Corporate Performance ; Debt Markets ; E-Business ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Enforcement ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Governance ; Investment ; Labor Policies ; Law and Development ; Legal Frameworks ; Macroeconomic Policy ; Macroeconomic Stability ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Market Economy ; Market Share ; Market Structure ; Markets and Market Access ; Microfinance ; Monopoly ; National Governance ; Output ; Price ; Prices ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Corruption and Anticorruption Measures ; Reform Program ; Social Protections and Labor ; Trade ; Trade Associations
    Abstract: May 2000 - Like many Central Asian republics, Uzbekistan has adopted a gradual, cautious approach in its transition to a market economy. It has had some success attaining macroeconomic stability, but microeconomic reforms have lagged behind. It is time to accelerate structural reform. In Uzbekistan state enterprises are being changed into shareholding companies, and private enterprises account for 45 percent of all registered firms. But business decisions to set prices, output, and investment are often not market-based, nor wholly within the purview of businesses, especially those in commercial manufacturing and services. Lines of authority for corporate governance - from state enterprises to private enterprises - are ill-defined, so there is little discipline on corporate performance and little separation between government and business. Nascent frameworks have been created for competition policy (for firms in the commercial sector) and regulatory policy (governing utilities in the infrastructure monopoly sector). But implementation and enforcement have been hampered by old-style instruments (such as price controls) rooted in central planning, by lack of a strong independent regulatory rule-making authority, by the limited understanding of the basic concepts of competition and regulatory reform, and by weak institutional capabilities for analyzing market structure and business performance. Based on fieldwork in Uzbekistan, Broadman recommends: · Deepening senior policy officials' understanding of, and appreciation of the benefits from, enterprise competition and how it affects economic growth. · Reforming competition policy institutions and legal frameworks in line with the country's goal of strengthening structural reforms and improving macroeconomic policy. · Improving the ability of government and associated institutions to assess Uzbekistan's industrial market structure and the determinants of enterprise conduct and performance. · Making the authority responsible for competition and regulatory policymaking into an independent agency - a champion of competition - answerable directly to the prime minister. · Strengthening incentives and institutions for corporate governance and bringing them in line with international practice. · Subjecting infrastructure monopolies to systemic competitive restructuring and unbundling, where appropriate. For other utilities, depoliticize tariff setting and implementation of regulations; ensure that price, output, and investment decisions by service suppliers are procompetitive (creating a level playing field among users); and increase transparency and accountability to the public. This paper - a product of the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Sector Unit, Europe and Central Asia Regional Office - is part of a larger effort in the region to assess structural reform in Central Asia. The author may be contacted at hbroadmanworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 35
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Emerging stock markets factbook 1999 (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    ISBN: 082134403X , 9780821344033
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (300 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Abstract: This thirteenth annual survey of emerging stock markets, prepared by the Emerging Markets Group of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), provides essential coverage of stock market characteristics for the 45 markets covered by the IFC's three highly regarded stock market indexes--the Global, Investable, and Frontier Index series
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 36
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Information and Modeling Issues in Designing Water and Sanitation Subsidy Schemes (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (46 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Halpern, Jonathan Information and Modeling Issues in Designing Water and Sanitation Subsidy Schemes
    Keywords: Administrative Procedures ; Consumption ; Consumption ; Consumption Patterns ; Cred Demand ; E-Business ; Economic Theory and Research ; Empirical Analysis ; Environment ; Environmental Economics and Policies ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Incentives ; Income ; Information ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Need ; Options ; Poverty ; Private Sector Development ; Revenue ; Standards ; Subsidies ; Tariffs ; Town Water Supply and Sanitation ; Values ; Water ; Water Conservation ; Water Resources ; Water Supply and Sanitation ; Water Supply and Sanitation Governance and Institutions ; Water Use ; Willingness To Pay ; Wtp ; Administrative Procedures ; Consumption ; Consumption ; Consumption Patterns ; Cred Demand ; E-Business ; Economic Theory and Research ; Empirical Analysis ; Environment ; Environmental Economics and Policies ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Incentives ; Income ; Information ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Need ; Options ; Poverty ; Private Sector Development ; Revenue ; Standards ; Subsidies ; Tariffs ; Town Water Supply and Sanitation ; Values ; Water ; Water Conservation ; Water Resources ; Water Supply and Sanitation ; Water Supply and Sanitation Governance and Institutions ; Water Use ; Willingness To Pay ; Wtp
    Abstract: May 2000 - Evaluating design alternatives is a first step in introducing optimal water subsidy schemes. The definition of appropriate targeting criteria and subsidy levels needs to be supported by empirical analysis, generally an informationally demanding exercise. An assessment carried out in Panama revealed that targeting individual households would be preferable to geographically based targeting. Empirical analysis also showed that only a small group of very poor households needed a subsidy to pay their water bill. In designing a rational scheme for subsidizing water services, it is important to support the choice of design parameters with empirical analysis that simulates the impact of subsidy options on the target population. Otherwise, there is little guarantee that the subsidy program will meet its objectives. But such analysis is informationally demanding. Ideally, researchers should have access to a single, consistent data set containing household-level information on consumption, willingness to pay, and a range of socioeconomic characteristics. Such a comprehensive data set will rarely exist. G-mez-Lobo, Foster, and Halpern suggest overcoming this data deficiency by collating and imaginatively manipulating different sources of data to generate estimates of the missing variables. The most valuable sources of information, they explain, are likely to be the following: · Customer databases of the water company, which provide robust information on the measured consumption of formal customers but little information on unmeasured consumption, informal customers, willingness to pay, or socioeconomic variables. · General socioeconomic household surveys, which are an excellent source of socioeconomic information but tend to record water expenditure rather than physical consumption. · Willingness-to-pay surveys, which are generally tailored to a specific project, are very flexible, and may be the only source of willingness-to-pay data. However, they are expensive to undertake and the information collected is based on hypothetical rather than real behavior. Where such surveys are unavailable, international benchmark values on willingness to pay may be used. Combining data sets requires some effort and creativity, and creates difficulties of its own. But once a suitable data set has been constructed, a simulation model can be created using simple spreadsheet software. The model used to design Panama's water subsidy proposal addressed these questions: · What are the targeting properties of different eligibility criteria for the subsidy? · How large should the subsidy be? · How much will the subsidy scheme cost, including administrative costs? Armed with the above information, policymakers should be in a position to design a subsidy program that reaches the intended beneficiaries, provides them with the level of financial support that is strictly necessary, meets the overall budget restrictions, and does not waste an excessive amount of funding on administrative costs. This paper - a product of the Finance, Private Sector, and Infrastructure Sector Unit, Latin America and the Caribbean Region - is part of a larger effort in the region to evaluate and disseminate lessons of experience in designing policies to improve the quality and sustainability of infrastructure services and to enhance the access of the poor to these basic services. The authors may be contacted at vfosterworldbank.org or jhalpern@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 37
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Taxing Issues with Privatization : A Checklist (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (44 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Mintz, M. Jack Taxing Issues with Privatization
    Keywords: Capital Gains Taxes ; Company Taxes ; Corporate Income Tax ; Corporate Income Taxes ; Debt Markets ; Deductions ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Income Tax ; Investment and Investment Climate ; Law and Development ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Private Sector Development ; Property Taxes ; Tax ; Tax Base ; Tax Benefits ; Tax Credits ; Tax Incentives ; Tax Law ; Tax Liabilities ; Tax Liability ; Tax Policies ; Tax Policy ; Tax Revenue ; Taxable Income ; Taxation and Subsidies ; Taxes ; Taxpayers ; Capital Gains Taxes ; Company Taxes ; Corporate Income Tax ; Corporate Income Taxes ; Debt Markets ; Deductions ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Income Tax ; Investment and Investment Climate ; Law and Development ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Private Sector Development ; Property Taxes ; Tax ; Tax Base ; Tax Benefits ; Tax Credits ; Tax Incentives ; Tax Law ; Tax Liabilities ; Tax Liability ; Tax Policies ; Tax Policy ; Tax Revenue ; Taxable Income ; Taxation and Subsidies ; Taxes ; Taxpayers
    Abstract: May 2000 - The literature on privatization has overlooked how the tax status of the company to be privatized will affect the firm's, and the country's, financial transition. Privatization has been a popular strategy for improving efficiency in both market and transition economies. The literature on privatization includes broad discussions of pricing techniques but overlooks tax issues. In reality, a state-owned company loses its privilege of paying no taxes once it is privatized. This change in tax status would certainly complicate the financial transition of a newly privatized company, affect industrywide economic efficiency, and change the revenue pattern of governments. Using Ontario Hydro and the Canadian tax regime as examples, Mintz, Chen, and Zorotheos provide policymakers with a checklist on tax issues under privatization. Their main observations: · The tax status of the company to be privatized must be considered in analyzing the firm's financial transition. · The economic efficiency targeted by privatization may depend partly on the tax regime for a particular industry. · Privatization affects government revenue through the revenue-sharing structure determined by intergovernmental fiscal relationships and cross-border tax arrangements. Time is a factor in tax and transition issues. At the time of privatization, for example, how are assets to be valued for calculating capital gains and cost deductions, for tax purposes? Are the assets transferred to the new owners at fair market value, book value, or at cost, for tax purposes? How should heavy debt loads be treated? Ontario Hydro will not be privatized but it will become taxable. How the taxes will be paid will depend on how the transition is treated. Tax policy will be a key determinant of the industry's future development. This paper - a product of the Governance, Regulation, and Finance Division, World Bank Institute - is part of a larger effort in the institute to increase understanding of infrastructure regulation
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 38
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    TradeCAN : database and software for a competitiveness analysis of nations (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    ISBN: 0821344439 , 0821344463
    Language: English , Spanish
    Pages: Online-Ressource (Electronic data and programs, 1 computer optical disc) , col , 4 3/4 in.
    Additional Material: 1 user guide (xi, 67 p. :ill. ; 23 cm.)
    Edition: 1999 ed
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Keywords: International trade Statistics ; Databases ; International trade Statistics ; Databases
    Abstract: TradeCAN is designed to analyze international, national, and regional competitiveness in commodities and manufactured exports. It allows users to calculate market shares for each three or four digit SITC export for 1985-1996 and record changes in market share and market structure
    Note: Consists of two databases:TradeCAN 1, industrialized world's imports, and; TradeCAN 2, developing world's imports , Title from disc label , Numeric data. , System requirements:PC with Pentium 150 or faster processor; Windows 95, 98, or NT 3.x or later; hard disk with 20MB free space. , English and Spanish
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 39
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Aid Dependence and the Quality of Governance : A Cross-Country Empirical Analysis (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (44 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Knack, Stephen Aid Dependence and the Quality of Governance
    Keywords: Accountability ; Aid Dependence ; Bureaucracy ; Bureaucratic Quality ; Corruption ; Country Data ; Development Economics and Aid Effectiveness ; Disability ; Economic Growth ; Economic Theory and Research ; Education ; Emerging Markets ; Foreign Aid ; Gender ; Gender and Health ; Good Governance ; Governance ; Governance ; Governance Indicators ; Growth ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Income ; Income Growth ; Institutional Quality ; Institutions ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; National Governance ; Natural Resources ; Per Capita Incomes ; Policy Implications ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Corruption and Anticorruption Measures ; Reverse Causality ; Rule Of Law ; School Health ; Social Protections and Labor ; Accountability ; Aid Dependence ; Bureaucracy ; Bureaucratic Quality ; Corruption ; Country Data ; Development Economics and Aid Effectiveness ; Disability ; Economic Growth ; Economic Theory and Research ; Education ; Emerging Markets ; Foreign Aid ; Gender ; Gender and Health ; Good Governance ; Governance ; Governance ; Governance Indicators ; Growth ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Income ; Income Growth ; Institutional Quality ; Institutions ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; National Governance ; Natural Resources ; Per Capita Incomes ; Policy Implications ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Corruption and Anticorruption Measures ; Reverse Causality ; Rule Of Law ; School Health ; Social Protections and Labor
    Abstract: July 2000 - Do higher levels of aid erode the very quality of governance poor countries need for sustained and rapid income growth? Good governance-in the form of institutions that establish predictable, impartial, and consistently enforced rules for investors-is crucial for the sustained and rapid growth of per capita incomes in poor countries. Aid dependence can undermine institutional quality by weakening accountability, encouraging rent seeking and corruption, fomenting conflict over control of aid funds, siphoning off scarce talent from the bureaucracy, and alleviating pressures to reform inefficient policies and institutions. Knack's analyses of cross-country data provide evidence that higher aid levels erode the quality of governance, as measured by indexes of bureaucratic quality, corruption, and the rule of law. This negative relationship strengthens when instruments for aid are used to correct for potential reverse causality. It is robust to changes in the sample and to several alternative forms of estimation. Recent studies have concluded that aid's impact on economic growth and infant mortality is conditional on policy and institutional gaps. Knack's results indicate that the size of the institutional gap itself increases with aid levels. This paper-a product of Regulation and Competition Policy, Development Research Group-is part of a larger effort in the group to identify the determinants of good governance and institutions conducive to long-run economic development. The author may be contacted at sknackworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 40
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Regulatory Reform in Mexico's Natural Gas Industry : Liberalization in the Context of a Dominant Upstream Incumbent (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (42 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Halpern, Jonathan Regulatory Reform in Mexico's Natural Gas Industry
    Keywords: Air ; Air Pollution ; Cleaner Fuels ; Diesel ; Driving ; Emission Standards ; Energy ; Energy Production and Transportation ; Fuel ; Fuel Oil ; Fuels ; Gas Sector ; Industry ; Infrastructure ; Infrastructure Economics and Finance ; Infrastructure Regulation ; Investments ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Markets and Market Access ; Oil and Gas Industry ; Petroleum Gas ; Pollution ; Transport ; Transport Economics, Policy and Planning ; Water Resources ; Water and Industry ; Air ; Air Pollution ; Cleaner Fuels ; Diesel ; Driving ; Emission Standards ; Energy ; Energy Production and Transportation ; Fuel ; Fuel Oil ; Fuels ; Gas Sector ; Industry ; Infrastructure ; Infrastructure Economics and Finance ; Infrastructure Regulation ; Investments ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Markets and Market Access ; Oil and Gas Industry ; Petroleum Gas ; Pollution ; Transport ; Transport Economics, Policy and Planning ; Water Resources ; Water and Industry
    Abstract: January 2001 - Liberalization of the natural gas industry is complex because the sector combines activities with natural monopoly characteristics with activities that are potentially competitive. The challenges are compounded when the State opts to retain vertically integrated monopolies in otherwise contestable segments of the industry. Regulatory issues associated with partial liberalization of natural gas markets are analyzed through a case study of Mexico. The natural gas industry combines activities with natural monopoly characteristics with those that are potentially competitive. Pipeline transport and distribution, which have natural monopoly characteristics, require regulation of price and nonprice behavior. Production is a contestable activity, but in a few countries (including Mexico) it remains a state monopoly. Gas marketing is also contestable, but the presence of a dominant, upstream, vertically integrated incumbent may pose significant barriers to entry. Market architecture decisions—such as horizontal structure, regional development, and the degree of vertical integration—are also crucial. Rosellón and Halpern report that Mexico has undertaken structural reform in the energy sector more slowly than many other countries, but it has introduced changes to attract private investment in natural gas transport and distribution. These changes were a response to the rapid growth in demand for natural gas (about 10 percent a year) in Mexico, which was in turn a response to economic development and the enforcement of environmental regulations. The new regulatory framework provides incentives for firms to invest and operate efficiently and to bear much of the risk associated with new projects. It also protects captive consumers and improves general economic welfare. The continued vertical integration of the state-owned company Pemex and its statutory monopoly in domestic production posed a challenge to regulators. Their response in liberalizing trade, setting first-hand sales prices, and regulating natural gas distribution makes the Mexican case an interesting example of regulatory design. As the first phase of investment mobilization and competition for the market in Mexican distribution projects concludes, remaining challenges include consistently and transparently enforcing regulations, coordinating tasks among government agencies, and ensuring expansion of gas transport services and domestic production. A key challenge in the near term will be fostering competition in the market. In strengthening the role of market forces, one issue is Pemex's discretionary discounts on domestic gas and access to transport services, made possible by its monopoly in domestic production and marketing activities and its overwhelming dominance in transport. The main instrument available to the regulator is proscribing Pemex contract pricing, but more durable and tractable instruments should be considered. This paper—a product of the Finance, Private Sector, and Infrastructure Sector Unit, Latin America and the Caribbean Region—is part of a larger effort in the region to evaluate and disseminate lessons of experience in designing policies to improve the quality and sustainability of infrastructure services. The authors may be contacted at jrosellondis1.cide.mx or jhalpern@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 41
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Reforming Tax Systems : The World Bank Record in the 1990s (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (44 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Barbone, Luca Reforming Tax Systems
    Keywords: Accountability ; Audits ; Bank ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Communities & Human Settlements ; Debt Markets ; E-Business ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Governance ; Governance Capacity Building ; Housing and Human Habitats ; Institutional Development ; Law and Development ; Lending ; Loans ; Macroeconomic Stability ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Principal ; Private Sector Development ; Projects ; Public Sector Development ; Public Sector Economics and Finance ; Revenue ; Risk ; Services ; Social Services ; Structural Adjustment ; Tax Law ; Tax Policy and Administration ; Tax Reform ; Taxation ; Taxation and Subsidies ; Technical Assistance ; Value ; Accountability ; Audits ; Bank ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Communities & Human Settlements ; Debt Markets ; E-Business ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Governance ; Governance Capacity Building ; Housing and Human Habitats ; Institutional Development ; Law and Development ; Lending ; Loans ; Macroeconomic Stability ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Principal ; Private Sector Development ; Projects ; Public Sector Development ; Public Sector Economics and Finance ; Revenue ; Risk ; Services ; Social Services ; Structural Adjustment ; Tax Law ; Tax Policy and Administration ; Tax Reform ; Taxation ; Taxation and Subsidies ; Technical Assistance ; Value
    Abstract: In efforts to reform the administration of tax systems, the World Bank can substantially improve project design, execution, and effectiveness by adopting a more concerted approach to institutional analysis. - The main constraint on World Bank operations in tax and customs administration is the Bank's inadequate institutional framework for accumulating knowledge from loan operations, concludes this review of the Bank's record on reform of tax systems in the 1990s. The Bank's theoretical basis for reforming tax and customs administration is still rudimentary. Recent theories stress the importance of institutions that harness voice and improve transparency and contestability, but there is little evidence that reform of these factors alone makes tax administration more effective. Improvements are needed in pre-project diagnosis and project design, especially for examining accountability, administration costs, managerial autonomy, performance incentives for staff, taxpayer equity and services, and environmental factors. Pre-project work could draw more systematically on lessons from previous experience. Institutional components of project design have been biased toward organization, manpower upgrading, and procedures related to information technology. Too little attention has been paid to improving accountability, administrative cost-effectiveness, and anticorruption institution-building. Projects have made inadequate use of different kinds of performance indicators, with little uniformity in those applied. Methods used to evaluate project outcomes could be better and more uniform. Suggestions for future Bank operations: · Doing better background work and articulating a strategy and comprehensive framework for Bank involvement in reform of tax administration. · Possibly supporting and strengthening regional tax administration associations, which could serve as catalysts for change. · Strengthening partnering and supporting private sector consultant organizations, so they can manage major components of administrative reform. · Institutionalizing the accumulation of knowledge about tax administration (which might require changing staff recruitment, the mix of staff skills, and training plans). The authors provide recommendations for improving project diagnosis, design, performance indicators, and appraisal, as well as a short list of projects that serve as guides to good practice. This paper - a product of the Public Sector Management Division, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network - is part of a larger effort in the network to draw on lessons of past Bank activity in order to pursue professional excellence and maximum client impact. The authors may be contacted at lbarboneworldbank.org, oldmonk87@yahoo.com, ldewulf@worldbank.org, or ahansson1@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 42
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    The Effects of Land Registration on Financial Development and Economic Growth : A Theoretical and Conceptual Framework (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (22 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Byamugisha, K.F. Frank The Effects of Land Registration on Financial Development and Economic Growth
    Keywords: Bank Policy ; Collateral ; Common Property Resource Development ; Communities & Human Settlements ; Contracts ; Debt Markets ; Depos Deposit Mobilization ; Economic Development ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Exchange ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Development ; Financial Literacy ; Investment ; Labor Policies ; Land Title ; Land Titling ; Land Use and Policies ; Land and Real Estate Development ; Liquidity ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Markets ; Municipal Housing and Land ; Poverty Reduction ; Private Property ; Private Sector Development ; Property Rights ; Rural Development ; Rural Land Policies for Poverty Reduction ; Security ; Seizure ; Social Protections and Labor ; Transaction ; Transaction Costs ; Transactions ; Bank Policy ; Collateral ; Common Property Resource Development ; Communities & Human Settlements ; Contracts ; Debt Markets ; Depos Deposit Mobilization ; Economic Development ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Exchange ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Development ; Financial Literacy ; Investment ; Labor Policies ; Land Title ; Land Titling ; Land Use and Policies ; Land and Real Estate Development ; Liquidity ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Markets ; Municipal Housing and Land ; Poverty Reduction ; Private Property ; Private Sector Development ; Property Rights ; Rural Development ; Rural Land Policies for Poverty Reduction ; Security ; Seizure ; Social Protections and Labor ; Transaction ; Transaction Costs ; Transactions
    Abstract: November 1999 - A theoretical framework to guide empirical analysis of how land registration affects financial development and economic growth. The author develops a theoretical framework to guide empirical analysis of how land registration affects financial development and economic growth. Most conceptual approaches investigate the effects of land registration on only one sector, nut land registration is commonly observed to affect not only other sectors but the economy as a whole The author builds on the well-tested link between secure land ownership and farm productivity, adding to the framework theory about positive information and transaction costs. To map the relationship between land registration and financial development and economic growth, the framework links: -Land tenure security and investment incentives. -Land title, collateral, and credit. -Land markets, transactions, and efficiency. -Labor mobility and efficiency. -Land liquidity, deposit mobilization, and investment. Empirical results from applying the framework to a single case study - of Thailand, described in a separate paper - suggest that the framework is sound. This paper - a product of the Rural Development and Natural Resources Sector Unit, East Asia and Pacific Region - is part of a larger effort in the region to increase the effectiveness of country assistance strategies in the area of property rights and economic development
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 43
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Designing Pro-Poor Water and Sewer Concessions : Early Lessons from Bolivia (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (40 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Komives, Kristin Designing Pro-Poor Water and Sewer Concessions
    Keywords: Concession Contracts ; Contract Objectives ; Cost Recovery ; Financial Incentives ; Industry ; Low-Income Households ; Private Companies ; Private Participation ; Public Utility ; Public Water ; Sanitation Service ; Sanitation Services ; Sanitation Solutions ; Service Providers ; Service Supplier ; Sewer Service ; Town Water Supply and Sanitation ; Urban Areas ; Urban Water Supply and Sanitation ; Utility Model ; Water ; Water Conservation ; Water Resources ; Water Sector ; Water Supply and Sanitation ; Water Supply and Sanitation Governance and Institutions ; Water Utilities ; Water and Industry ; Concession Contracts ; Contract Objectives ; Cost Recovery ; Financial Incentives ; Industry ; Low-Income Households ; Private Companies ; Private Participation ; Public Utility ; Public Water ; Sanitation Service ; Sanitation Services ; Sanitation Solutions ; Service Providers ; Service Supplier ; Sewer Service ; Town Water Supply and Sanitation ; Urban Areas ; Urban Water Supply and Sanitation ; Utility Model ; Water ; Water Conservation ; Water Resources ; Water Sector ; Water Supply and Sanitation ; Water Supply and Sanitation Governance and Institutions ; Water Utilities ; Water and Industry
