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  • 1
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    What drives firm productivity growth ? (2009)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: 2009 World Bank eLibrary Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 4841
    Parallel Title: Anós Casero, Paloma What drives firm productivity growth ?
    Keywords: Industrial productivity ; Industrial productivity
    Abstract: "This paper presents new evidence on the causal links between changes in the business environment and firm productivity growth. It contributes to the literature in three important aspects. First, it constructs a unique database merging information from two large firm-level databases. The samples of both databases are merged on four criteria-country, sub-national location, firm size, and year-producing a panel of 22,004 firms in eight economies of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia,, Poland, Romania, Serbia, and Ukraine. Second, the paper addresses shortcomings of earlier studies, namely reverse causation, multicollinearity, and unreliable productivity estimates. Firm productivity growth is estimated drawing on corporate financial data from manufacturing firms included in the AMADEUS database. Changes in the business environment are estimated from the World Bank Enterprise Surveys conducted in 2002 and 2005. Multicollinearity problems in the full model regression are mitigated by constructing a set of six aggregate indicators of the business environment (using principal component analysis). The paper finds that, over the period 2001 to 2004, an increase of one standard deviation in infrastructure quality, financial development, governance, labor market flexibility, labor quality, and market competition raises the total factor productivity of the average firm by 9.8, 7.8, 3.2, 3.4, 5.8, and 3 percent, respectively. Lastly, the paper decomposes firm productivity growth and ranks the relative impact of changes in these six aspects of the business environment by country, by firm size, and by industry. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 5/8/2009 , Also available in print.
    DOI: 10.1596/1813-9450-4841
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
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  • 2
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    North-south trade-related technology diffusion, brain drain and productivity growth : are small states different? (2009)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: 2009 World Bank eLibrary Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 4828
    Parallel Title: Schiff, Maurice W North-south trade-related technology diffusion, brain drain and productivity growth
    Keywords: Brain drain ; Diffusion of innovations ; Industrial productivity ; Brain drain ; Diffusion of innovations ; Industrial productivity
    Abstract: "The economies of small developing states tend to be more fragile than those of large ones. This paper examines this issue in a dynamic context by focusing on the impact of the brain drain on North-South trade-related technology diffusion and total factor productivity growth in small and large states in the South. There are three main findings. First, productivity growth increases with North-South trade-related technology diffusion and education and the interaction between the two, and decreases with the brain drain. Second, the impact of North-South trade-related technology diffusion, education, and their interaction on productivity growth in small states is more than three times that for large countries, with the negative impact of the brain drain thus more than three times greater in small than in large states. And third, the greater loss in productivity growth in small states has two brain drain-related causes: a substantially greater sensitivity of productivity growth to the brain drain, and brain drain levels that are more than five times greater in small than in large states. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 5/8/2009 , Also available in print.
    DOI: 10.1596/1813-9450-4828
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
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  • 3
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    Firms' productive performance and the investment climate in developing economies : an application to MENA manufacturing (2009)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: 2009 World Bank eLibrary Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 4869
    Parallel Title: Kinda, Tidiane Firms' productive performance and the investment climate in developing economies
    Keywords: Industrial productivity ; Investments ; Industrial productivity ; Investments
    Abstract: "Drawing on the World Bank Investment Climate Assessment surveys, this paper investigates the relationship between firm-level technical efficiency and the investment climate for 22 developing economies and eight manufacturing industries. The authors first propose three measures of firms' productive performance: labor productivity, total factor productivity, and technical efficiency. They show that, on average, enterprises in the Middle East and North Africa have performed poorly compared with other countries in the sample. The exception is Morocco, whose various measures of firm-level productivity rank close to the ones of the most productive economies. The analysis also reveals that the competitiveness of countries in the region has been handicapped by high unit labor cost, compared with main competitors like China and India. The empirical results show then? that the investment climate matters for firms' productive performance. This is true (depending on the industry) for the quality of various infrastructure, the experience and education level of the labor force, the cost of and access to financing, as well as different dimensions of the government-business relation. The analysis reveals that some industries, more exposed to international competition, are more sensitive to investment climate deficiencies. For some industries, this is also true for small and medium domestic enterprises that do not have the possibility to influence their investment climate or choose their