    Abstract: To design pro-poor concession arrangements in the water sector, policymakers must pay careful attention to how the proposed contract, and existing or proposed regulations, will affect private concessionaires' ability, obligations, and financial incentives to serve low-income households. - The Bolivian government awarded a concession for water and sewer services in La Paz and El Alto in 1997. One goal of doing so was to expand in-house water and sewer service to low-income households. Komives uses the Aguas del Illimani case to explore how the design of typical concession agreements (with monopoly private service suppliers) can affect outcomes in poor neighborhoods. She finds that outcomes in services can be affected by the concession contracts, by the contract bid process, by sector regulations, and by regulatory arrangements. To increase the likelihood of improvements in low-income areas, policymakers should: · Make contract objectives clear and easily measurable. · Eliminate policy barriers to serving the poor (including property title requirements and service boundaries that exclude poor neighborhoods). · Design financial incentives consistent with service expansion or improved objectives for low-income areas. Contracts are subject to negotiation, so expansion or connection mandates alone do not guarantee that concessionaires will serve poor areas. Provisions and standards that reduce service options (for example, requirements that eliminate all alternatives to in-house connections) or restrict the emergence of new service providers (for example, granting exclusivity in the service area) could do more harm than good. In two years of operation, Aguas del Illimani met its first expansion mandate and took many steps to facilitate the expansion of in-house water connections in low-income areas. The company and the Bolivian water regulator were willing to discuss and seek possible solutions to problems associated with servicing poor neighborhoods. It is too early to tell whether these gains will be sustainable or to predict how privatization will ultimately affect poor households in La Paz and El Alto. This paper - a product of Private Participation in Infrastructure, Private Sector Development Department - is part of a larger effort in the department to analyze and disseminate the principles of, and good practice for, improving service options for the poor through reforms for private participation in infrastructure. The author may be contacted at komivesemail.unc.edu
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 44
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Infrastructure's Contribution to Aggregate Output (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (20 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Canning, David Infrastructure's Contribution to Aggregate Output
    Keywords: Capital ; Economic Growth ; Economic Theory and Research ; Externalities ; Externality ; Human Capital ; Income ; Income Levels ; Inputs ; Investment ; Labor Policies ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Marginal Productivity ; Marginal Products ; Outcomes ; Prices ; Production ; Production Function ; Productivity ; Social Protections and Labor ; Taxation ; Telecommunications ; Theory ; Total Factor Productivity ; Transport ; Transport Economics, Policy and Planning ; Variables ; Capital ; Economic Growth ; Economic Theory and Research ; Externalities ; Externality ; Human Capital ; Income ; Income Levels ; Inputs ; Investment ; Labor Policies ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Marginal Productivity ; Marginal Products ; Outcomes ; Prices ; Production ; Production Function ; Productivity ; Social Protections and Labor ; Taxation ; Telecommunications ; Theory ; Total Factor Productivity ; Transport ; Transport Economics, Policy and Planning ; Variables
    Abstract: Of the major kinds of physical infrastructure, electricity generating capacity has roughly the same marginal productivity as physical capital as a whole. So have roads-plus-rail, globally and in lower-income countries. Telephones, however, and transport routes in higher-income countries, have higher marginal productivity than other kinds of capital. - Using panel data for a cross-section of countries, Canning estimates an aggregate production function that includes infrastructure capital. He finds that: · The productivity of physical and human capital is close to the levels suggested by microeconomic evidence on their private returns. · Electricity generating capacity and transportation networks have roughly the same marginal productivity as capital as a whole. · Telephone networks appear to show higher marginal productivity than other types of capital. Panel data cointegration methods used in estimation take account of the nonstationary nature of the data, are robust to reverse causation, and allow for different levels of productivity and different short-run business-cycle and multiplier relationships across countries. This paper - a product of Public Economics, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to study the impact of public expenditures. The study was funded by the Bank's Research Support Budget under the research project Infrastructure and Growth: A Multicountry Panel Study (RPO 680-89). The author may be contacted at d.canningqub.ac.uk
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 45
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Argentina's Transport Privatization and Re-Regulation : Ups and Downs of a Daring Decade-Long Experience (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (30 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Estache, Antonio Argentina's Transport Privatization and Re-Regulation
    Keywords: Airport ; Airport Authority ; Commuters ; Costs ; Infrastructure ; Investments ; Modal Shift ; Port Services ; Rail ; Railroad ; Railways ; Road Transport ; Roads ; Subsidy ; Subway ; Traffic ; Transport ; Transport ; Transport Economics ; Transport Economics, Policy and Planning ; Transport Sector ; Trucks ; Airport ; Airport Authority ; Commuters ; Costs ; Infrastructure ; Investments ; Modal Shift ; Port Services ; Rail ; Railroad ; Railways ; Road Transport ; Roads ; Subsidy ; Subway ; Traffic ; Transport ; Transport ; Transport Economics ; Transport Economics, Policy and Planning ; Transport Sector ; Trucks
    Abstract: November 1999 - Argentina's policy for reform of the transport sector has been a mix of competition in the market and, through concessions, for the market. Capacity has increased, demand has grown, and prices and services have improved. Public financing has not been eliminated but it has been drastically reduced. When Argentina initiated reform of its transport sector in 1989, it had few models to follow. It was the first Latin American country to privatize its intercity railroad, to explicitly organize intraport competition, and to grant a private concession to operate its subway. It was second (after Japan) to privatize its urban commuter railways and one of the first in the developing world to grant road concessions to private operators. Argentina's experience shows that transport privatization and deregulation provide efficiency gains that can be delivered to users. Despite unexpectedly high residual subsidy requirements, fiscal costs are lower, services have improved, and new investment is taking place. Argentina's decade-long experience shows that the reform process involves learning by doing. Inexperienced new regulators quickly face the challenges in controlling monopoly power and providing long-run incentives for private investment. Designing sustainable reform requires a commitment by government to minimize its role in the sector and to respect its original promises to both users and concessionaires. Argentina has learned the importance of building up the regulatory capacity needed to monitor contracts, especially when initial uncertainty about demand and cost conditions is strong and renegotiation is the probable outcome of daring reform. The government's main challenge in monitoring contracts is to get enough information to reach a balance in its decisions about distributing efficiency gains fairly between consumers and private investors. This is one area in which Argentina may not yet have met the challenge. As the last wave of contract extensions in rail and roads comes to an end, one issue is likely to be the need for better targeting of subsidies for the poor. This paper - a product of Governance, Regulation, and Finance, World Bank Institute - is part of a larger effort in the institute to increase understanding of infrastructure regulation. Antonio Estache may be contacted at aestacheworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 46
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Risk and Efficiency in East Asian Banks (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (40 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Laeven, Luc Risk and Efficiency in East Asian Banks
    Keywords: Bank ; Bank Risk ; Banking ; Banks ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Cred Deposits ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Crisis Management and Restructuring ; Financial Institutions ; Financial Intermediation ; Financial Literacy ; Financial Services ; Governance ; Interest ; Lending ; Nonperforming Loans ; Operating Costs ; Principal ; Real Sector ; Risk ; Risk Factors ; Risk Management ; Risk Taking ; Services ; Bank ; Bank Risk ; Banking ; Banks ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Cred Deposits ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Crisis Management and Restructuring ; Financial Institutions ; Financial Intermediation ; Financial Literacy ; Financial Services ; Governance ; Interest ; Lending ; Nonperforming Loans ; Operating Costs ; Principal ; Real Sector ; Risk ; Risk Factors ; Risk Management ; Risk Taking ; Services
    Abstract: Banks restructured after East Asia's crisis of 1997 - most of them family-owned or company-owned and almost never foreign-owned - tended to be heavy risk takers. Most of them had excessive credit growth. - Laeven uses a linear programming technique (data envelopment analysis) to estimate the inefficiencies of banks in Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand. He applies this technique to the precrisis period 1992-96. Assessing a bank's overall performance requires assessing both efficiency and risk factors, so Laeven also introduces a measure of risk taking. This risk measure helps predict which banks were restructured after the crisis of 1997. Laeven finds that foreign-owned banks took little risk relative to other banks in East Asia, and that family-owned and company-owned banks were among the highest risk takers. Banks restructured after the 1997 crisis had excessive credit growth, were mostly family-owned or company-owned, and were almost never foreign-owned. This paper - a product of the Financial Sector Strategy and Policy Department - is part of a larger effort in the department to study the causes and resolution of financial distress. The author may be contacted at llaevenworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 47
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Infrastructure, Geographical Disadvantage, and Transport Costs (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (48 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Venables, Anthony Infrastructure, Geographical Disadvantage, and Transport Costs
    Keywords: Elasticity ; Fixed Costs ; High Transport ; Infrastructure ; Infrastructure Investment ; International Transport ; Journey ; Journeys ; Quality Of Transport ; Rail ; Road ; Routes ; Trans Transit Routes ; Transport ; Transport ; Transport Costs ; Transport Economics ; Transport Economics, Policy and Planning ; Travel ; Trips ; True ; Elasticity ; Fixed Costs ; High Transport ; Infrastructure ; Infrastructure Investment ; International Transport ; Journey ; Journeys ; Quality Of Transport ; Rail ; Road ; Routes ; Trans Transit Routes ; Transport ; Transport ; Transport Costs ; Transport Economics ; Transport Economics, Policy and Planning ; Travel ; Trips ; True
    Abstract: December 1999 - The median landlocked country has only 30 percent of the trade volume of the median coastal economy. Halving transport costs increases that trade volume by a factor of five. Improving the standard of infrastructure from that of the bottom quarter of countries to that of the median country increases trade by 50 percent. Improving infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa is especially important for increasing African trade. Limão and Venables use three different data sets to investigate how transport depends on geography and infrastructure. Landlocked countries have high transport costs, which can be substantially reduced by improving the quality of their infrastructure and that of transit countries. Analysis of bilateral trade data confirms the importance of infrastructure. Limão and Venables estimate the elasticity of trade flows with regard to transport costs to be high, at about -2.5. This means that: · The median landlocked country has only 30 percent of the trade volume of the median coastal economy. · Halving transport costs increases the volume of trade by a factor of five. · Improving infrastructure from the 75th to the 50th percentile increases trade by 50 percent. Using their results and a basic gravity model to study Sub-Saharan African trade, both internally and with the rest of the world, Limão and Venables find that infrastructure problems largely explain the relatively low levels of African trade. This paper - a product of Trade, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to investigate the effects of geography on economic performance. The authors may be contacted at ngl4columbia.edu or avenables@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 48
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Single Mothers in Russia : Household Strategies for Coping with Poverty (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (32 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Lokshin, Michael Single Mothers in Russia
    Keywords: Child Care ; Childbearing ; Communities & Human Settlements ; Divorce ; Family Income ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Gender ; Gender and Law ; Health Care ; Health Systems Development and Reform ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Housing and Human Habitats ; Infant ; Infant Health ; Labor Market ; Law and Development ; Male Mortality ; Mother ; Nutrition ; Opportunities For Women ; Population ; Population Center ; Population Policies ; Population and Development ; Poverty ; Poverty Reduction ; Rural Development ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Safety Net ; Single Mothers ; Single-Parent Families ; Single-Parent Households ; Social Concern ; Social Development ; Social Inclusion and Institutions ; Child Care ; Childbearing ; Communities & Human Settlements ; Divorce ; Family Income ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Gender ; Gender and Law ; Health Care ; Health Systems Development and Reform ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Housing and Human Habitats ; Infant ; Infant Health ; Labor Market ; Law and Development ; Male Mortality ; Mother ; Nutrition ; Opportunities For Women ; Population ; Population Center ; Population Policies ; Population and Development ; Poverty ; Poverty Reduction ; Rural Development ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Safety Net ; Single Mothers ; Single-Parent Families ; Single-Parent Households ; Social Concern ; Social Development ; Social Inclusion and Institutions
    Abstract: March 2000 - Because of the decline in government assistance that accompanied economic reform in Russia, single mothers there - facing a greater risk of poverty - are increasingly choosing to live with other adults or relatives. Lokshin, Harris, and Popkin describe trends in single parenthood in Russia, examining factors that affect living arrangements in single-mother families. Before economic reform, single mothers and their children were somewhat protected from poverty by government assistance (income support, subsidized child care, and full employment guarantees). Economic reform in Russia has reduced government transfers, eliminated publicly subsidized preschool care programs, and worsened women's opportunities in the labor market. The loss of government support has eroded family stability and left single mothers at increased risk of poverty. Over the last decade, the proportion of households headed by women has increased rapidly, raising the risk of poverty. Single-parent families now represent nearly a quarter of all Russian households. Using seven rounds of data from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey, the authors investigate how household living arrangements and other factors affect income in single-mother families. They find that a single parent with more earning power and child benefits is more likely not to live with relatives. But single mothers are increasingly choosing to live with other adults or relatives to survive and to raise their children in times of economic stress and uncertainty. Half of all single mothers in Russia live with their parents, their adult siblings, or other adult relatives. Help from relatives is important to single-mother families, and that help - including the sharing of domestic and child-care duties - is more efficient and productive when the single parent lives with the family. The other half live in independent residences and face increased risk of poverty. This paper - a product of Poverty and Human Resources, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to understand the mechanisms used by households in transition economies to cope with poverty
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 49
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Banking Systems Around the Globe : Do Regulation and Ownership Affect Performance and Stability? (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (66 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Levine, Ross Banking Systems Around the Globe
    Keywords: Bank ; Banking ; Banking Crises ; Banking Reform ; Banking Sector ; Banking Sector Development ; Banking System ; Banking Systems ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Commercial Banks ; Debt Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Crises ; Financial Crisis Management and Restructuring ; Financial Intermediation ; Financial Literacy ; Financial Stability ; Financial Systems ; Governments ; Industry ; Insurance ; Investment Banking ; Markets ; Private Sector Development ; Projects ; Public Policy ; Bank ; Banking ; Banking Crises ; Banking Reform ; Banking Sector ; Banking Sector Development ; Banking System ; Banking Systems ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Commercial Banks ; Debt Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Crises ; Financial Crisis Management and Restructuring ; Financial Intermediation ; Financial Literacy ; Financial Stability ; Financial Systems ; Governments ; Industry ; Insurance ; Investment Banking ; Markets ; Private Sector Development ; Projects ; Public Policy
    Abstract: April 2000 - Empirical results highlight the downside of imposing certain regulatory restrictions on commercial bank activities. Regulations that restrict banks' ability to engage in securities activities and to own nonfinancial firms are closely associated with more instability in the banking sector. And keeping commercial banks from engaging in investment banking, insurance, and real estate activities does not appear to produce positive benefits. Barth, Caprio, and Levine report cross-country data on commercial bank regulation and ownership in more than 60 countries. They evaluate the links between different regulatory/ownership practices in those countries and both financial sector performance and banking system stability. They document substantial variation in response to these questions: Should it be public policy to limit the powers of commercial banks to engage in securities, insurance, and real estate activities? Should the mixing of banking and commerce be restricted by regulating commercial bank's ownership of nonfinancial firms and nonfinancial firms' ownership of commercial banks? Should states own commercial banks, or should those banks be privatized? They find: · There is no reliable statistical relationship between restrictions on commercial banks' ability to engage in securities, insurance, and real estate transactions and a) how well-developed the banking sector is, b) how well-developed securities markets and nonbank financial intermediaries are, or c) the degree of industrial competition. Based on the evidence, it is difficult to argue confidently that restricting commercial banking activities benefits - or harms - the development of financial and securities markets or industrial competition. · There are no positive effects from mixing banking and commerce. · Countries that more tightly restrict and regulate the securities activities of commercial banks are substantially more likely to suffer a major banking crisis. Countries whose national regulations inhibit banks' ability to engage in securities underwriting, brokering, and dealing - and all aspects of the mutual fund business - tend to have more fragile financial systems. · The mixing of banking and commerce is associated with less financial stability. The evidence does not support admonitions to restrict the mixing of banking and commerce because mixing them will increase financial fragility. · On average, greater state ownership of banks tends to be associated with more poorly developed banks, nonbanks, and stock markets and more poorly functioning financial systems. This paper - a product of Finance, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to examine the effects of financial sector regulation. The authors may be contacted at jbarthbusiness.auburn.edu, gcaprio@worldbank.org, or rlevine@csom.umn.edu
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 50
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Annual World Bank Conference on Development Economics 1998 (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    ISBN: 0821343211 , 9780821343210
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (421 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: Annual World Bank Conference on Development Economics
    Abstract: The 1998 Annual World Bank Conference on Development Economics, the tenth anniversary, was held at the Bank on April 20-21, 1998. The discussions focused on four areas of inquiry:1) the role of geography in countries'success, 2) the role of effective competition and regulatory policies, 3) the causes of financial crises and ways to prevent them, and 4) the effects of ethnic diversity on democracy and growth. The welcoming address by World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn, the opening remarks by chief Economist Joseph Stiglitz, and the tenth anniversary address by the International Monetary Fund Deputy Managing Director Stanley Fischer all focused both on the role of the conference and on the changing perspectives for development
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 51
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Inflation and the Poor (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (36 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Easterly, William Inflation and the Poor
    Keywords: Access to Markets ; Bank ; Bonds ; Checks ; Cred Education ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Debt Markets ; Economic Theory and Research ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Instruments ; Financial Literacy ; Health Indicators ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; ICT Applications ; ICT for Health ; Income ; Incomes ; Inflation ; Inflation ; Information and Communication Technologies ; International Economics & Trade ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Markets and Market Access ; Minimum Wage ; Money ; Pensions ; Poverty Rate ; Poverty Rates ; Probabilities ; Research Assistance ; Stocks ; Subsidies ; Unemployment ; Wages ; Access to Markets ; Bank ; Bonds ; Checks ; Cred Education ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Debt Markets ; Economic Theory and Research ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Instruments ; Financial Literacy ; Health Indicators ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; ICT Applications ; ICT for Health ; Income ; Incomes ; Inflation ; Inflation ; Information and Communication Technologies ; International Economics & Trade ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Markets and Market Access ; Minimum Wage ; Money ; Pensions ; Poverty Rate ; Poverty Rates ; Probabilities ; Research Assistance ; Stocks ; Subsidies ; Unemployment ; Wages
    Abstract: May 2000 - The poor suffer more from inflation than the rich do, reveals this survey of poor people in 38 countries. Using polling data for 31,869 households in 38 countries and allowing for country effects, Easterly and Fischer show that the poor are more likely than the rich to mention inflation as a top national concern. This result survives several robustness checks. Also, direct measures of improvements in well-being for the poor - the change in their share of national income, the percentage decline in poverty, and the percentage change in the real minimum wage - are negatively correlated with inflation in pooled cross-country samples. High inflation tends to lower the share of the bottom quintile and the real minimum wage - and tends to increase poverty. This paper - a joint product of Macroeconomics and Growth, Development Research Group, and the International Monetary Fund - is part of a larger effort to study the effects of macroeconomic policies on growth and poverty
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 52
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    The Geography of International Investment (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (34 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Venables, Anthony The Geography of International Investment
    Keywords: Debt Markets ; Development ; Economic Geography ; Economic Size ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Exports ; Externalities ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Fixed Costs ; Foreign Direct Investment ; GDP ; Goods ; Income ; Industrial Economies ; Inputs ; International Economics & Trade ; Investment ; Investment and Investment Climate ; Labor Policies ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Markets ; Mergers ; Non Bank Financial Institutions ; Private Sector Development ; Production ; Social Protections and Labor ; Theory ; Trade ; Trade and Regional Integration ; Transition Economies ; Transport ; Transport Economics, Policy and Planning ; Value ; Variable Costs ; Debt Markets ; Development ; Economic Geography ; Economic Size ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Exports ; Externalities ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Fixed Costs ; Foreign Direct Investment ; GDP ; Goods ; Income ; Industrial Economies ; Inputs ; International Economics & Trade ; Investment ; Investment and Investment Climate ; Labor Policies ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Markets ; Mergers ; Non Bank Financial Institutions ; Private Sector Development ; Production ; Social Protections and Labor ; Theory ; Trade ; Trade and Regional Integration ; Transition Economies ; Transport ; Transport Economics, Policy and Planning ; Value ; Variable Costs
    Abstract: May 2000 - Multinationals have become increasingly important to the world economy. Overseas production by U.S. affiliates is three times U.S. exports, for example. Who is investing where, for sales where? Much foreign direct investment is between high-income countries, but investment in some developing and transition regions, while still modest, grew rapidly in the 1990s. Adjusting for market size, much investment stays close to home; adjusting for distance, much heads toward the countries with the biggest markets. Foreign direct investment is more geographically concentrated than either exports or production. Thus U.S. affiliate production in Europe is 7 times U.S. exports to Europe; that ratio drops to 4 for all industrial countries and to 1.6 for developing countries. Multinational activity in high-income countries is overwhelmingly horizontal, involving production for sale to the host country market. In developing countries, a greater proportion of multinational activity is vertical, involving manufacturing at intermediate stages of production. Thus only 4 percent of U.S. affiliate production in the European Union is sold back to the United States, whereas for developing countries the figure is 18 percent, rising to 40 percent for Mexico. Similarly, less than 10 percent of Japan's affiliate production in the EU is sold back to Japan, compared with more than 20 percent in developing countries. In models of horizontal activity, the decision to go multinational is a tradeoff between the additional fixed costs involved in setting up a new plant and the savings in variable costs (transport costs and tariffs) on exports. In models of vertical activity, direct investment is motivated by differences in factor costs. Tariffs and transport costs both encourage vertical multinational activity (by magnifying differences in factor prices) and discourage it (by making trade between headquarters and an affiliate more expensive). The major outward investors carry out much horizontal investment in large markets. For U.S. investors, this means Europe, especially the United Kingdom; for Japan and Europe, it means the United States. Most EU investments, however, stay within the EU. The major outward investors carry out much of their vertical investment closer to home: the United States, in Mexico; the EU, in Central and Eastern Europe; Japan, in Asia. This paper - a product of Trade, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to study the location of economic activity. Anthony J. Venables may be contacted at a.j.venableslse.ac.uk
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 53
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    What Can We Learn about Country Performance from Conditional Comparisons across Countries? (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (26 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Ravallion, Martin What Can We Learn about Country Performance from Conditional Comparisons across Countries?
    Keywords: Crime and Society ; Developing Countries ; Development Assistance ; Development Policy ; Dissemination ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Health Care ; Health Systems Development and Reform ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Household Income ; Human Development ; Income Inequality ; Inequality ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Knowledge ; Level Of Poverty ; Life Expectancy ; Policy Discussions ; Policy Implications ; Population ; Population Policies ; Poverty ; Poverty Reduction ; Practitioners ; Pro-Poor Growth ; Services and Transfers to Poor ; Social Development ; Social Policies ; Social Services ; Crime and Society ; Developing Countries ; Development Assistance ; Development Policy ; Dissemination ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Health Care ; Health Systems Development and Reform ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Household Income ; Human Development ; Income Inequality ; Inequality ; Infant ; Infant Mortality ; Knowledge ; Level Of Poverty ; Life Expectancy ; Policy Discussions ; Policy Implications ; Population ; Population Policies ; Poverty ; Poverty Reduction ; Practitioners ; Pro-Poor Growth ; Services and Transfers to Poor ; Social Development ; Social Policies ; Social Services
    Abstract: May 2000 - Existing methods for assessing latent country or institutional performance can yield deceptive results. There have been many attempts to infer latent performance attributes of governments (or other institutions) from conditional comparisons that control for observed variables. Success in doing so could greatly improve government performance. Ravallion critically reviews the econometric foundations of the methods used. He argues that latent heterogeneity remains a fundamental but unresolved problem. Locating a benchmark for measuring performance adds a further problem. Current methods do not yield a consistent estimate of even the mean latent performance attribute. An assessment of country performance by these methods could well be wildly wrong. This paper - a product of Poverty and Human Resources, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to assess and improve methods for monitoring and assessing country performance. The study was funded by the Bank's Research Support Budget under the research project Policies for Poor Areas (RPO 681-39). The author may be contacted at mravallionworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 54
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    When the Bureaucrats Move out of Business : A Cost-Benefit Assessment of Labor Retrenchment in China (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (48 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Chen, Yi When the Bureaucrats Move out of Business
    Keywords: Economic Growth ; Economic Theory and Research ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; High Wages ; Job ; Job Creation ; Jobs ; Labor ; Labor Force ; Labor Market ; Labor Markets ; Labor Policies ; Labor Productivity ; Labor Redeployment ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Municipal Financial Management ; Open Unemployment ; Previous Results ; Private Enterprise ; Private Sector ; Private Sector Activity ; Private Sectors ; Production Function ; Public Sector Economics and Finance ; Social Protections and Labor ; State Owned Enterprise Reform ; State-Owned Enterprises ; Unemployment ; Urban Development ; Worker ; Workers ; Economic Growth ; Economic Theory and Research ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; High Wages ; Job ; Job Creation ; Jobs ; Labor ; Labor Force ; Labor Market ; Labor Markets ; Labor Policies ; Labor Productivity ; Labor Redeployment ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Municipal Financial Management ; Open Unemployment ; Previous Results ; Private Enterprise ; Private Sector ; Private Sector Activity ; Private Sectors ; Production Function ; Public Sector Economics and Finance ; Social Protections and Labor ; State Owned Enterprise Reform ; State-Owned Enterprises ; Unemployment ; Urban Development ; Worker ; Workers
    Abstract: May 2000 - Reformers of China's state enterprises should realize that more could be realized from capital transfer than is being gained from labor retrenchment. And more efficient capital allocation, by reducing the pressure on labor, would bring larger gains at a lower social cost. Chen and Diwan estimate the costs and benefits of labor retrenchment in state-owned industrial enterprises in China. Their results indicate the prevalence of low and stagnant labor productivity, low capital productivity, and excessively high wages in the state sector for the period reviewed (1994-97). The private sector exhibited consistently greater productivity. The authors' most striking finding: A greater gain could be realized from capital transfer than is being gained from labor retrenchment. Their simulation results for 1996 estimate that 43 percent of the workers in state enterprises and 70 percent of the capital are redundant. By itself, a transfer of labor from the public to the private sector at the current magnitude (20 percent of the labor force) would secure only 2 percent gains in output. A transfer of 10 percent of both capital and labor would achieve a greater efficiency gain than transferring the full 43 percent of redundant workers. This is partly because the private sector uses capital more efficiently than the public sector and partly because it needs capital to hire workers transferred from the public sector. Their results suggest that reform in state enterprises should concentrate more on the efficiency of capital allocation, not just on labor retrenchment. More efficient capital allocation would reduce the pressure on labor and would bring larger gains at a lower social cost. This paper - a product of the Economic Policy and Poverty Reduction Division, World Bank Institute - is part of a larger effort in the institute to study the architecture of reform. The authors may be contacted at ychendol.eta.gov or idiwan@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 55
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Corruption and the Composition of Foreign Direct Investment : Firm-Level Evidence (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (30 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Wei, Shang-Jin Corruption and the Composition of Foreign Direct Investment
    Keywords: Capital Flows ; Corporate Law ; Corporate Tax Rate ; Debt Markets ; E-Business ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Foreign Direct Investment ; Foreign Direct Investment ; Foreign Investment ; Foreign Investor ; Foreign Investors ; Host Country ; Intangible ; Intangible Assets ; International Capital ; International Economics & Trade ; Investment and Investment Climate ; Investors ; Joint Venture Partner ; Law and Development ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Microfinance ; Ownership Structure ; Private Sector Development ; Protection Of Investor ; Public Sector Corruption and Anticorruption Measures ; Tax ; Transaction ; Transaction Cost ; Transactions ; Transition Economies ; Transparency ; Capital Flows ; Corporate Law ; Corporate Tax Rate ; Debt Markets ; E-Business ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Foreign Direct Investment ; Foreign Direct Investment ; Foreign Investment ; Foreign Investor ; Foreign Investors ; Host Country ; Intangible ; Intangible Assets ; International Capital ; International Economics & Trade ; Investment and Investment Climate ; Investors ; Joint Venture Partner ; Law and Development ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Microfinance ; Ownership Structure ; Private Sector Development ; Protection Of Investor ; Public Sector Corruption and Anticorruption Measures ; Tax ; Transaction ; Transaction Cost ; Transactions ; Transition Economies ; Transparency
    Abstract: June 2000 - The extent of corruption in a host country affects a foreign direct investor's choice of investing through a joint venture or through a wholly owned subsidiary. Corruption reduces inward foreign investment and shifts the ownership structure toward joint ventures. Smarzynska and Wei study the impact of corruption in a host country on foreign investors' preference for a joint venture or a wholly owned subsidiary. Their simple model highlights a basic tradeoff in using local partners. On the one hand, corruption makes the local bureaucracy less transparent and increases the value of using a local partner to cut through the bureaucratic maze. On the other hand, corruption decreases the effective protection of an investor's intangible assets and reduces the probability that disputes between foreign and domestic partners will be adjudicated fairly, which reduces the value of having a local partner. As the investor's technological sophistication increases, so does the importance of protecting intangible assets, which tilts the preference away from joint ventures in a corrupt country. Empirical tests of this hypothesis on firm-level data show that corruption reduces inward foreign direct investment and shifts the ownership structure toward joint ventures. Conditonal on foreign direct investment taking place, an increase in corruption from the level found in Hungary to that found in Azerbaijan decreases the probability of a wholly owned subsidiary by 10 to 20 percent. Technologically more advanced firms are less likely to engage in joint ventures, however. Smarzynska and Wei find support for the view that U.S. firms are more averse to joint ventures in corrupt countries than are other foreign investors - possibly because of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which stipulates penalties for executives of U.S. companies whose employees or local partners engage in paying bribes. But although U.S. companies are more likely than investors from other countries to retain full ownership of firms in corrupt countries, they are not less likely than firms from other countries to undertake foreign direct investment in those countries. This paper - a joint product of Trade and Public Economics, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to study the effects of corruption on economic activity. The authors may be contacted at bsmarzynskaworldbank.org or swei@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 56
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Would Collective Action Clauses Raise Borrowing Costs? : An Update and Additional Results (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (22 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Eichengreen, Barry Would Collective Action Clauses Raise Borrowing Costs?
    Keywords: Borrowers ; Borrowing Costs ; Collective Action ; Collective Action Clauses ; Credit Ratings ; Crisis Country ; Debt ; Debt Markets ; Debt Restructuring ; Emerging Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Equity ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Financial Markets ; Financial Support ; Foreign Investors ; Holding ; International Financial Institutions ; International Financial System ; Investors ; Lenders ; Lending ; Moral Hazard ; Private Sector Development ; Borrowers ; Borrowing Costs ; Collective Action ; Collective Action Clauses ; Credit Ratings ; Crisis Country ; Debt ; Debt Markets ; Debt Restructuring ; Emerging Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Equity ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Financial Markets ; Financial Support ; Foreign Investors ; Holding ; International Financial Institutions ; International Financial System ; Investors ; Lenders ; Lending ; Moral Hazard ; Private Sector Development
    Abstract: June 2000 - Collective action clauses raise borrowing costs for low-rated borrowers and lower them for high-rated borrowers. This result holds for all developing country bonds and also for the subset of sovereign bond issuers. It is easy to say that the International Monetary Fund should not resort to financial rescue for countries in crisis; this is hard to do when there is no alternative. That is where collective action clauses come in. Collective action clauses are designed to facilitate debt restructuring by the principals - borrowers and lenders - with minimal intervention by international financial institutions. Despite much discussion of this option, there has been little action. Issuers of bonds fear that collective action clauses would raise borrowing costs. Eichengreen and Mody update earlier findings about the impact of collective action clauses on borrowing costs. It has been argued that only in the past year or so have investors focused on the presence of these provisions and that, given the international financial institutions' newfound resolve to bail in investors, they now regard these clauses with trepidation. Extending their data to 1999, Eichengreen and Mody find no evidence of such changes but rather the same pattern as before: Collective action clauses raise the costs of borrowing for low-rated issuers but reduce them for issuers with good credit ratings. Their results hold both for the full set of bonds and for bonds issued only by sovereigns. They argue that these results should reassure those who regard collective action clauses as an important element in the campaign to strengthen international financial architecture. This paper - a product of the Development Prospects Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to analyze international capital flows. The study was funded by the Bank's Research Support Budget under the research project Pricing of Bonds and Bank Loans in the Market for Developing Country Debt. The authors may be contacted at eichengrecon.berkeley.edu or amody@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 57
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Gender, Poverty, and Nonfarm Employment in Ghana and Uganda (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (48 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Newman, Constance Gender, Poverty, and Nonfarm Employment in Ghana and Uganda
    Keywords: Agricultural Output ; Cash Crops ; Communities & Human Settlements ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Gender ; Gender and Development ; Gender and Health ; Gender and Law ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Household Income ; Household Income Diversification ; Housing and Human Habitats ; Human Capital ; Human Development ; Income ; Income Shares ; Income-Generating Activities ; Inequality ; Law and Development ; Poor ; Population Policies ; Poverty ; Poverty Levels ; Poverty Monitoring and Analysis ; Poverty Reduction ; Poverty Reduction ; Rural ; Rural Areas ; Rural Development ; Rural Development ; Rural Development Knowledge and Information Systems ; Rural Economy ; Rural Poverty ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Rural Residents ; Agricultural Output ; Cash Crops ; Communities & Human Settlements ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Gender ; Gender and Development ; Gender and Health ; Gender and Law ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Household Income ; Household Income Diversification ; Housing and Human Habitats ; Human Capital ; Human Development ; Income ; Income Shares ; Income-Generating Activities ; Inequality ; Law and Development ; Poor ; Population Policies ; Poverty ; Poverty Levels ; Poverty Monitoring and Analysis ; Poverty Reduction ; Poverty Reduction ; Rural ; Rural Areas ; Rural Development ; Rural Development ; Rural Development Knowledge and Information Systems ; Rural Economy ; Rural Poverty ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Rural Residents
    Abstract: June 2000 - For women in Ghana and Uganda, nonfarm activities play an important role in yielding the lowest - and the most rapidly declining - rural poverty rates. In both countries rural poverty declined fastest for female heads of household engaged in nonfarm work (which tended to be a secondary activity). But patterns vary between the two countries. Newman and Canagarajah provide evidence that women's nonfarm activities help reduce poverty in two economically and culturally different countries, Ghana and Uganda. In both countries rural poverty rates were lowest - and fell most rapidly - for female heads of household engaged in nonfarm activities. Participation in nonfarm activities increased more rapidly for women, especially married women and female heads of household, than for men. Women were more likely than men to combine agriculture and nonfarm activities. In Ghana it was nonfarm activities (for which income data are available) that provided the highest average incomes and the highest shares of income. Bivariate probit analysis of participation shows that in Uganda female heads of household and in Ghana women in general are significantly more likely than men to participate in nonfarm activities and less likely to participate in agriculture. This paper - a joint product of Rural Development, Development Research Group, and the Social Protection Team, Human Development Network- is part of a larger effort in the Bank to discuss gender, employment, and poverty linkages. The authors may be contacted at cnewman1worldbank.orgor scanagarajah@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 58
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    How the Proposed Basel Guidelines on Rating-Agency Assessments Would Affect Developing Countries (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (36 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Majnoni, Giovanni How the Proposed Basel Guidelines on Rating-Agency Assessments Would Affect Developing Countries
    Keywords: Bank ; Bank Capital ; Bank Ratings ; Banking ; Banking Sector ; Banks ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Capital Adequacy ; Capital Regulation ; Capital Requirements ; Cost Of Capital ; Cred Credit Risk ; Economies ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Financial Markets ; Financial Systems ; Fixed Costs ; Loans ; Markets ; Rating Agencies ; Risk ; Bank ; Bank Capital ; Bank Ratings ; Banking ; Banking Sector ; Banks ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Capital Adequacy ; Capital Regulation ; Capital Requirements ; Cost Of Capital ; Cred Credit Risk ; Economies ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Financial Markets ; Financial Systems ; Fixed Costs ; Loans ; Markets ; Rating Agencies ; Risk
    Abstract: June 2000 - The Basel Committee has proposed linking capital asset requirements for banks to the banks' private sector ratings. Doing so would reduce the capital requirements for banks that lend prudently in high-income countries; the same incentives would not apply in developing countries. Using historical data on sovereign and individual borrowers, Ferri, Liu, and Majnoni assess the potential impact on non-high-income countries of linking capital asset requirements for banks to private sector ratings, as the Basel Committee has proposed. They show that linking banks' capital asset requirements to external ratings would have undesirable effects for developing countries. First, ratings of banks and corporations in developing countries are less common, so capital asset requirements would be practically insensitive to improvements in the quality of assets - widening the gap between banks of equal financial strength in higher- and lower-income countries. Second, bank and corporate ratings in developing countries (unlike their counterparts in high-income countries) are strongly linked to the sovereign ratings for the country - and appear to be strongly related (asymmetrically) to changes in the sovereign ratings. A sovereign downgrading would bring greater changes in capital allocations than an upgrading, and would call for larger capital requirements at the very time access to capital markets was more difficult. Under the new guidelines, capital requirements in developing countries would thus be exposed to the cyclical swings associated with the revision of sovereign ratings in recent crises. Ultimately, linking banks' capital asset requirements to private sector ratings would reduce the credit available to non-high-income countries and make it more costly, limiting economic activity. Bank capital needs in developing countries would be more volatile than those in high-income countries. These findings suggest that the Basel Committee should reassess the role it proposes assigning to external ratings, to minimize the detrimental impact of the regulatory use of such ratings on developing countries. This paper - a product of the Financial Sector Strategy and Policy Department - is part of a larger effort in the department to study the impact of financial regulation on economic development. The authors may be contacted at lliu2worldbank.org or gmajnoni@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 59
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Managers, Investors, and Crises : Mutual Fund Strategies in Emerging Markets (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (42 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Schmukler, Sergio Managers, Investors, and Crises
    Keywords: Budget ; Debt Markets ; Emerging Market ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Crisis ; Financial Support ; Fund Managers ; Hedge ; Hedge Funds ; Interest ; Investor ; Investors ; Lending ; Mutual Fund ; Mutual Fund Strategies ; Mutual Funds ; Pension ; Pension Funds ; Portfolio ; Trading ; Warrants ; Budget ; Debt Markets ; Emerging Market ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Crisis ; Financial Support ; Fund Managers ; Hedge ; Hedge Funds ; Interest ; Investor ; Investors ; Lending ; Mutual Fund ; Mutual Fund Strategies ; Mutual Funds ; Pension ; Pension Funds ; Portfolio ; Trading ; Warrants
    Abstract: July 2000 - This study of an important class of investors-U.S. mutual funds-finds that mutual funds do engage in momentum trading (buying winners and selling losers). They also engage in contagion trading strategies (selling assets from one country when asset prices fall in another). Kaminsky, Lyons, and Schmukler address the trading strategies of mutual funds in emerging markets. The data set they develop permits analyses of these strategies at the level of individual portfolios. A methodologically novel feature of their analysis: they disentangle the behavior of fund managers from that of investors. For both managers and investors, they strongly reject the null hypothesis of no momentum trading. Funds' momentum trading is positive: they systematically buy winners and sell losers. Contemporaneous momentum trading (buying current winners and selling current losers) is stronger during crises, and stronger for fund investors than for fund managers. Lagged momentum trading (buying past winners and selling past losers) is stronger during noncrises, and stronger for fund managers. Investors also engage in contagion trading-selling assets from one country when asset prices fall in another. These findings are based on data about mutual funds that represent only 10 percent of the market capitalization in the countries considered. Were it a larger share of the market, finding counterparties for their trades (the investors who buy when they sell and sell when they buy) would be difficult-and the premise that funds respond to contemporaneous returns rather than causing them would become tenuous. This paper-a product of Macroeconomics and Growth, Development Research Group-is part of a larger effort in the group to understand capital flows to developing countries. The study was funded by the Bank's Research Support Budget under the research project Mutual Fund Investment in Developing Countries. The authors may be contacted at gracielagwu.edu, lyons@haas.berkeley.edu, or sschmukler@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 60
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Marginal Willingness to Pay for Education and the Determinants of Enrollment in Mexico (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (28 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Salinas, Angel Marginal Willingness to Pay for Education and the Determinants of Enrollment in Mexico
    Keywords: Education ; Education ; Education Facilities ; Education for All ; Educational Expenditure ; Educational Expenditures ; Educational Levels ; Educational Policy ; Educational Reforms ; Educational Services ; Effective Schools and Teachers ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Gender ; Gender and Education ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Population Policies ; Poverty Reduction ; Primary Education ; Primary Level ; Private Schools ; Public Schools ; Public Sector Management and Reform ; Rural Development ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; School ; School Attendance ; School Enrollment ; School Fees ; School Level ; School Quality ; Schooling ; Secondary Education ; Secondary School ; Tertiary Education ; Textbooks ; Education ; Education ; Education Facilities ; Education for All ; Educational Expenditure ; Educational Expenditures ; Educational Levels ; Educational Policy ; Educational Reforms ; Educational Services ; Effective Schools and Teachers ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Gender ; Gender and Education ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Population Policies ; Poverty Reduction ; Primary Education ; Primary Level ; Private Schools ; Public Schools ; Public Sector Management and Reform ; Rural Development ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; School ; School Attendance ; School Enrollment ; School Fees ; School Level ; School Quality ; Schooling ; Secondary Education ; Secondary School ; Tertiary Education ; Textbooks
    Abstract: July 2000 - The best way to increase school enrollment in Mexico is to successfully target public spending on education to poor households. Currently, nonpoor households in urban areas get much of the subsidy benefit from the government provision of education services. Standard benefit-incidence analysis assumes that the subsidy and quality of education services are the same for all income deciles. This strong assumption tends to minimize the distributional inequity at various education levels. Using a new approach emphasizing marginal willingness to pay for education, Lopez-Acevedo and Salinas analyze the impact of public spending on the education spending behavior of the average household. They address several questions: What would an average household with a given set of characteristics be willing to spend on an individual child with given traits if subsidized public education facilities were unavailable? What would the household have saved by sending the child to public school rather than private school? How great are these savings for various income groups? What are the determinants of enrollment by income group and by location? How do individuals' education expenditures affect enrollment patterns? Among their findings: · The nonpoor households in urban areas get much of the subsidy, or savings, from government provision of education services. · The wealthy value private education more than the poor do. · Differences in school quality are greater at the primary level. In other words, wealthy households get the lion's share of benefits from public spending on education. Household school enrollment and transition to the next level of schooling depend heavily on the cost of schooling, how far the head of the household went in school, the per capita household income, and the housing facilities or services. But the government's effort also affects the probability of enrollment and transition. The probability of enrollment is much higher for the 40 percent of higher-income households in urban areas than it is for the 40 percent of lower-income households in rural areas. The best way to increase school enrollment is to successfully target public spending on education to poor households. This paper-a product of the Economic Policy Sector Unit and the Mexico Country Office, Latin America and the Caribbean Region-is part of a strategy to reduce poverty and inequality in Mexico. The study was part of the research project Earnings Inequality after Mexico's Economic Reforms. The authors may be contacted at gacevedoworldbank.org or asalinas@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 61
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Regional Integration Agreements : A Force for Convergence or Divergence? (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (36 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Venables, Anthony Regional Integration Agreements
    Keywords: Agriculture ; Comparative Advantage ; Consumers ; Country Strategy and Performance ; Development Economics ; Economic Integration ; Economic Performance ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Free Trade ; Free Trade ; Human Capital ; Income ; Income ; Income Levels ; Inequality ; International Economics & Trade ; Law and Development ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Outcomes ; Per Capita Income ; Per Capita Incomes ; Poverty Reduction ; Private Sector Development ; Production ; Public Sector Development ; Real Income ; Social Protections and Labor ; Theory ; Trade Diversion ; Trade Law ; Trade Policy ; Trade and Regional Integration ; Value ; Value Added ; Welfare ; Agriculture ; Comparative Advantage ; Consumers ; Country Strategy and Performance ; Development Economics ; Economic Integration ; Economic Performance ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Free Trade ; Free Trade ; Human Capital ; Income ; Income ; Income Levels ; Inequality ; International Economics & Trade ; Law and Development ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Outcomes ; Per Capita Income ; Per Capita Incomes ; Poverty Reduction ; Private Sector Development ; Production ; Public Sector Development ; Real Income ; Social Protections and Labor ; Theory ; Trade Diversion ; Trade Law ; Trade Policy ; Trade and Regional Integration ; Value ; Value Added ; Welfare
    Abstract: December 1999 - Developing countries may be better served by north-south than by south-south free trade agreements. Free trade agreements between low-income countries tend to lead to divergence in member country incomes, while agreements between high-income countries tend to lead to convergence. Venables examines how benefits - and costs - of a free trade area are divided among member countries. Outcomes depend on the member countries' comparative advantage, relative to one another and to the rest of the world. Venables finds that free trade agreements between low-income countries tend to lead to divergence in member country incomes, while agreements between high-income countries tend to lead to convergence. Changes induced by comparative advantage may be amplified by the effects of agglomeration. The results suggest that developing countries may be better served by north-south than by south-south free trade agreements, because north-south agreements increase their prospects for convergence with high-income members of the free trade area. In north-south free trade agreements, additional forces are likely to operate. The agreement may be used, for example, as a commitment mechanism to lock in economic reforms (as happened in Mexico with the North American Free Trade Agreement and in Eastern European countries with the European Union). A free trade agreement may also - through its effect on trade and through foreign direct investment - promote technology transfer to lower-income members. This paper - a product of Trade, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to study the effects of regional integration. The author may be contacted at avenablesworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 62
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    How Politics and Institutions Affect Pension Reform in Three Postcommunist Countries (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (80 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Orenstein, A. Mitchell How Politics and Institutions Affect Pension Reform in Three Postcommunist Countries
    Keywords: Bank ; Bank Involvement ; Children and Youth ; Contributions ; Debt Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Expense ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Interest ; Investment ; Investment Returns ; Pension ; Pension Accounts ; Pension Reform ; Pension Reforms ; Pension System ; Pensioners ; Pensions and Retirement Systems ; Private Pension ; Private Pension Funds ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Corruption and Anticorruption Measures ; Purchase ; Retirement ; Social Protections and Labor ; State Pension ; Trade Unions ; Working Life ; Bank ; Bank Involvement ; Children and Youth ; Contributions ; Debt Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Expense ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Interest ; Investment ; Investment Returns ; Pension ; Pension Accounts ; Pension Reform ; Pension Reforms ; Pension System ; Pensioners ; Pensions and Retirement Systems ; Private Pension ; Private Pension Funds ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Corruption and Anticorruption Measures ; Purchase ; Retirement ; Social Protections and Labor ; State Pension ; Trade Unions ; Working Life
    Abstract: March 2000 - During reform's three phases - commitment-building, coalition-building, and implementation - there are tradeoffs among inclusiveness (of process), radicalism (of reform), and participation in, and compliance with, the new system. Including more, and more various, veto and proposal actors early in the deliberative process may increase buy-in and compliance when pension reform is implemented, but at the expense of faster and greater change. Orenstein examines the political and institutional processes that produced fundamental pension reform in three postcommunist countries: Hungary, Kazakhstan, and Poland. He tests various hypotheses about the relationship between deliberative process and outcomes through detailed case studies of pension reform. The outcomes of reform were similar: each country implemented a mandatory funded pension system as part of reform, but the extent and configuration of changes differed greatly. Countries with more veto actors - social and institutional actors with an effective veto over reform - engaged in less radical reform, as theory predicted. Poland and Hungary generated less radical change than Kazakhstan, partly because they have more representative political systems, to which more associations, interest groups, and proposal actors have access. Proposal actors shape the reform agenda and influence the positions of key veto actors. Pension reform takes longer in countries with more veto and proposal actors, such as Poland and Hungary. Legacies of policy, the development of civil society, and international organizations also profoundly affect the shape and progress of reform. Orenstein sees pension reform as happening in three phases: commitment-building, coalition-building, and implementation. He presents hypotheses about tradeoffs among inclusiveness (of process), radicalism (of reform), and participation in, and compliance with, the new system. One hypothesis: Including more, and more various, veto and proposal actors early in the deliberative process increases buy-in and compliance when reform is implemented, but at the expense of faster and greater change. Early challenges in implementation in all three countries, but especially in Kazakhstan, suggest the importance of improving buy-in through inclusive deliberative processes, where possible. This paper - a product of Poverty and Human Resources, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to study the political economy of pension reform. This study was funded by the Bank's Research Support Budget under the research project The Political Economy of Pension Reform (RPO 682-17). The author may be contacted at morenstmaxwell.syr.edu
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 63
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Distributional Outcomes of a Decentralized Welfare Program (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (42 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Galasso, Emanuela Distributional Outcomes of a Decentralized Welfare Program
    Keywords: Anti-Poverty ; Community Groups ; Community Organizations ; Conflict ; Food-For-Education ; Income ; Irrigation ; Land Inequality ; Local Farmers ; Local Irrigation Facility ; Participatory Poverty Assessments ; Poor ; Poor Families ; Poor Farmers ; Poor Households ; Poverty Programs ; Poverty Reduction ; Public Spending ; Rural ; Rural Development ; Rural Families ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Services and Transfers to Poor ; Targeting ; Anti-Poverty ; Community Groups ; Community Organizations ; Conflict ; Food-For-Education ; Income ; Irrigation ; Land Inequality ; Local Farmers ; Local Irrigation Facility ; Participatory Poverty Assessments ; Poor ; Poor Families ; Poor Farmers ; Poor Households ; Poverty Programs ; Poverty Reduction ; Public Spending ; Rural ; Rural Development ; Rural Families ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Services and Transfers to Poor ; Targeting
    Abstract: April 2000 - Community-level targeting of antipoverty programs is now common. Do local community organizations target the poor better than the central government? In one program in Bangladesh, the answer tends to be yes, but performance varies from village to village. The authors try to explain why. It is common for central governments to delegate authority over the targeting of welfare programs to local community organizations - which may be better informed about who is poor, though possibly less accountable for getting the money to the local poor - while the center retains control over how much goes to each local region. Galasso and Ravallion outline a theoretical model of the interconnected behavior of the various actors in such a setting. The model's information structure provides scope for econometric identification. Applying data for a specific program in Bangladesh, they find that overall targeting was mildly pro-poor, mostly because of successful targeting within villages. But this varied across villages. Although some village characteristics promoted better targeting, these were generally not the same characteristics that attracted resources from the center. Galasso and Ravallion observe that the center's desire for broad geographic coverage appears to have severely constrained the scope for pro-poor village targeting. However, poor villages tended not to be better at reaching their poor. They find some evidence that local institutions matter. The presence of cooperatives for farmers and the landless appears to be associated with more pro-poor program targeting. The presence of recreational clubs has the opposite effect. Sometimes the benefits of decentralized social programs are captured by local elites, depending on the type of spending being decentralized. When public spending is on a private (excludable) good, and there is no self-targeting mechanism to ensure that only the poor participate, there is ample scope for local mistargeting. This paper - a product of Poverty and Human Resources, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to assess the performance of alternative means of reaching the poor through public programs. The study was funded by the Bank's Research Support Budget under the research project Policies for Poor Areas (RPO 681-39). The authors may be contacted at egalassoworldbank.org or mravallion@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 64
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Does More Intense Competition Lead to Higher Growth? (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (32 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Dutz, A. Mark Does More Intense Competition Lead to Higher Growth?
    Keywords: Anti-Trust Laws ; Competition ; Competition Policy ; Competitiveness ; Consumer Protection ; Deregulation ; Development ; Economic Growth ; Economic Theory and Research ; Economy ; Emerging Markets ; Growth Models ; Influence ; Labor Policies ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Monopoly ; Positive Effects ; Private Sector Development ; Productivity ; Productivity Growth ; Regulatory Framework ; Social Protections and Labor ; Telecommunications ; Trade ; Unfair Competition ; Variables ; Anti-Trust Laws ; Competition ; Competition Policy ; Competitiveness ; Consumer Protection ; Deregulation ; Development ; Economic Growth ; Economic Theory and Research ; Economy ; Emerging Markets ; Growth Models ; Influence ; Labor Policies ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Monopoly ; Positive Effects ; Private Sector Development ; Productivity ; Productivity Growth ; Regulatory Framework ; Social Protections and Labor ; Telecommunications ; Trade ; Unfair Competition ; Variables
    Abstract: April 2000 - Empirical evidence indicates a strong correlation between long-run growth and effective enforcement of antitrust and competition policy. The relationship between the intensity of competition in an economy and its long-run growth is an open question in economics. Theoretically, there is no clear-cut answer. Empirical evidence exists, however, that in some sectors more competition leads to more innovation and accelerates productivity growth. To complement those findings and capture economywide effects, Dutz and Hayri conduct a cross-country study. They examine the impact on growth of various measures having to do with intensity of domestic competition - beyond the effects of trade liberalization. Their results indicate a strong correlation between long-run growth and effective enforcement of antitrust and competition policy. An earlier version of this paper - a product of Public Economics, Development Research Group - was presented at a conference, Industrial Reorganization and Development, in Toulouse, France (November 1998). The study was funded by the Bank's Research Support Budget under the research project Does More Intense Competition Lead to Higher Growth? (RPO 682-47). The authors may be contacted at mdutzworldbank.org or ahayri@dttus.com
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 65
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Environmental Policy and Time Consistency : Emissions Taxes and Emissions Trading (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (48 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Kennedy, W. Peter Environmental Policy and Time Consistency
    Keywords: Aggregate Emissions ; Damage Function ; Economics ; Efficiency ; Emission Standards ; Emission Taxes ; Emissions ; Environment ; Environmental ; Environmental Economics and Policies ; Environmental Policy ; Forest Management ; ICT Policy and Strategies ; Incentives ; Industry ; Information and Communication Technologies ; Policies ; Policy Instruments ; Pollution ; Pollution Control ; Pollution Management and Control ; Pollution Reduction ; Production ; Technological Change ; Technology ; Technology Adoption ; Technology Industry ; Aggregate Emissions ; Damage Function ; Economics ; Efficiency ; Emission Standards ; Emission Taxes ; Emissions ; Environment ; Environmental ; Environmental Economics and Policies ; Environmental Policy ; Forest Management ; ICT Policy and Strategies ; Incentives ; Industry ; Information and Communication Technologies ; Policies ; Policy Instruments ; Pollution ; Pollution Control ; Pollution Management and Control ; Pollution Reduction ; Production ; Technological Change ; Technology ; Technology Adoption ; Technology Industry
    Abstract: May 2000 - As instruments for controlling pollution, how do emissions taxes and emissions trading compare in terms of the incentives they create to adopt cleaner technologies? Emissions taxes may have a slight advantage over emissions trading. Kennedy and Laplante examine policy problems related to the use of emissions taxes and emissions trading, two market-based instruments for controlling pollution by getting regulated firms to adopt cleaner technologies. By attaching an explicit price to emissions, these instruments give firms an incentive to continually reduce their volume of emissions. Command-and-control emissions standards create incentives to adopt cleaner technologies only up to the point where the standards are no longer binding (at which point the shadow price on emissions falls to zero). But the ongoing incentives created by market-based instruments are not necessarily right, either. Time-consistency constraints on the setting of these instruments limit the regulator's ability to set policies that lead to efficiency in adopting technology options. After examining the time-consistency properties of a Pigouvian emissions tax and of emissions trading, Kennedy and Laplante find that: · If damage is linear, efficiency in adopting technologies involves either universal adoption of the new technology or universal retention of the old technology, depending on the cost of adoption. The first-best tax policy and the first-best permit-supply policy are both time-consistent under these conditions. · If damage is strictly convex, efficiency may require partial adoption of the new technology. In this case, the first-best tax policy is not time-consistent and the tax rate must be adjusted after adoption has taken place (ratcheting). Ratcheting will induce an efficient equilibrium if there is a very large number of firms. If there are relatively few firms, ratcheting creates too many incentives to adopt the new technology. · The first-best supply policy is time-consistent if there is a very large number of firms. If there are relatively few firms, the first-best supply policy may not be time-consistent, and the regulator must ratchet the supply of permits. With this policy, there are not enough incentives for firms to adopt the new technology. The results do not strongly favor one policy instrument over the other, but if the point of an emissions trading program is to increase technological efficiency, it is necessary to continually adjust the supply of permits in response to technological change, even when damage is linear. This continual adjustment is not needed for an emissions tax when damage is linear, which may give emissions taxes an advantage over emissions trading. This paper - a product of Infrastructure and Environment, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to study the economics of pollution control. Copies of the paper are available free from the World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433. Benoît Laplante may be contacted at blaplanteworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 66
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Evaluating Carbon Offsets from Forestry and Energy Projects : How Do They Compare? (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (34 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Chomitz, Kenneth Evaluating Carbon Offsets from Forestry and Energy Projects
    Keywords: Carbon ; Carbon Emissions ; Carbon Policy and Trading ; Clean Development Mechanism ; Climate Change ; Coal ; Developed Countries ; Economies ; Emissions ; Emissions Abatement ; Emissions Reduction ; Energy ; Energy Production and Transportation ; Energy and Environment ; Environment ; Environment and Energy Efficiency ; Environmental ; Environmental Economics and Policies ; Forestry ; Insurance ; Investment ; Joint Implementation ; Land ; Land Use ; Public Sector Development ; Risk ; Sustainable Development ; Taxes ; Technology ; Carbon ; Carbon Emissions ; Carbon Policy and Trading ; Clean Development Mechanism ; Climate Change ; Coal ; Developed Countries ; Economies ; Emissions ; Emissions Abatement ; Emissions Reduction ; Energy ; Energy Production and Transportation ; Energy and Environment ; Environment ; Environment and Energy Efficiency ; Environmental ; Environmental Economics and Policies ; Forestry ; Insurance ; Investment ; Joint Implementation ; Land ; Land Use ; Public Sector Development ; Risk ; Sustainable Development ; Taxes ; Technology
    Abstract: June 2000 - Under the Clean Development Mechanism, developing countries will be able to produce certified emissions reductions (CERs, sometimes called offsets) through projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions below business-as-usual levels. The challenges of setting up offset markets are considerable. Do forestry projects, as a class, have more difficulty than energy projects reducing greenhouse gas emissions in ways that are real, measurable, additional, and consistent with sustainable development? Under the Kyoto Protocol, industrial countries accept caps on their emissions of greenhouse gases. They are permitted to acquire offsetting emissions reductions from developing countries - which do not have emissions limitations - to assist in complying with these caps. Because these emissions reductions are defined against a hypothetical baseline, practical issues arise in ensuring that the reductions are genuine. Forestry-related emissions reduction projects are often thought to present greater difficulties in measurement and implementation than energy-related emissions reduction projects. Chomitz discusses how project characteristics affect the process for determining compliance with each of the criteria for qualifying. Those criteria are: · Additionality. Would the emissions reductions not have taken place without the project? · Baseline and systems boundaries (leakage). What would business-as-usual emissions have been without the project? And in this comparison, how broad should spatial and temporal system boundaries be? · Measurement (or sequestration). How accurately can we measure actual with-project emissions levels? · Duration or permanence. Will the project have an enduring mitigating effect? · Local impact. Will the project benefit its neighbors? For all the criteria except permanence, it is difficult to find generic distinctions between land use change and forestry and energy projects, since both categories comprise diverse project types. The important distinctions among projects have to do with such things as: · The level and distribution of the project's direct financial benefits. · How much the project is integrated with the larger system. · The project components' internal homogeneity and geographic dispersion. · The local replicability of project technologies. Permanence is an issue specific to land use change and forestry projects. Chomitz describes various approaches to ensure permanence or adjust credits for duration: the ton-year approach (focusing on the benefits from deferring climatic damage, and rewarding longer deferral); the combination approach (bundling current land use change and forestry emissions reductions with future reductions in the buyer's allowed amount); a technology-acceleration approach; and an insurance approach. This paper - a product of Infrastructure and Environment, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to assess policies for mitigating climate change. The author may be contacted at kchomitzworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 67
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Reciprocity across Modes of Supply in the World Trade Organization : A Negotiating Formula (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (24 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Mattoo, Aaditya Reciprocity across Modes of Supply in the World Trade Organization
    Keywords: Agreement On Trade ; Border Trade ; Comparative Advantage ; Concessions ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Foreign Labor ; Foreign Markets ; Free Trade ; International Economics & Trade ; International Trade and Trade Rules ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Market Access ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Development ; Reciprocal Reduction ; Reciprocity ; Tariff ; Tariff Reduction ; Terms Of Trade ; Terms Of Trade Effects ; Trade Effect ; Trade Negotiations ; Trade Policy ; Trade Policy ; Trade and Services ; Volume Of Trade ; Welfare Gains ; World Trade ; World Trade Organization ; Agreement On Trade ; Border Trade ; Comparative Advantage ; Concessions ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Foreign Labor ; Foreign Markets ; Free Trade ; International Economics & Trade ; International Trade and Trade Rules ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Market Access ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Development ; Reciprocal Reduction ; Reciprocity ; Tariff ; Tariff Reduction ; Terms Of Trade ; Terms Of Trade Effects ; Trade Effect ; Trade Negotiations ; Trade Policy ; Trade Policy ; Trade and Services ; Volume Of Trade ; Welfare Gains ; World Trade ; World Trade Organization
    Abstract: June 2000 - If negotiations on trade in services at the World Trade Organization are to advance liberalization beyond levels undertaken unilaterally and lead to more balanced outcomes, reciprocity must play a greater role in negotiations. This may be facilitated by the use of negotiating rules that establish credible links across sectors and modes of delivery. Negotiations on trade in services at the World Trade Organization (WTO) have so far produced little liberalization beyond levels countries have undertaken unilaterally. One reason: limited application of the traditional negotiating principle of reciprocity. In particular, participants have failed to exploit the scope of the services agreement (GATS) for the exchange of market-access concessions across different modes of supply - cross-border delivery and the movement of capital and workers. Using the Heckscher-Ohlin-Vanek framework, Mattoo and Olarreaga propose a negotiating formula that generalizes the fundamental WTO principle of reciprocity to include alternative modes of delivery. Adoption of this formula as a basis for negotiations could bring greater commitments to liberalization on all modes of delivery, producing substantial gains in global welfare and more balanced outcomes. This paper - a product of Trade, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to improve trade policy in goods and services. The authors may be contacted at amattooworldbank.org or molarreaga@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 68
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Asset Distribution, Inequality, and Growth (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (34 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Deininger, Klaus Asset Distribution, Inequality, and Growth
    Keywords: Asset Distribution ; Asset Inequality ; Consumption ; Economic Growth ; Economic Policy ; Economic Theory and Research ; Empirical Evidence ; Equity and Development ; Exogenous Shocks ; Factor Endowments ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Growth Literature ; Growth Regressions ; Human Capital ; Income ; Income Inequality ; Inequality ; Inequality ; Inequality-Growth Relationship ; Investment and Investment Climate ; Labor Policies ; Long-Term Growth ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Negative Impact ; Negative Relationship ; Policy Level ; Political Economy ; Poverty Impact Evaluation ; Poverty Reduction ; Pro-Poor Growth ; Property Rights ; Rural Development ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Social Protections and Labor ; Asset Distribution ; Asset Inequality ; Consumption ; Economic Growth ; Economic Policy ; Economic Theory and Research ; Empirical Evidence ; Equity and Development ; Exogenous Shocks ; Factor Endowments ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Growth Literature ; Growth Regressions ; Human Capital ; Income ; Income Inequality ; Inequality ; Inequality ; Inequality-Growth Relationship ; Investment and Investment Climate ; Labor Policies ; Long-Term Growth ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Negative Impact ; Negative Relationship ; Policy Level ; Political Economy ; Poverty Impact Evaluation ; Poverty Reduction ; Pro-Poor Growth ; Property Rights ; Rural Development ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Social Protections and Labor
    Abstract: June 2000 - Policymakers addressing the impact of inequality on growth should be more concerned about households' access to assets - and to the opportunities associated with them - than about the distribution of income. Asset inequality - but not income inequality - has a relatively great negative impact on growth and also reduces the effectiveness of educational interventions. With the recent resurgence of interest in equity, inequality, and growth, the possibility of a negative relationship between inequality and economic growth has received renewed interest in the literature. Faced with the prospect that high levels of inequality may persist and give rise to poverty traps, policymakers are paying more attention to the distributional implications of macroeconomic policies. Because high levels of inequality may hurt overall growth, policymakers are exploring measures to promote growth and equity at the same time. How the consequences of inequality are analyzed, along with the possible cures, depends partly on how inequality is measured. Deininger and Olinto use assets (land) rather than income - and a GMM estimator - to examine the robustness of the relationship between inequality and growth that has been observed in the cross-sectional literature but has been drawn into question by recent studies using panel techniques. They find evidence that asset inequality - but not income inequality - has a relatively large negative impact on growth. They also find that a highly unequal distribution of assets reduces the effectiveness of educational interventions. This means that policymakers should be more concerned about households' access to assets, and to the opportunities associated with them, than about the distribution of income. Long-term growth might be improved by measures to prevent large jumps in asset inequality - possibly irreversible asset loss because of exogenous shocks - and by policies to facilitate asset accumulation by the poor. This paper - a product of Rural Development, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to examine the determinants and impact of inequality. The authors may be contacted at kdeiningerworldbank.org or polinto@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 69
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Disintegration and Trade Flows : Evidence from the Former Soviet Union (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (34 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Djankov, Simeon Disintegration and Trade Flows
    Keywords: LTC ; M1 ; Reform ; Roads and Highways ; Transport ; VD ; ZDV ; LTC ; M1 ; Reform ; Roads and Highways ; Transport ; VD ; ZDV ; Armenia ; Azerbaijan ; Belarus ; Estonia ; Georgia ; Iru ; Latvia ; Lithuania ; Moldova ; Tajikistan ; Turkmenistan ; Ukraine ; Uzbekistan ; Armenia ; Azerbaijan ; Belarus ; Estonia ; Georgia ; Iru ; Latvia ; Lithuania ; Moldova ; Tajikistan ; Turkmenistan ; Ukraine ; Uzbekistan
    Abstract: June 2000 - This study of trade flows among and between nine Russian regions and 14 republics of the former Soviet Union shows a bias toward domestic trade in the reform period that is primarily the result of tariffs. In addition, old linkages - such as infrastructure, business networks, and production and consumption chains - have limited the reorientation of trade. Djankov and Freund study the effects of trade barriers and the persistence of past linkages on trade flows in the former Soviet Union. Estimating a gravity equation on trade among and between nine Russian regions and 14 former Soviet republics, they find that Russian regions traded 60 percent more with each other than with republics in the reform period (1994-96). By contrast, the Russian regions did not trade significantly more with each other than with republics in the prereform period (1987-90). The results suggest that the bias toward domestic trade in the reform period is primarily the result of tariffs. In addition, past linkages - such as infrastructure, business networks, and production and consumption chains - have limited the reorientation of trade. This paper-a product of the Financial Sector Strategy and Policy Department-is part of a larger effort in the department to promote economic liberalization
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 70
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Savings and the Terms of Trade under Borrowing Constraints (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (44 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Agénor, Pierre-Richard Savings and the Terms of Trade under Borrowing Constraints
    Keywords: Arbitrage ; Capital Markets ; Consumers ; Consumption ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Exports ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Income ; Liquidity ; Macroeconomic Shocks ; Macroeconomics ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Marginal Utility ; Open Economy ; Permanent Income ; Political Economy ; Prices ; Private Sector Development ; Real GDP ; Real Interest Rate ; Savings ; Trade ; Utility ; Variables ; Welfare ; Arbitrage ; Capital Markets ; Consumers ; Consumption ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Exports ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Income ; Liquidity ; Macroeconomic Shocks ; Macroeconomics ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Marginal Utility ; Open Economy ; Permanent Income ; Political Economy ; Prices ; Private Sector Development ; Real GDP ; Real Interest Rate ; Savings ; Trade ; Utility ; Variables ; Welfare
    Abstract: June 2000 - When households face the possibility of borrowing constraints in bad times, favorable movements in the permanent component of the terms of trade may lead to higher rates of private savings. Agénor and Aizenman examine the extent to which permanent terms-of-trade shocks have an asymmetric effect on private savings. Using a simple three-period model, they show that if households expect to face binding constraints on borrowing in bad states of nature (when the economy is in a long trough rather than a sharp peak), savings rates will respond asymmetrically to favorable movements in the permanent component of the terms of trade-in contrast with the predictions of conventional consumption-smoothing models. They test for asymmetric effects of terms-of-trade disturbances using an econometric model that controls for various standard determinants of private savings. The results-based on panel data for nonoil commodity exporters of Sub-Saharan Africa for 1980-96 (a group of countries for which movements in the terms of trade have traditionally represented a key source of macroeconomic shocks)-indicate that increases in the permanent component of the terms of trade (measured using three alternative filtering techniques) indeed tend to be associated with higher rates of private savings. This paper is a product of Economic Policy and Poverty Reduction, World Bank Institute. Pierre-Richard Agénor may be contacted at pagenorworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 71
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Regulators and the Poor : Lessons from the United Kingdom (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (24 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Green, Richard Regulators and the Poor
    Keywords: Bank Transfers ; Customer ; Customers ; Debt Markets ; E-Business ; Economic Theory and Research ; Electricity ; Emerging Markets ; Energy ; Energy Production and Transportation ; Fax ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Information ; Information Services ; Legal Framework ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Markets and Market Access ; Network ; Networks ; Price ; Prices ; Private Sector Development ; Result ; Telecommunications ; Telephone ; Telephone Services ; Universal Service ; Universal Service Obligation ; Universal Service Obligations ; User ; Bank Transfers ; Customer ; Customers ; Debt Markets ; E-Business ; Economic Theory and Research ; Electricity ; Emerging Markets ; Energy ; Energy Production and Transportation ; Fax ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Information ; Information Services ; Legal Framework ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Markets and Market Access ; Network ; Networks ; Price ; Prices ; Private Sector Development ; Result ; Telecommunications ; Telephone ; Telephone Services ; Universal Service ; Universal Service Obligation ; Universal Service Obligations ; User
    Abstract: July 2000 - The United Kingdom generally fights poverty directly-through the government's benefit system-and not through utilities. But British regulators have taken certain measures that help utility consumers (mostly, but not always, poor consumers). Other countries may be able to copy some of their techniques. Green studies a number of ways in which British regulators have helped poorer consumers. British Telecommunications offers a lower user tariff and a very cheap service with most outgoing calls barred, to attract customers who could not afford the full service. The gas regulator has taken action to reduce price differentials between customers who pay in cash (mostly, but not always, poor customers) and those who pay with bank transfers (mostly, but not always, better off customers). The electricity industry faces a series of rules and codes of practice governing its dealings with domestic consumers. Some of these schemes will help all consumers; others are aimed at, but not exclusive to, the poor. One challenge facing utilities in some countries is that of expanding their networks to reach millions of unserved (mostly poor) customers. The United Kingdom achieved nearly universal service in geographical terms while the utilities were state-owned. The utilities were serving some customers who were already profitable and were simply required to serve others, who might not be. It might be possible to grant a concession, or privatize a new company, on a similar basis of bundling social obligations with opportunities for profit, but it will be important to ensure that obligations are performed properly. U.K. regulators have been fairly successful at protecting existing customers; other countries may be able to copy some of their techniques. This paper-a product of Governance, Regulation, and Finance, World Bank Institute-is part of a larger effort in the institute to increase understanding of infrastructure regulation. The author may be contacted at r.j.greenecon.hull.ac.uk
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 72
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Solid waste landfills in middle and lower-income countries : a technical guide to planning, design, and operation (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    ISBN: 0821344579 , 9780821344576
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (267 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Series Statement: World Bank Technical Papers
    Abstract: This technical guide seeks to demonstrate that, by encouraging small, continuous improvements in landfill siting, construction, and operation, the accumulative effect over time is the achievement of better operations. The guide does not seek an immediate adoption of sanitary landfill practices. Instead, sanitary landfill is regarded as an eventual goal for which middle- and lower-income countries can plan during the course of several years. A common theme throughout the guide is the emphasis on the practical ways landfills can evolve, as resources and confidence increase, from open dumps to "controlled" dumps to "engineered" landfills and perhaps, one day, to sanitary landfills
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 73
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Global development finance 1999 : Country tables (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    ISBN: 0821343688 , 9780821343685
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (650 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Abstract: Global Development Finance was formerly published as World Debt Tables. The new name reflects the report's expanded scope and greater coverage of private financial flows. The report consists of two volumes:a) Analysis and Summary Tables contains analysis and commentary on recent developments in international finance for developing countries, with particular focus on the global financial crisis. Summary statistical tables are included for 150 countries. b) Country Tables contains statistical tables on the external debt of the 138 countries that report public and public guaranteed debt under the Debtor Reporting System (DRS). Also included are tables of selected debt and resource flow statistics for individual reporting countries as well as summary tables for regional and income groups. This year's report includes the external debt obligations of the Republic of Korea, a high-income country. Charts on pages xx to xxii summarize graphically the relation between debt stock and its components; the computation of net flows, aggregate net resource flow, and aggregate net transfers; and the relation between net resource flow and the balance of payments. Exact definitions of these and other terms are found in the Sources and Definitions section
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 74
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Trends in private investment in developing countries : Statistics for 1970-97 and Perceived Obstacles to Doing Business (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    ISBN: 0821344757 , 9780821344750
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (56 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Abstract: This is the tenth annual edition of "Trends in Private Investment in Developing Countries." To mark this event, this report includes figures for each of the countries for which data are available as well as the first country-specific results of a worldwide survey on obstacles to doing business perceived by executives in 74 countries (including several industrial countries for comparison). The first part of this report documents trends in private and public fixed investment. The second part presents country-specific results of a 1996/97 worldwide survey of business executives. The discussion focus on obstacles to doing business and their relationship to levels of private investment. A few factors emerge as being of particular importance to private investment decisions:the real exchange rate, the rule of law, predictability of judiciary systems, and the extent to which financing is available to enterprises
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 75
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    1998 Annual Review of Development Effectiveness (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    ISBN: 0821344749 , 9780821344743
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (80 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Keywords: Banks and Banking Reform ; Debt Markets and Aid Effectiveness ; Economic Theory and Research ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Debt Markets and Aid Effectiveness ; Economic Theory and Research ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth
    Abstract: The ongoing financial crisis has raised questions about the underpinnings of development assistance and the role of international financial institutions. A new development assistance framework, grounded in partnership, is emerging. That is the backdrop for this year's review, which--as in past years--tracks the World Bank's operational performance based on the findings of recent evaluations. After the backdrop provided in chapter one, the chapters that follow review recent evidence about the Bank's development effectiveness. Chapter 2 describes project and sector performance trends. Chapter 3 considers recent evaluation lessons at the country level. It draws on OED's (Operations Evaluation Department) country assistance evaluations to help draw out the lessons of the ongoing crisis. Chapter 4 draws lessons that can be inferred from thematic studies. The final chapter discusses the implications for Bank operations and evaluation
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 76
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Public Choices between Lifesaving Programs : How Important Are Lives Saved? (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (78 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Cropper, Maureen Public Choices between Lifesaving Programs
    Keywords: Air Quality and Clean Air ; Breast Cancer ; Brown Issues and Health ; Children ; Disease Control and Prevention ; Environment ; Environmental Economics and Policies ; Environmental Health ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Health ; Health Care ; Health Education ; Health Monitoring and Evaluation ; Health Services ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Implementation ; Industrial Pollution ; Industry ; Insurance and Risk Mitigation ; Internet ; Knowledge ; Ozone ; Population Policies ; Public Health ; Risks ; Screening ; Smokers ; Smoking ; Strategy ; Water Pollution ; Water Resources ; Water and Industry ; Workplace ; Air Quality and Clean Air ; Breast Cancer ; Brown Issues and Health ; Children ; Disease Control and Prevention ; Environment ; Environmental Economics and Policies ; Environmental Health ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Health ; Health Care ; Health Education ; Health Monitoring and Evaluation ; Health Services ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Implementation ; Industrial Pollution ; Industry ; Insurance and Risk Mitigation ; Internet ; Knowledge ; Ozone ; Population Policies ; Public Health ; Risks ; Screening ; Smokers ; Smoking ; Strategy ; Water Pollution ; Water Resources ; Water and Industry ; Workplace
    Abstract: August 1995 - Do funding priorities for health and safety policies reflect irrational fears? the disaster of the month - rather than address more fundamental problems? A thousand people were surveyed to gauge popular feelings about funding choices between environmental and public health programs. In developing and industrial countries alike, there is concern that health and safety policy may respond to irrational fears - to the disaster of the month - rather than address more fundamental problems. In the United States, for example, some policymakers say the public worries about trivial risks while ignoring larger ones and that funding priorities reflect this view. Many public health programs with a low cost per life saved are underfunded, for example, while many environmental regulations with a high cost per life saved are issued each year. Does the existing allocation of resources reflect people's preoccupation with the qualitative aspects of risks, to the exclusion of quantitative factors (lives saved)? Or can observed differences in the cost per life saved of environmental and public health programs be explained by the way the two sets of programs are funded? Cropper and Subramanian examine the preferences of U.S. citizens for health and safety programs. They confronted a random sample of 1,000 U.S. adults with choices between environmental health and public health programs, to see which they would choose. The authors then examined what factors (qualitative and quantitative) seem to influence these choices. Respondents were asked about pairs of programs, among them: smoking education or industrial pollution control programs, industrial pollution control or pneumonia vaccine programs, radon eradication or a program to ban smoking in the workplace, and radon eradication or programs to ban pesticides. The survey results, they feel, have implications beyond the United States. They find that, while qualitative aspects of the life-saving programs are statistically significant in explaining people's choices among them, lives saved matter, too. Indeed, for the median respondent in the survey, the rate of substitution between most qualitative risk characteristics and lives saved is inelastic. But for a sizable minority of respondents, choice among programs appears to be insensitive to lives saved. The interesting question for public policy is what role the latter group plays in the regulatory process. This paper - a joint product of the Environment, Infrastructure, and Agriculture Division, Policy Research Department, and the Environment and Natural Resources Division, Asia Technical Department - is part of a larger effort in the Bank to see what can be learned about efficient environmental policy by examining the U.S. experience with environmental regulation. The authors may be contacted at mcropperworldbank.org or usubramanian@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 77
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Are Partner-Country Statistics Useful for Estimating Missing Trade Data? (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (44 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Yeats, J. Alexander Are Partner-Country Statistics Useful for Estimating Missing Trade Data?
    Keywords: Bilateral Trade ; Common Carriers Industry ; Country Strategy and Performance ; Customs ; Customs Union ; Developing Countries ; Development Economics and Aid Effectiveness ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Export Processing ; Export Processing Zones ; Export Value ; Exports ; Free Trade ; Free Trade ; Free Trade Agreement ; Import Data ; Import Statistics ; Import Value ; Imports ; Industry ; International Economics ; International Economics & Trade ; International Trade ; International Trade Statistics ; Law and Development ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Development ; Science and Technology Development ; Statistical and Mathematical Sciences ; Tariffs ; Trade ; Trade Data ; Trade Law ; Trade Policy ; Transport ; Transport Economics, Policy and Planning ; Bilateral Trade ; Common Carriers Industry ; Country Strategy and Performance ; Customs ; Customs Union ; Developing Countries ; Development Economics and Aid Effectiveness ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Export Processing ; Export Processing Zones ; Export Value ; Exports ; Free Trade ; Free Trade ; Free Trade Agreement ; Import Data ; Import Statistics ; Import Value ; Imports ; Industry ; International Economics ; International Economics & Trade ; International Trade ; International Trade Statistics ; Law and Development ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Development ; Science and Technology Development ; Statistical and Mathematical Sciences ; Tariffs ; Trade ; Trade Data ; Trade Law ; Trade Policy ; Transport ; Transport Economics, Policy and Planning
    Abstract: Because many developing countries fail to report trade statistics to the United Nations, there has been an interest in using partner-country data to fill these information gaps. The author used partner-country statistics for 30 developing countries to estimate actual (concealed) trade data and analyzed the magnitude of the resulting errors. The results indicate that partner-country data are unreliable even for estimating trade in broad aggregate product groups such as foodstuffs, fuels, or manufactures. Moreover, tests show that the reliability of partner-country statistics degenerates sharply as one moves to more finely distinguished trade categories (lower-level SITCs). Equally disturbing, about one-quarter of the partner-country comparisons take the wrong sign. That is, one country's reported free-on-board (f.o.b.) exports exceed the reported cost-insurance-freight (c.i.f.) value of partners' imports. Aside from product composition, tests show that partner-country data are equally inaccurate for estimating the direction of trade. Why are partner-country data so unreliable for approximating missing data? Evidence shows: 1) problems in reporting or processing COMTRADE data; 2) valuation differences (f.o.b. versus c.i.f.) for imports and exports; 3) problems relating to entrepot trade, or exports originating in export processing zones; 4) problems associated with exchange-rate changes; 5) intentional or unintentional misclassification of products; 6) efforts to conceal trade data for proprietary reasons; and 7) financial incentives to purposely falsify trade data. The author concludes that efforts to improve the general quality, or availability, of trade statistics using partner-country data holds little or no promise, although this information may be useful in specific cases where the trade statistics of a certain country are known to incorporate major errors. Significant progress in ugrading the accuracy, and coverage, of trade statistics can be achieved only by improving each country's procedures for data collection
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 78
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Africa's Growth Tragedy : A Retrospective, 1960 - 89 (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (44 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Levine, Ross Africa's Growth Tragedy
    Keywords: Black Market ; Business Cycle ; Country Regressions ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Economic Growth ; Economic Theory and Research ; Educational Attainment ; Exchange Rate ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Development ; Financial Sector ; Financial Systems ; Growth ; Growth Performance ; Growth Rate ; Growth Rates ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Inequality ; Long-Run Growth ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Nutrition ; Per Capita Income ; Policy Change ; Policy Research ; Political Instability ; Political Stability ; Poor Countries ; Poor Growth ; Poverty Reduction ; Pro-Poor Growth ; Black Market ; Business Cycle ; Country Regressions ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Economic Growth ; Economic Theory and Research ; Educational Attainment ; Exchange Rate ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Development ; Financial Sector ; Financial Systems ; Growth ; Growth Performance ; Growth Rate ; Growth Rates ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Inequality ; Long-Run Growth ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Nutrition ; Per Capita Income ; Policy Change ; Policy Research ; Political Instability ; Political Stability ; Poor Countries ; Poor Growth ; Poverty Reduction ; Pro-Poor Growth
    Abstract: August 1995 - Problems associated with Sub-Saharan Africa's slow growth are low school attainment, political instability, poorly developed financial systems, large black-market exchange-rate premia, large government deficits, and inadequate infrastructure. Improving policies alone boosts growth substantially. But if neighboring countries adopt a policy change together, the effects on growth are more than double what they would have been if one country had acted alone. Africa's economic history since 1960 fits the classical definition of tragedy: potential unfulfilled, with disastrous consequences. Easterly and Levine use one methodology - cross-country regressions - to account for Sub-Saharan Africa's growth performance over the past 30 years and to suggest policies to promote growth over the next 30 years. They statistically quantify the relationship between long-run growth and a wider array of factors than any previous study. They consider such standard variables as initial income to capture convergence effects, schooling, political stability, and indicators of monetary, fiscal, trade, exchange rate, and financial sector policies. They also consider such new measures as infrastructure development, cultural diversity, and economic spillovers from neighbors' growth. Their analysis: ° Improves substantially on past attempts to account for the growth experience of Sub-Saharan African countries. ° Shows that low school attainment, political instability, poorly developed financial systems, large black-market exchange-rate premia, large government deficits, and inadequate infrastructure are associated with slow growth. ° Finds that Africa's ethnic diversity tends to slow growth and reduce the likelihood of adopting good policies. ° Identifies spillovers of growth performance between neighboring countries. The spillover effects of growth have implications for policy strategy. Improving policies alone boosts growth substantially, but if neighboring countries act together, the effects on growth are much greater. Specifically, the results suggest that the effect of neighbors' adopting a policy change is 2.2 times greater than if a single country acted alone. This paper - a joint product of the Macroeconomics and Growth Division and the Finance and Private Sector Development Division, Policy Research Department - is part of a larger effort in the department to understand the link between policies and growth. The study was funded by the Bank's Research Support Budget under the research project Patterns of Growth (RPO 678-26)
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 79
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Averting the Old-Age Crisis : Technical Annex (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (156 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Palacios, J. Robert Averting the Old-Age Crisis
    Keywords: Administrative Costs ; Bank ; Debt Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Income ; Information ; Investment ; Investment Returns ; Labor Force ; Pension ; Pension Fund ; Pension Fund Investment ; Pension Schemes ; Pension Spending ; Pensions and Retirement Systems ; Private Sector Development ; Public Pension ; Public Pension Schemes ; Rates Of Return ; Retirement ; Revenues ; Security ; Social Protections and Labor ; Wage ; Wage Growth ; Administrative Costs ; Bank ; Debt Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Income ; Information ; Investment ; Investment Returns ; Labor Force ; Pension ; Pension Fund ; Pension Fund Investment ; Pension Schemes ; Pension Spending ; Pensions and Retirement Systems ; Private Sector Development ; Public Pension ; Public Pension Schemes ; Rates Of Return ; Retirement ; Revenues ; Security ; Social Protections and Labor ; Wage ; Wage Growth
    Abstract: February 1996 - Supporting documentation for the World Bank publication Averting the Old Age Crisis: Policies to Protect the Old and Promote Growth (1994). Averting the Old Age Crisis: Policies to Protect the Old and Promote Growth, the publication for which this technical annex provides supporting documentation, is the third in a series of major World Bank Policy Research Reports. Unlike its predecessors, The East Asian Miracle and Adjustment in Africa, it does not concentrate on a specific region but focuses rather on the general topic of income security for old age. More than two years of research were required to gather data, review the theoretical literature, examine empirical evidence, and write the book that represents the Bank's most important study of the issue to date. This annex explains in detail the data sources, concepts, and definitions used in the book and provides additional information. It describes the demographic data used in the report and discusses data about public and privately managed pension schemes around the world (giving specific sources for individual countries). An attempt has been made to cross-reference the data available on ]STARS] diskettes, which can be downloaded and analyzed in most database or statistical software packages. This paper - a product of the Poverty and Human Resources Division, Policy Research Department - provides supporting documentation for the World Bank publication Averting the Old-Age Crisis: Policies to Protect the Old and Promote Growth (1994), available from the World Bank bookstore
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 80
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Decentralization in Regional Fiscal Systems in Russia : Trends and Links to Economic Performance (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (57 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Freinkman, Lev Decentralization in Regional Fiscal Systems in Russia
    Keywords: Accounting ; Accounting Standards ; Budget ; Budget Defic Budgets ; Debt Markets ; Debts ; Decentralization ; Expenditure ; Expenditures ; Federal Budget ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Fiscal Decentralization ; Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations and Local Finance Management ; Local Governments ; Municipal Financial Management ; Pension ; Pension Fund ; Public and Municipal Finance ; Revenue ; Revenues ; Share ; Shares ; Tax ; Urban Development ; Urban Economics ; Accounting ; Accounting Standards ; Budget ; Budget Defic Budgets ; Debt Markets ; Debts ; Decentralization ; Expenditure ; Expenditures ; Federal Budget ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Fiscal Decentralization ; Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations and Local Finance Management ; Local Governments ; Municipal Financial Management ; Pension ; Pension Fund ; Public and Municipal Finance ; Revenue ; Revenues ; Share ; Shares ; Tax ; Urban Development ; Urban Economics
    Abstract: April 1999 - Considering the positive impact decentralization has had on regional economic performance and expenditure structure, Russia's federal government should: ° Decisively protect local self-governance and budget autonomy. ° Make intergovernmental fiscal relations more transparent. ° Develop universal models of interactions between regional and municipal governments. ° Impose stricter limits on total debt and budget deficits of subnational governments. To shed light on decentralization in Russia, Freinkman and Yossifov examine intergovernmental fiscal relations within regions. To analyze trends, they review channels of fiscal allocation within regions-tax sharing and local transfer schemes. To evaluate the potential impact of various fiscal decentralization patterns on regional economic performance (including growth and the budget deficit), they study data on the structure of 89 Russian consolidated regional budgets for 1992-96. They find that local governments' relative share of Russia's consolidated budget, although substantive (roughly a quarter of the total budget), did not expand after 1994. The federal government's relative role in financing public goods and services declined as the relative role of local governments increased substantially. Local governments collected more revenues in 1996 (6.4 percent of GDP) and spent more than regional governments. They also substantially increased social financing (including health, education, and social protection). Russia made no progress toward a more transparent system for tax assignments. The average level of expenditure decentralization is similar for ethnically Russian regions and national republics and okrugs but revenue arrangements differ greatly. True decentralization has taken place in oblasts and krais, where local authorities are provided with a bigger share of subnational tax revenues. A redistribution model applies in republics and autonomous okrugs, where greater local outlays have been financed through larger transfers from regional governments. Regions near each other tend to have similar budget arrangements-the result of intensive interactions between neighbors and probably supported by the activities of regional associations. The size of a region's territory does not influence decentralization outcomes. Fiscal decentralization seems positively related to the share of education spending in regional budgets. And regions with more decentralized finances tend to experience less economic decline. But budget control is weaker in more decentralized regions. Instability and lack of transparency in intergovernmental fiscal relations provide subnational governments little incentive for responsible fiscal policy. Further decentralization without greater transparency could bring greater debt and deficits. This paper-a product of the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Sector Unit, Europe and Central Asia Region - is part of a larger effort in the unit to study fiscal decentralization in transition economies. Lev Freinkman may be contacted at lfreinkmanworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 81
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Subjective Economic Welfare (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (43 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Ravallion, Martin Subjective Economic Welfare
    Keywords: Bank ; Calculation ; Consumer ; Consumers ; Demand ; Demands ; Economic Theory and Research ; Family Allowances ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Health Systems Development and Reform ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Household Income ; Household Incomes ; Income ; Incomes ; Inequality ; Inflation ; Information ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Money ; Pensioner ; Population Policies ; Poverty Diagnostics ; Poverty Lines ; Poverty Monitoring and Analysis ; Poverty Rate ; Poverty Reduction ; Property ; Rural Development ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Services and Transfers to Poor ; Spending ; Unemployment ; Welfare ; Bank ; Calculation ; Consumer ; Consumers ; Demand ; Demands ; Economic Theory and Research ; Family Allowances ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Health Systems Development and Reform ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Household Income ; Household Incomes ; Income ; Incomes ; Inequality ; Inflation ; Information ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Money ; Pensioner ; Population Policies ; Poverty Diagnostics ; Poverty Lines ; Poverty Monitoring and Analysis ; Poverty Rate ; Poverty Reduction ; Property ; Rural Development ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Services and Transfers to Poor ; Spending ; Unemployment ; Welfare
    Abstract: April 1999 - As conventionally measured, current household income relative to a poverty line can only partially explain how Russian adults perceive their economic welfare. Other factors include past incomes, individual incomes, household consumption, current unemployment, risk of unemployment, health status, education, and relative income in the area of residence. Paradoxically, when economists analyze a policy's impact on welfare they typically assume that people are the best judges of their own welfare, yet resist directly asking them if they are better off. Early ideas of utility were explicitly subjective, but modern economists generally ignore people's expressed views about their own welfare. Even using a broad set of conventional socioeconomic data may not reflect well people's subjective perceptions of their poverty. Ravallion and Lokshin examine the determinants of subjective economic welfare in Russia, including its relationship to conventional objective indicators. For data on subjective perceptions, they use survey responses in which respondents rate their level of welfare from poor to rich on a nine-point ladder. As an objective indicator of economic welfare, they use the most common poverty indicator in Russia today, in which household incomes are deflated by household-specific poverty lines. They find that Russian adults with higher family income per equivalent adult are less likely to place themselves on the lowest rungs of the subjective ladder and more likely to put themselves on the upper rungs. But current household income does not explain well self-reported assessments of whether someone is poor or rich. Expanding the set of variables to include incomes at different dates, expenditures, educational attainment, health status, employment, and average income in the area of residence doubles explanatory power. Healthier and better educated adults with jobs perceive themselves to be better off, controlling for income. The unemployed view their welfare as lower, even with full income replacement. Individual income matters independent of per capita household income. Relative income also matters. Living in a richer area lowers perceived economic welfare, controlling for income and other factors. This paper-a product of Poverty and Human Resources, Development Research Group-is part of a larger effort in the group to better understand the relationship between objective and subjective economic welfare. The study was funded by the Bank's Research Support Budget under the research project Policies for Poor Areas (RPO 681-39). The authors may be contacted at mravallionworldbank.org or mlokshin@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 82
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Hungary's Integration into European Union Markets : Production and Trade Restructuring (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (33 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Kaminski, Bartlomiej Hungary's Integration into European Union Markets
    Keywords: Access to Markets ; Agribusiness and Markets ; Agriculture ; Capital ; Central Planning ; Comparative Advantage ; Competitive Markets ; Competitiveness ; Debt Markets ; Economic Relations ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Environment ; Environmental Economics and Policies ; Exports ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Free Trade ; GDP ; General System Of Preferences ; Goods ; Industry ; International Economics & Trade ; Investment ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Markets ; Markets and Market Access ; Private Sector Development ; Production ; Public Sector Development ; Rural Development ; Shares ; Trade ; Trade Barriers ; Trade Policy ; Transition Economies ; Transition Economy ; Value ; Water Resources ; Water and Industry ; Access to Markets ; Agribusiness and Markets ; Agriculture ; Capital ; Central Planning ; Comparative Advantage ; Competitive Markets ; Competitiveness ; Debt Markets ; Economic Relations ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Environment ; Environmental Economics and Policies ; Exports ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Free Trade ; GDP ; General System Of Preferences ; Goods ; Industry ; International Economics & Trade ; Investment ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Markets ; Markets and Market Access ; Private Sector Development ; Production ; Public Sector Development ; Rural Development ; Shares ; Trade ; Trade Barriers ; Trade Policy ; Transition Economies ; Transition Economy ; Value ; Water Resources ; Water and Industry
    Abstract: June 1999 - Can Hungarian firms cope with competitive pressures and market forces within the European Union market (a criterion for joining)? The empirical evidence suggests that Hungary can withstand such competitive pressures without suppressing the real incomes of Hungary's citizens. Hungary has achieved impressive results in reorienting both its production and trade. Between 1989 and 1992, as the former CMEA markets collapsed and Hungary liberalized imports and the exchange rate regime, exports to the European Union (EU) expanded, with manufactured exports redirected largely to Western (mostly EU) markets. During this first phase of expansion, characterized by a dramatic reorientation and explosion of trade, the value of Hungary's exports increased 84 percent. In 1993 export expansion lost steam and EU-oriented exports fell 12 percent. In a second phase of expansion (in 1994-97), driven by restructured and rapidly changing export offers, exports again registered strong performance, their value increasing 132 percent. There was a dramatic shift from an export basket dominated by resource-intensive, low-value-added products to one driven by manufactures, with a rapidly accelerating growth of engineering products. Machinery and transport equipment rose from 12 percent of exports to the EU in 1989 to more than 50 percent in 1997. The shift from natural resource and unskilled-labor-intensive products to technology- and capital-intensive products in EU-oriented exports suggests the potential for integration higher in the value-added spectrum. More stringent EU environmental regulations will affect a relatively low, and falling, share of Hungary's exports. The Hungarian share of environmentally dirty products imported by the EU has increased, but these products have not been trendsetters among Hungarian exports, their share in exports falling from 26 percent in 1989 to 16 percent in 1996. The rapid pace of Hungary's turnaround seems to reflect the emergence of second-generation firms, mostly foreign-owned. Foreign-owned firms tend to be more export-oriented. Hungary has been one of the more successful transition economies because its economy was receptive to foreign direct investment from the outset. Between 1990 and 1997, Hungary absorbed roughly half of all foreign capital invested in Central Europe. This paper - a product of Trade, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to study regional integration. The author may be contacted at bkaminskiworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 83
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Fiscal Contingency Planning for Banking Crises (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (40 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Honohan, Patrick Fiscal Contingency Planning for Banking Crises
    Keywords: Accounting ; Balance Sheet ; Banking Crises ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Budget ; Contingency Planning ; Conversion ; Debt Markets ; Depositors ; Emerging Markets ; Expenditure ; Expenditures ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Instruments ; Financial Literacy ; Fiscal Authorities ; Fiscal Policy ; Future ; Liabilities ; Liability ; Monetary Authorities ; Moral Hazard ; Private Sector Development ; Revenue ; Tax ; Tax Rates ; Accounting ; Balance Sheet ; Banking Crises ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Budget ; Contingency Planning ; Conversion ; Debt Markets ; Depositors ; Emerging Markets ; Expenditure ; Expenditures ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Instruments ; Financial Literacy ; Fiscal Authorities ; Fiscal Policy ; Future ; Liabilities ; Liability ; Monetary Authorities ; Moral Hazard ; Private Sector Development ; Revenue ; Tax ; Tax Rates
    Abstract: November 1999 - Estimating the likely fiscal costs of future banking crises requires information about the size and composition of the banks' balance sheets and expert assessments about the accuracy of the accounting data and about certain short-term risks. There is constant demand for an estimate of the likely fiscal costs of future banking crises, but little precision can be expected in such an estimate. Honohan shows how information that is typically available to authorities could be used to get a general sense of the order of magnitude of the direct fiscal liability. What is required for such an estimate? · Information about the size and composition of the banks' balance sheets. · Expert assessments of the accuracy of the accounting data and of specific short-term risks to which the components are known to be subject. Honohan's method distinguishes between losses that have already crystallized and the changing risks for the immediate future. By including contingency planning for banking collapse in their fiscal calculations, authorities may risk destabilizing expectations or worsening the moral hazard in the system. But the risks of contingency planning generally outweigh the risks of sending confused signals. Insisting on ignorance is a poor way to protect against announcement errors that trigger panic. This paper - a product of Finance, Development Research Group - was produced for the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network thematic group studying the quality of fiscal adjustment. The author may be contacted at phonohanworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 84
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Bankruptcy Reorganization through Markets : Auction-based Creditor Ordering by Reducing Debts (ACCORD) (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (42 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Hausch, B. Donald Bankruptcy Reorganization through Markets
    Keywords: Aggregate Debts ; Auction ; Bankruptcy ; Bankruptcy Laws ; Bid ; Call Options ; Cash Flows ; Claimant ; Claimants ; Creditor ; Creditors ; Debt Markets ; Debts ; Deposits ; Domestic Banks ; Equity ; Face Value ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Interests ; Investment and Investment Climate ; Junior Creditors ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Market ; Markets ; Strategic Debt Management ; Aggregate Debts ; Auction ; Bankruptcy ; Bankruptcy Laws ; Bid ; Call Options ; Cash Flows ; Claimant ; Claimants ; Creditor ; Creditors ; Debt Markets ; Debts ; Deposits ; Domestic Banks ; Equity ; Face Value ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Interests ; Investment and Investment Climate ; Junior Creditors ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Market ; Markets ; Strategic Debt Management
    Abstract: November 1999 - Financial reorganization under bankruptcy reduces a firm's debts to serviceable levels through negotiations overseen by courts. Academics have suggested using markets for such negotiations, giving equity holders and junior claimants call options to buy the firm back from senior creditors. Hausch and Ramachandran further develop such a market-based approach for situations in which claimants are severely cash-constrained and there is good reason for existing owner-managers to remain in control. Under the ACCORD scheme - Auction-based Creditor Ordering by Reducing Debts - creditors remain creditors but form a queue, to be serviced in sequence from the firm's operating cash flows. Creditors bid for their position in this queue. Those accepting greater proportionate reductions in the face value of their claims (perhaps most pessimistic about the firm's prospects) are placed ahead of the others. A preexisting hierarchy of claims is honored by having claimants bid for their positions within the relevant segment of the queue. No one in the queue, including owners (who are last), is paid anything until the (reduced) debts of the first in line are fully discharged. The queue then moves up and the next claimant in line is serviced. Deferred creditors, who must wait their turn for the firm's operating cash surpluses, are not junior creditors in the conventional sense. Hausch and Ramachandran determine equilibrium bidding strategies, showing that the firm's aggregate debts would be reduced to a more serviceable level. This would improve the incentives of the firm's owner-managers, who remain in control, to operate the firm efficiently. Economic resources would thus be better used, and losses already incurred would be efficiently and quickly allocated among creditors. Hausch and Ramachandran suggest that ACCORD would be appropriate for East Asia, where, despite new bankruptcy laws, inexperienced courts are unlikely to nudge creditors into a quick negotiated agreement nor to be able to cope with systemic bankruptcy. Moreover, when the government is a major unsatisfied creditor, whose agents may not act in the taxpayers' best interests, market-based solutions might remove political interference from restructuring decisions. Neither owners nor creditors would be worse off than they are now. This paper - a joint product of the Private Sector Development Department, and Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Sector Unit, East Asia and Pacific Region - is part of a larger effort in the region to understand and improve corporate restructuring and governance. The authors may be contacted at dhauschbus.wisc.edu or sramachandran@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 85
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    The EU Factor in the Trade Policies of Central European Countries (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (38 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Kaminski, Bartlomiej The EU Factor in the Trade Policies of Central European Countries
    Keywords: Applied Tariff ; Autonomy ; Border Protection ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Debt Markets ; Domestic Producers ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Exchange Rates ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Foreign Trade ; Foreign Trade Policy ; Free Trade ; Free Trade ; International Economics & Trade ; International Trade ; International Trade Policies ; Law and Development ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Market Access ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Development ; Regional Integration ; Tariff ; Tariff Barriers ; Tariff Rates ; Tariffs ; Trade ; Trade Law ; Trade Liberalization ; Trade Policies ; Trade Policy ; Trade Regimes ; Trade and Regional Integration ; Applied Tariff ; Autonomy ; Border Protection ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Debt Markets ; Domestic Producers ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Exchange Rates ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Foreign Trade ; Foreign Trade Policy ; Free Trade ; Free Trade ; International Economics & Trade ; International Trade ; International Trade Policies ; Law and Development ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Market Access ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Development ; Regional Integration ; Tariff ; Tariff Barriers ; Tariff Rates ; Tariffs ; Trade ; Trade Law ; Trade Liberalization ; Trade Policies ; Trade Policy ; Trade Regimes ; Trade and Regional Integration
    Abstract: Despite strong protectionist sentiments, trade regimes have remained open in Central European countries invited to negotiate their accession to the European Union. Regional disciplines (the EU factor), combined with the legacy of low tariffs under GATT commitments, appear to have offset domestic protectionist impulses. - Kaminski examines the development of foreign trade institutions and policies in Central European countries invited to negotiate their accession to the European Union. With the dismantling of state trading, conditions of market access have been dramatically liberalized. However, except for Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the Czech Republic, most Central European countries have followed a policy of bilateral rather than multilateral trade liberalization. The fall in tariff rates on preferential imports has prompted a search for nontariff barriers, but these countries' trade regimes have remained open - which is surprising, considering the strong protectionist sentiments in economic administration. Regional disciplines (the EU factor), combined with the legacy of low tariffs under GATT commitments, appear to have been responsible for this openness. Foreign trade policy has been shaped by tensions between domestic protectionist impulses and pressures from the European Union (and other World Trade Organization members) to improve conditions of market access. This paper - a product of Trade, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to examine trade and integration issues. The author may be contacted at bkaminskiworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 86
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Confronting Competition Investment Response and Constraints in Uganda (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (40 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Reinikka, Ritva Confronting Competition Investment Response and Constraints in Uganda
    Keywords: Banks and Banking Reform ; Capital Investment ; Debt Markets ; Economic Liberalization ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Financial Support ; Future ; Good ; Infrastructure Economics and Finance ; Investing ; Investment ; Investment Rates ; Investment and Investment Climate ; Labor Policies ; Liquidity ; Liquidity Constraint ; Macroeconomic Management ; Macroeconomic Policies ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Microfinance ; Non Bank Financial Institutions ; Private Investment ; Private Participation in Infrastructure ; Private Sector Development ; Prof Profits ; Public Investment ; Return ; Share ; Social Protections and Labor ; Tax ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Capital Investment ; Debt Markets ; Economic Liberalization ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Financial Support ; Future ; Good ; Infrastructure Economics and Finance ; Investing ; Investment ; Investment Rates ; Investment and Investment Climate ; Labor Policies ; Liquidity ; Liquidity Constraint ; Macroeconomic Management ; Macroeconomic Policies ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Microfinance ; Non Bank Financial Institutions ; Private Investment ; Private Participation in Infrastructure ; Private Sector Development ; Prof Profits ; Public Investment ; Return ; Share ; Social Protections and Labor ; Tax
    Abstract: November 1999 - While macroeconomic reforms are necessary, firms' investment response is likely to remain limited without an accompanying improvement in public sector performance. Investment rates in Uganda are similar to others in Africa - averaging slightly more than 10 percent annually, with a median value of just under 1 percent. But the country's profit rates are considerably lower. These results are consistent with the view that Ugandan firms display more confidence in the economy than their counterparts in other African countries. Thus, for given profit rates, Ugandan firms invest more. At the same time, increased competition (because of economic liberalization) has exerted pressure on firms to cut costs. Many of those costs are not under the firms' control, however, so their profits have suffered. Using firm-level data, Reinikka and Svensson identify and quantify a number of cost factors, including those associated with transport, corruption, and utility services. Several factors - including crime, erratic infrastructure services, and arbitrary tax administration - not only increase firms' operating costs but affect their perceptions of the risks of investing in (partly) irreversible capital. The empirical analysis suggests that firms - especially small firms - are liquidity-constrained in the sense that they invest only when sufficient internal funds are available. But given the firms' profit-capital ratio, it is hard to argue that the liquidity constraint is binding in most cases, even though the cost of capital is perceived as a problem. This paper - a joint product of Macroeconomics 2, Africa Region, and Public Economics and Macroeconomics and Growth, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the Bank to study economic policy, public service delivery, and growth. The authors may be contacted at rreinikkaworldbank.org or jsvensson@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 87
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Opportunities for Improving Environmental Compliance in Mexico (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (22 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Dasgupta, Susmita Opportunities for Improving Environmental Compliance in Mexico
    Keywords: Economics ; Economies ; Emissions ; Environment ; Environmental ; Environmental Economics and Policies ; Environmental Information ; Environmental Management ; Environmental Performance ; Environmental Quality ; Environmental Regulations ; Information ; Metals ; Monitoring ; Options ; Policy Makers ; Polluters ; Pollution ; Pollution Control ; Regulation ; Regulations ; Technology ; Economics ; Economies ; Emissions ; Environment ; Environmental ; Environmental Economics and Policies ; Environmental Information ; Environmental Management ; Environmental Performance ; Environmental Quality ; Environmental Regulations ; Information ; Metals ; Monitoring ; Options ; Policy Makers ; Polluters ; Pollution ; Pollution Control ; Regulation ; Regulations ; Technology
    Abstract: One of the main reasons for noncompliant firms' poor environmental performance is the information gap on Mexico's environmental policy. Pollution control could be improved through systematically fuller communication targeted to noncompliant firms - including more environmental education, especially of senior managers. - Survey evidence from Mexico reveals large observed differences in pollution from factories in the same industry, or the same area, or operating under the same regulatory regime. Many factories have adopted significant measures for pollution control and are in compliance with environmental regulations, but some have made little or no such effort. For lack of data, systematic research on the reasons behind such variations in plant-level environmental performance (especially on how impediments to pollution control affect plant behavior) is rare, even in industrial societies. Drawing on a recent plant-level survey of Mexican factories, Dasgupta identifies a number of performance variables characteristic of compliant and noncompliant plants, as well as factors that non-compliant plants perceive to be obstacles to pollution control. Noncompliant firms made less effort than compliant firms to change materials used, to change production processes, or to install end-of-pipe treatment equipment. They had significantly fewer programs to train their general workers in environmental responsibilities. They lagged behind in environmental training, waste management, and transportation training. They received less technical training, especially about the environment, environmental policy and administration, and clean technology and audits. Responses about obstacles to better environmental performance included scarcity of training resources, government bureaucracy, high interest rates, and Mexico's lack of an environmental protection culture. Respondents said that senior managers did not emphasize the environment, assigned more priority to economic considerations, and were not trained in the subject. There were too few suitable programs, training was not recognized, and workers were not interested in the subject. Most important, however, little information was available about Mexico's environmental policy. These findings suggest the importance of technical assistance - especially training and information. In Mexico, the information gap on policy is a major problem. Mexican environmental agencies should invest more in technical assistance and environmental training targeted to noncompliant enterprises. Environmental education, especially of senior managers, could significantly improve pollution control. Maintaining close contact with noncompliant firms, designing programs targeted to them, and pursuing them systemically should increase their responsiveness to regulations. This paper - a product of Infrastructure and Environment, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to understand the determinants of environmental performance in developing countries. The study was funded by the Bank's Research Support Budget under the research project The Economics of Industrial Pollution Control in Developing Countries (RPO 680-20). The author may be contacted at sdasguptaworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 88
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Geographical Disadvantage : A Heckscher-Ohlin-- von Thunen Model of International Specialization (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (38 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Venables, Anthony Geographical Disadvantage
    Keywords: Benchmark ; Economic Structures ; Elasticities ; Elasticity ; Exports ; Goods ; High Transport ; Income ; Infrastructure ; Outcomes ; Price Changes ; Prices ; Production ; Theory ; Trade ; Trade Liberalization ; Transport ; Transport ; Transport Costs ; Transport Economics, Policy and Planning ; Variables ; Welfare ; Benchmark ; Economic Structures ; Elasticities ; Elasticity ; Exports ; Goods ; High Transport ; Income ; Infrastructure ; Outcomes ; Price Changes ; Prices ; Production ; Theory ; Trade ; Trade Liberalization ; Transport ; Transport ; Transport Costs ; Transport Economics, Policy and Planning ; Variables ; Welfare
    Abstract: What effect does distance have on costs for economies at different locations? Exports and imports of final and intermediate goods bear transport costs that increase with distance. Production and trade depend on factor endowments and factor intensities as well as on distance and the transport intensities of different goods. - The combination of distance, poor infrastructure, and being landlocked by neighbors with poor infrastructure can make transport costs many times higher for some developing countries than for most others. Drawing on two traditions of economic modeling - Heckscher-Ohlin trade theory and von Thunen's work on the isolated state - Venables and Limão analyze the trade and production patterns of countries located at varying distances from an economic center. Predicting a country's production and trade pattern requires knowledge of the country's location, its factor endowment, and the factor intensities and transport intensities of goods. Venables and Limão define transport intensity and show how location and transport intensity should be combined with factor abundance and factor intensity in determining trade flows. A theory based on only one set of those variables, such as factor abundance, will systematically make incorrect predictions. They report that geography and endowments interact in such a way that the world divides up into economic zones with different trade patterns. Countries close to the economic center may specialize in transport-intensive activities; countries further out become diversified, producing and sometimes trading more goods; countries still further out may become import-substituting (replacing some of their imports from the center with local production); in the extreme, regions become autarkic. More remote locations have lower real incomes. Globalization changes the terms of trade, improving the welfare of regions further out from economic centers, though reducing the welfare of closer regions. Where will a new activity, such as assembly of a new product, locate? Remote locations are disadvantaged if the product has high transport intensity (perhaps because of heavy requirements for intermediate inputs). But the costs of remoteness are already incorporated into the factor prices of those regions, which makes them more attractive. Which location is chosen depends, therefore, on how existing activities compare with the new activity in transport intensity and factor intensity. This paper - a product of Trade, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to study the location of economic activity. The authors may be contacted at avenablesworldbank.org or ngl4@columbia.edu
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 89
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Predicting Currency Fluctuations and Crises : Do Resident Firms Have an Informational Advantage? (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (40 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Schmukler, Sergio Predicting Currency Fluctuations and Crises
    Keywords: Asymmetric Information ; Balance Of Payments ; Balance Of Payments Crises ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Currency ; Debt Markets ; Devaluation ; E-Business ; Emerging Markets ; Exchange ; Exchange Rate ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Crises ; Financial Literacy ; Financial Markets ; Future ; Interest ; Interest Rate ; Interest Rate Differentials ; International Cred International Financial Markets ; Investors ; Local Business ; Local Investors ; Mutual Funds ; Private Sector Development ; Sovereign Debt ; Asymmetric Information ; Balance Of Payments ; Balance Of Payments Crises ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Currency ; Debt Markets ; Devaluation ; E-Business ; Emerging Markets ; Exchange ; Exchange Rate ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Crises ; Financial Literacy ; Financial Markets ; Future ; Interest ; Interest Rate ; Interest Rate Differentials ; International Cred International Financial Markets ; Investors ; Local Business ; Local Investors ; Mutual Funds ; Private Sector Development ; Sovereign Debt
    Abstract: December 1999 - Markets have had limited success predicting crises and might do better by drawing on private information available to resident enterprise managers, who seem to know better than markets about future movements in exchange rates. Kaufmann, Mehrez, and Schmukler investigate whether resident enterprise managers have an informational advantage about the countries in which they work. They propose a method for extracting information available to resident managers but unknown to investors and forecasters. They test their hypothesis of informational advantage using a unique data set, the Global Competitiveness Survey. The survey asks local managers about their outlook for the country in which they reside. They find that local managers do have useful private information. Local managers' responses improve on conventional forecasts of future volatility and changes in the exchange rate, which are based on economic fundamentals or interest rate differentials. They find that the local business community perceived in advance the recent crises in the Republic of Korea, Russia, and Thailand, but not those in Indonesia and Malaysia. Markets have had limited success predicting crises and might do better by drawing on private information available to resident enterprise managers, who seem to know better than markets about future movements in exchange rates. This paper - a product of Governance, Regulation, and Finance, World Bank Institute - is part of a larger effort in the institute to understand the roles of transparency and governance. The authors may be contacted at dkaufmannworldbank.org, mehrezg@gunet.georgetown.edu, or sschmukler@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 90
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    When Is Growth Pro-Poor? : Evidence from the Diverse Experiences of India's States (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (36 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Ravallion, Martin When Is Growth Pro-Poor?
    Keywords: Absolute Poverty ; Economic Growth ; Farm Growth ; Farm Output ; Farm Productivity ; Food Policy ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Household Income ; Household Surveys ; Human Development ; Inequality ; Measures ; Poor ; Population Policies ; Poverty ; Poverty Alleviation ; Poverty Measurement ; Poverty Reducing ; Poverty Reduction ; Poverty Reduction ; Pro-Poor Growth ; Rural ; Rural Development ; Rural Development ; Rural Living Standards ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Absolute Poverty ; Economic Growth ; Farm Growth ; Farm Output ; Farm Productivity ; Food Policy ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Household Income ; Household Surveys ; Human Development ; Inequality ; Measures ; Poor ; Population Policies ; Poverty ; Poverty Alleviation ; Poverty Measurement ; Poverty Reducing ; Poverty Reduction ; Poverty Reduction ; Pro-Poor Growth ; Rural ; Rural Development ; Rural Development ; Rural Living Standards ; Rural Poverty Reduction
    Abstract: December 1999 - Nonfarm economic growth in India had very different effects on poverty in different states. Nonfarm growth was least effective at reducing poverty in states where initial conditions were poor in terms of rural development and human resources. Among initial conditions conducive to pro-poor growth, literacy plays a notably positive role. Ravallion and Datt use 20 household surveys for India's 15 major states, spanning 1960-94, to study how initial conditions and the sectoral composition of economic growth interact to influence how much economic growth reduced poverty. The elasticities of measured poverty to farm yields and development spending did not differ significantly across states. But the elasticities of poverty to (urban and rural) nonfarm output varied appreciably, and the differences were quantitatively important to the overall rate of poverty reduction. States with initially lower farm productivity, lower rural living standards relative to those in urban areas, and lower literacy experienced a less pro-poor growth process. This paper - a joint product of Poverty and Human Resources, Development Research Group, and the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Sector Unit, South Asia Region - is part of a larger effort in the Bank to better understand the conditions required for pro-poor growth. The authors may be contacted at mravallionworldbank.org or gdatt@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 91
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Are the Poor Less Well-Insured? : Evidence on Vulnerability to Income Risk in Rural China (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (34 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Ravallion, Martin Are the Poor Less Well-Insured?
    Keywords: 1997 ; China ; Consumption ; Consumption ; Current Consumption ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Intermediation ; Fiscal and Monetary Policy ; Health Systems Development and Reform ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Household Size ; Households ; Income ; Income ; Income Risk ; Income Shock ; Inequality ; Insurance ; Labor Policies ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Martin ; Poor ; Poor Areas ; Poverty Reduction ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Development ; Rural Development ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Services and Transfers to Poor ; Social Protections and Labor ; Vulnerability ; Wealth Groups ; 1997 ; China ; Consumption ; Consumption ; Current Consumption ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Intermediation ; Fiscal and Monetary Policy ; Health Systems Development and Reform ; Health, Nutrition and Population ; Household Size ; Households ; Income ; Income ; Income Risk ; Income Shock ; Inequality ; Insurance ; Labor Policies ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Martin ; Poor ; Poor Areas ; Poverty Reduction ; Private Sector Development ; Public Sector Development ; Rural Development ; Rural Poverty Reduction ; Services and Transfers to Poor ; Social Protections and Labor ; Vulnerability ; Wealth Groups
    Abstract: December 1997 - In rural China, those in the poorest wealth decile are the least well-insured, with 40 percent of an income shock being passed on to current consumption. By contrast, consumption by the richest third of households is protected from almost 90 percent of an income shock. Jalan and Ravallion test how well consumption is insured against income risk in a panel of sampled households in rural China. They estimate the risk insurance models by Generalized Method of Moments, treating income and household size as endogenous. Insurance exists for all wealth groups, although the hypothesis of perfect insurance is universally rejected. Those in the poorest wealth decile are the least well-insured, with 40 percent of an income shock being passed on to current consumption. By contrast, consumption by the richest third of households is protected from almost 90 percent of an income shock. The extent of insurance in a given wealth stratum varies little between poor and nonpoor areas. This paper-a product of the Development Research Group-is part of a larger effort in the group to understand private insurance arrangements in poor rural economies. The study was funded by the Bank's Research Support Budget under the research project Dynamics of Poverty in Rural China (RPO 678-69)
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 92
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Investment in Natural Gas Pipelines in the Southern Cone of Latin America (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (36 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Jadresic, Alejandro Investment in Natural Gas Pipelines in the Southern Cone of Latin America
    Keywords: Coal ; Coal Mines ; Electricity ; Electricity Demand ; Electricity System ; Energy ; Energy ; Energy Consumption ; Energy Markets ; Energy Needs ; Energy Production and Transportation ; Energy and Environment ; Environment ; Environment and Energy Efficiency ; Industry ; Infrastructure Economics and Finance ; Infrastructure Regulation ; Investment ; Investments ; Natural Gas ; Natural Gas Infrastructure ; Natural Gas Pipelines ; Oil ; Oil and Gas Industry ; Pipeline ; Pipeline Projects ; Power ; Power Generation ; Power Generators ; Water Resources ; Water and Industry ; Coal ; Coal Mines ; Electricity ; Electricity Demand ; Electricity System ; Energy ; Energy ; Energy Consumption ; Energy Markets ; Energy Needs ; Energy Production and Transportation ; Energy and Environment ; Environment ; Environment and Energy Efficiency ; Industry ; Infrastructure Economics and Finance ; Infrastructure Regulation ; Investment ; Investments ; Natural Gas ; Natural Gas Infrastructure ; Natural Gas Pipelines ; Oil ; Oil and Gas Industry ; Pipeline ; Pipeline Projects ; Power ; Power Generation ; Power Generators ; Water Resources ; Water and Industry
    Abstract: April 2000 - The natural gas pipelines between Argentina and Chile are large-scale investments in competitive environments. Jadresic, a former minister of energy in Chile, argues that a competitive energy sector and free entry were important policy initiatives to spur the cross-border investments that have benefited Chile's energy sector and environment. Increasing demand for clean energy sources is expanding investment in natural gas infrastructure around the world. Many international projects involve pipelines connecting energy markets in two or more countries. A key feature of investment taking place in Latin America is the convergence of gas and electricity markets. Many projects are being developed to supply gas to new power generation plants needed to meet electricity demand. Construction of a pipeline over the Andes mountains to supply gas from Argentina to energy markets in central Chile was an idea long unfulfilled for political, economic, and technical reasons. Great changes have now taken place in a very short time. Jadresic discusses both the achievements and the challenges to be faced by pipeline developers and Chile's energy sector. He details the benefits of the cooperative effort to consumers in terms of lower energy prices, higher environmental standards, and a more reliable energy system. The experience in Latin America's Southern Cone shows how technological innovation, economic deregulation, and regional integration make it possible to build major international gas pipeline projects within a competitive framework and without direct state involvement. This paper - a product of Private Participation in Infrastructure, Private Sector Advisory Services Department - is part of a larger effort in the department to analyze and disseminate the principles of, and good practice for, promoting competition in infrastructure. The author may be contacted at jadresiccreuna.cl
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 93
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Externalities and Production Efficiency (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (50 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Eskel, S. Gunnar Externalities and Production Efficiency
    Keywords: Commodity Taxes ; Economic Welfare ; Economics ; Efficiency ; Emission Standards ; Emission Tax ; Emissions ; Environment ; Environment ; Environmental ; Environmental Economics and Policies ; Environmental Management ; Environmental Protection ; Externalities ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Marginal Costs ; Polluters ; Pollution ; Pollution Abatement ; Pollution Management and Control ; Production ; Revenue ; Taxation ; Taxation and Subsidies ; Taxes ; Commodity Taxes ; Economic Welfare ; Economics ; Efficiency ; Emission Standards ; Emission Tax ; Emissions ; Environment ; Environment ; Environmental ; Environmental Economics and Policies ; Environmental Management ; Environmental Protection ; Externalities ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Marginal Costs ; Polluters ; Pollution ; Pollution Abatement ; Pollution Management and Control ; Production ; Revenue ; Taxation ; Taxation and Subsidies ; Taxes
    Abstract: April 2000 - Environmental improvements should be sought from different polluters (public or private, producer or consumer, rich or poor) at the same cost, regardless of the nature of the polluting activity. Under a plausible structure of monitoring costs, emissions standards play a central role. Eskeland brings together two of government's primary challenges: environmental protection and taxation to generate revenues. If negative externalities can be reduced not only by changes in consumption patterns but also by making each activity cleaner (abatement efforts), how shall inducements to various approaches be combined? If negative externalities are caused by agents as different as consumers, producers, and government, how does optimal policy combine inducements to reduce pollution? Intuitively it seems right to tax emissions neutrally, based on marginal damages - no matter which activity pollutes or whether the polluter is rich or poor, consumer or producer, private or public. Eskeland provides a theoretical basis for such simplicity. Three assumptions are critical to his analysis: · Returns to scale do not influence the traditional problem of revenue generation. · Consumers have equal access to pollution abatement opportunities (but he also relaxes this assumption). · Planners can differentiate policy instruments (emission taxes or abatement standards) by polluting good, and by whether the polluter is a consumer, producer, or government, but they cannot differentiate such instruments (or commodity taxes) by personal characteristics or make them nonlinear in individual emissions. Among Eskeland's findings and conclusions: Abatement efforts and consumption adjustments at all stages are optimally stimulated by a uniform emission tax levied simply where emissions occur. It simplifies things that optimal abatement is independent of whether the car is used by government, firms, or households - for weddings or for work. It also simplifies implementation that the stimulus to abatement at one stage (say, the factory) is independent of whether it yields emission reductions from the factory or from others (say, from car owners who buy the factory's products). Finally, ministers of finance and of the environment should coordinate efforts, but they need not engage in each other's business. The minister of environment need not know which commodities are elastic in demand and thus would bear a low commodity tax. The finance minister need not know which commodities or agents pollute or who pays emission taxes. This paper - a product of Public Economics, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to establish principles for public intervention. The author may be contacted at geskelandworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 94
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Self-Targeted Subsidies : The Distributional Impact of the Egyptian Food Subsidy System (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (46 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Jr., AdamsH. Richard Self-Targeted Subsidies
    Keywords: Agriculture ; Basic Foods ; Bread ; Cigarettes ; Eggs ; Food ; Food Aid ; Food Imports ; Food Rationing ; Food Riots ; Food Subsidies ; Food Subsidy ; Food Subsidy Programs ; Food and Beverage Industry ; Frozen Fish ; Frozen Me Rice ; Industry ; Sugar ; Tea ; Whe Wheat Flour ; Agriculture ; Basic Foods ; Bread ; Cigarettes ; Eggs ; Food ; Food Aid ; Food Imports ; Food Rationing ; Food Riots ; Food Subsidies ; Food Subsidy ; Food Subsidy Programs ; Food and Beverage Industry ; Frozen Fish ; Frozen Me Rice ; Industry ; Sugar ; Tea ; Whe Wheat Flour
    Abstract: April 2000 - By gradually reducing the number of subsidized foods, and by focusing subsidies on foods consumed more by the poor than by the rich - like coarse baladi bread - Egyptian policymakers have found a way to self-target food subsidies to the urban poor. Yet because the rural poor do not consume as much baladi bread, this system is not as well-targeted to the rural poor. The Egyptian food subsidy system is an untargeted system that is essentially open to all Egyptians. For this reason, the budgetary costs of this system have been high and the ability of this system to improve the welfare status of the poor has been questioned. Since the food riots of 1977, Egyptian policymakers have been reluctant to make large changes in their food subsidy system. Rather, their strategy has been to reduce the costs and coverage of this system gradually. For example, since 1980 policymakers have reduced the number of subsidized foods from 20 to just four. Despite these cutbacks, Adams uses new 1997 household survey data to show that the Egyptian food subsidy system is self-targeted to the poor, because it subsidizes inferior goods. In urban Egypt, for instance, the main subsidized food - coarse baladi bread - is consumed more by the poor (the lowest quintile group of the population) than by the rich (the highest quintile). So subsidizing baladi bread is a good way of improving the welfare status of the urban poor. But in rural Egypt where the poor do not consume so much baladi bread, the poor receive less in income transfers than the rich. In many countries, administrative targeting of food subsidies can do a better job of targeting the poor than self-targeting systems. In Jamaica, for example, poor people get food stamps at health clinics, so the Jamaican poor receive double the income transfers from food subsidies that the Egyptian poor receive. But starting a comparable system in Egypt would be costly both in financial and political terms, because many nonpoor households currently receiving food subsidies would have to be excluded. For these reasons, it is likely that the government will continue to refine the present food subsidy system, perhaps by eliminating current subsidies on sugar or edible oil. Neither of these foods is an inferior good, so eliminating these subsidies will have only a minimal impact on the welfare status of the poor. This paper - a product of the Poverty Division, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network - is part of a larger effort in the network to identify the impact of transfer programs on the urban and rural poor. The author may be contacted at radamsworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 95
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Globalization and Firms' Financing Choices : Evidence from Emerging Economies (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (74 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Schmukler, Sergio Globalization and Firms' Financing Choices
    Keywords: Banks and Banking Reform ; Bond ; Bond Markets ; Debt ; Debt Markets ; Debt Maturity ; Debt-Equity ; Economic Development ; Emerging Economies ; Emerging Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Equity ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Liberalization ; Financial Markets ; Financial Structure ; Financial Systems ; Globalization ; International Bond ; International Financial Markets ; International Markets ; Maturity Structure ; Private Sector Development ; Share ; World Financial Markets ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Bond ; Bond Markets ; Debt ; Debt Markets ; Debt Maturity ; Debt-Equity ; Economic Development ; Emerging Economies ; Emerging Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Equity ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Liberalization ; Financial Markets ; Financial Structure ; Financial Systems ; Globalization ; International Bond ; International Financial Markets ; International Markets ; Maturity Structure ; Private Sector Development ; Share ; World Financial Markets
    Abstract: April 2000 - Debt-equity ratios do not tend to increase after financial liberalization, but there is a shift from long-term to short-term debt. Globalization has uneven effects for firms with and without access to international capital markets. Countries with deeper domestic financial markets are less affected by financial liberalization. Schmukler and Vesperoni investigate whether integration with global markets affects the financing choices of firms from East Asia and Latin America. Using firm-level data for the 1980s and 1990s, they study how leverage ratios, the structure of debt maturity, and sources of financing change when economies are liberalized and when firms gain access to international equity and bond markets. The evidence shows that integration with world financial markets has uneven effects. On the one hand, debt maturity for the average firm shortens when countries undertake financial liberalization. On the other hand, domestic firms that actually participate in international markets get better financing opportunities and extend their debt maturity. Moreover, firms in economies with deeper domestic financial systems are affected less by financial liberalization. Finally, they show that leverage ratios increase during times of crisis. In an appendix, they analyze the previously unstudied case of Argentina, which experienced sharp financial liberalization and was hit hard by all recent global crises. This paper - a product of Macroeconomics and Growth, Development Reseach Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to understand financial development and financial integration. The authors may be contacted at sschmuklerworldbank.org or vesperon@wam.umd.edu
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 96
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Give Growth and Macroeconomic Stability in Russia a Chance : Harden Budgets by Eliminating Nonpayments (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (32 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Pinto, Brian Give Growth and Macroeconomic Stability in Russia a Chance
    Keywords: Arrears ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Budget ; Budgets ; Corporate Governance ; Credibility ; Debt Markets ; Devaluation ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Foreign Direct Investment ; Government Spending ; Inflation ; Investment ; Investment Climate ; Macroeconomic Environment ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Nonpayment ; Nonpayments ; Oil Prices ; Private Sector Development ; Promissory Notes ; Public Debt ; Public Sector Economics and Finance ; Settlement ; Soft Budget Constraints ; Tax ; Taxation and Subsidies ; Arrears ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Budget ; Budgets ; Corporate Governance ; Credibility ; Debt Markets ; Devaluation ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Foreign Direct Investment ; Government Spending ; Inflation ; Investment ; Investment Climate ; Macroeconomic Environment ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Nonpayment ; Nonpayments ; Oil Prices ; Private Sector Development ; Promissory Notes ; Public Debt ; Public Sector Economics and Finance ; Settlement ; Soft Budget Constraints ; Tax ; Taxation and Subsidies
    Abstract: April 2000 - In Russia, implicit subsidies amounting to 10 percent of GDP per year in the form of nonpayments have stifled growth, contributed to the August 1998 macroeconomic crisis through their impact on public debt, and made at best a questionable contribution to equity. Hardening budgets requires that these nonpayments - or mutual arrears and noncash settlements among the government, the energy monopolies, and manufacturing firms - be eliminated with energy bills, taxes and budgetary spending settled on time and in cash. Pinto, Drebentsov, and Morozov analyze the links between Russia's disappointing growth performance in the second half of the 1990s, its costly and unsuccessful stabilization, the macroeconomic meltdown of 1998, and the spectacular rise of nonpayments. Nonpayments flourished in an environment of fundamental inconsistency between a macroeconomic policy geared at sharp disinflation and a microeconomic policy of bailing enterprises out through soft budget constraints. Heavy untargeted implicit subsidies flowing through the nonpayments system (amounting to 10 percent of GDP annually) have stifled growth, contributed to the August 1998 meltdown through their impact on public debt, and have made at best a questionable contribution to equity. Dismantling this system must be a top priority, along with promoting enterprise restructuring and growth (by hardening budget constraints) and medium-term macroeconomic stability (by reducing the size of subsidies). Getting the government out of the nonpayments system means settling all appropriately controlled budgetary expenditures on time and in cash, and eschewing spending arrears, thereby setting an example for enterprises and laying the groundwork for eliminating tax offsets at all levels of government, and insisting on cash tax payments. To stop energy-related subsidies would require not only that the government pay its own energy bills on time and in cash, but also that the energy monopolies be empowered to disconnect nonpaying clients. This will enable the government to insist that the energy monopolies in turn pay their own taxes in full and on time. This paper - a product of the Economics Unit, World Bank Office, Moscow - was produced as part of the Economic and Sector Work Program, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Sector Unit, Europe and Central Asia Region
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 97
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    How the Republic of Korea's Financial Structure Affects the Volatility of Four Asset Prices (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (40 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Min, G. Hong How the Republic of Korea's Financial Structure Affects the Volatility of Four Asset Prices
    Keywords: Asset Prices ; Banking Sector ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Capital Flows ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Currency ; Currency Crises ; Debt Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Exchange ; Exchange Rate ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Crisis ; Financial Institutions ; Financial Literacy ; Financial Structure ; Financial System ; Government Bond ; Government Bond Yield ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Market ; Markets and Market Access ; Monetary Authority ; Monetary Policies ; Money Market ; Money Market Rate ; Private Sector Development ; Stock ; Asset Prices ; Banking Sector ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Capital Flows ; Currencies and Exchange Rates ; Currency ; Currency Crises ; Debt Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Exchange ; Exchange Rate ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Crisis ; Financial Institutions ; Financial Literacy ; Financial Structure ; Financial System ; Government Bond ; Government Bond Yield ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Market ; Markets and Market Access ; Monetary Authority ; Monetary Policies ; Money Market ; Money Market Rate ; Private Sector Development ; Stock
    Abstract: April 2000 - How Korea's financial structure affects the volatility of Korea's real effective exchange rate, money market rate, government bond yields, and stock prices. Min and Park explore how Korea's financial structure affects the volatility of asset prices. Documented empirical evidence of the relationship between financial structure and financial crisis sheds light on the relationship between asset price volatility - extreme variations in prices - and financial structure. And the volatility of financial and nonfinancial asset prices provides an indirect link between an economy's financial structure and the likelihood of financial crisis. Using time-series data and a set of indicators measuring financial structure, Min and Park examine how Korea's financial structure affects the volatility of the real effective exchange rate, the money market rate, government bond yields, and stock prices. They find: · There is a stable long-term relationship between financial structure and volatility in the real effective exchange rate, the money market rate, stock prices, and the yield on government housing bonds. · Financial structure affects asset price variables asymmetrically. Some variables' volatility increases and others' diminish, suggesting that monetary policies should target different asset markets to achieve different goals. If the goal of the monetary authority is to stabilize the money market rate, for example, intervening in the banking sector is more efficient than intervening in other financial subsectors. · The higher volatility of stock prices reflects the thin stock market in Korea. · The stability of the yield on government housing bonds reflects the Korean government's policy of stabilizing the nation's housing supply by isolating the housing market from the impact of Korea's financial structure. · Restrictions on foreigners' ownership of domestic stock in Korea during the period analyzed, and the fact that most capital flows through commercial banks, affect the exchange rate, which is determined (at least in the short run) by capital flows in the foreign exchange market. This paper - a product of the Macroeconomic Data Team, Development Data Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to understand the financial structure of developing countries based on empirical data. The authors may be contacted at hmin56aol.com or jpark@worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 98
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Reducing Structural Dominance and Entry Barriers in Russian Industry (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (24 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Broadman, G. Harry Reducing Structural Dominance and Entry Barriers in Russian Industry
    Keywords: Banks and Banking Reform ; Barriers ; Barriers To Entry ; Business Environment ; Business Investment ; Competition ; Competition Policy ; Competitive Market ; Debt Markets ; Developing Countries ; E-Business ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; International Accounting Standards ; Liberalization ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Market Share ; Market Shares ; Markets and Market Access ; Microfinance ; Monopoly ; Output ; Price ; Prices ; Private Sector Development ; Privatization ; Public Sector Corruption and Anticorruption Measures ; Regional Trade ; Small Scale Enterprises ; Transparency ; Transport ; Transport Economics, Policy and Planning ; Vertical Integration ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Barriers ; Barriers To Entry ; Business Environment ; Business Investment ; Competition ; Competition Policy ; Competitive Market ; Debt Markets ; Developing Countries ; E-Business ; Economic Theory and Research ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; International Accounting Standards ; Liberalization ; Macroeconomics and Economic Growth ; Market Share ; Market Shares ; Markets and Market Access ; Microfinance ; Monopoly ; Output ; Price ; Prices ; Private Sector Development ; Privatization ; Public Sector Corruption and Anticorruption Measures ; Regional Trade ; Small Scale Enterprises ; Transparency ; Transport ; Transport Economics, Policy and Planning ; Vertical Integration
    Abstract: May 2000 - The absence of new business in Russia is striking. Reforms to make Russia more competitive should start with eliminating regulatory and institutional barriers to the entry of new competitors. Many industrial firms in Russia have undergone changes in ownership, but relatively few have been competitively restructured. Using survey and other data, Broadman suggests that much of Russian industry is immune from robust competition because of heavy vertical integration, geographic segmentation, and the concentration of buyers and sellers in selected markets. Moreover, regulatory constraints protect incumbent firms from competition with new entrants, both domestic and foreign. Broadman sketches a reform agenda for Russia's post-privatization program, which emphasizes the restructuring of anticompetitive structures and the reduction of barriers to entry. Broadman's proposed reform agenda calls broadly for strengthening Russia's nascent rules-based framework for competition policy to reduce discretion, increase transparency, and improve accountability. This paper - a product of the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Sector Unit, Europe and Central Asia Regional Office - is part of a larger effort in the region to assess structural reform in Russia. The author may be contacted at hbroadmanworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 99
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Building Subnational Debt Markets in Developing and Transition Economies : A Framework for Analysis, Policy Reform, and Assistance Strategy (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (54 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Noel, Michel Building Subnational Debt Markets in Developing and Transition Economies
    Keywords: Agency Problems ; Bond Market Players ; Debt Market ; Debt Markets ; Decentralization ; Domestic Bond ; Domestic Bond Market ; Domestic Debt ; Domestic Debt Markets ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Sector Development ; Financial Systems ; Markets Development ; Sub-National Bond ; Sub-National Bond Market ; Sub-National Bond Markets ; Sub-National Debt ; Sub-National Debt Market ; Sub-National Debt Market Development ; Sub-National Debt Markets ; Transition Countries ; Agency Problems ; Bond Market Players ; Debt Market ; Debt Markets ; Decentralization ; Domestic Bond ; Domestic Bond Market ; Domestic Debt ; Domestic Debt Markets ; Finance ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Sector Development ; Financial Systems ; Markets Development ; Sub-National Bond ; Sub-National Bond Market ; Sub-National Bond Markets ; Sub-National Debt ; Sub-National Debt Market ; Sub-National Debt Market Development ; Sub-National Debt Markets ; Transition Countries
    Abstract: May 2000 - Because of the trend toward decentralization in more than 70 countries where the World Bank is active, subnational entities - states, regions, provinces, counties, and municipalities, and the local utility companies owned by them - are now responsible for delivering services and investing in infrastructure. And infrastructure investments are growing rapidly to meet increasing urban demand. How should the World Bank Group help? Subnational debt markets can be a powerful force in a country's development. Through delegated monitoring by financial intermediaries and through debt placed directly with investors, sub-national debt markets account for about 5 percent of GDP in Argentina and Brazil. But they remain embryonic in most developing and transition economies. To resolve a potential clash between the increased financing needs of subnational entities and the limited development of domestic subnational debt markets, it is critical to support the orderly, efficient emergence of such debt markets. As a framework for policy reform, the following steps (mirroring typical weaknesses) are prerequisites for developing a country's subnational debt market: · Reducing moral hazard. · Improving market transparency. · Strengthening market governance. · Establishing a level playing field. · Developing local capacity for accounting, budgeting, and financial management. In countries where the government shows a clear commitment to market development, says Noel, the IBRD should support the framework needed for policy-based operations that establish hard budget constraints. In doing so, the IBRD should concentrate on (1) supporting national and local capacity building in those areas essential for developing a subnational debt market and (2) financing specific subnational projects with strictly nonrecourse loans. At the same time, the World Bank Group should offer a variety of lending and guarantee instruments that encourage private financing for investments by subnational entities - including, for example, equity participation in (or lines of credit or partial credit guarantees to) financial intermediaries specializing in subnational investment finance or in funds for financing local infrastructure. This paper - a product of the Private and Financial Sectors Development Unit, Europe and Central Asia Region - was prepared as background for a manual on policy issues relating to domestic debt markets. Michel Noel may be contacted at mnoel2worldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 100
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Why Infrastructure Financing Facilities Often Fall Short of Their Objectives (1999)
    Washington, D.C : The World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource (1 online resource (46 p.))
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
    Parallel Title: Klingebiel, Daniela Why Infrastructure Financing Facilities Often Fall Short of Their Objectives
    Keywords: Banks and Banking Reform ; Capital Flows ; Debt Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Government Support ; Guarantees ; Infrastructure Development ; Infrastructure Financing ; Instruments ; Investor ; Investors ; Loans ; Political Risks ; Portfolio ; Portfolio Diversification ; Private Capital ; Private Investment ; Private Sector Development ; Soft Loans ; Stock ; Transaction ; Transaction Costs ; Transparency ; Banks and Banking Reform ; Capital Flows ; Debt Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Emerging Markets ; Finance and Financial Sector Development ; Financial Literacy ; Government Support ; Guarantees ; Infrastructure Development ; Infrastructure Financing ; Instruments ; Investor ; Investors ; Loans ; Political Risks ; Portfolio ; Portfolio Diversification ; Private Capital ; Private Investment ; Private Sector Development ; Soft Loans ; Stock ; Transaction ; Transaction Costs ; Transparency
    Abstract: June 2000 - To encourage the private funding and provision of infrastructure services, governments have used specialized financing facilities to offer financial support to investors. A study of five cases shows that these facilities have often fallen short of their objectives, for two main sets of reasons. First, the environment was not conducive to private participation in infrastructure. And second, the facility was faulty in design. To encourage the private funding and provision of infrastructure services, governments have used specialized financing facilities to offer financial support to investors, often in the form of grants, soft loans, or guarantees. Klingebiel and Ruster present case studies of infrastructure financing facilities in various stages of development in Colombia, India, and Pakistan. They also present case studies of government-sponsored financing facilities (not of infrastructure) in Argentina and Moldova. They find that these facilities have often fallen short of their objectives for two main sets of reasons. First, the environment was not conducive to private participation in infrastructure because of poor sector policies, an unstable macroeconomic environment, and inadequate financial sector policies, among other reasons. Second, the facility was faulty in design - in terms of sectors targeted, pricing of instruments, and consistency of objectives and instruments. This paper - a product of Private Participation in Infrastructure, Private Sector Development Department - is part of a larger effort in the department to examine government policies in infrastructure. Daniela Klingebiel may be contacted at dklingebielworldbank.org
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
    BibTip Others were also interested in ...
    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
Close ⊗
This website uses cookies and the analysis tool Matomo. More information can be found here...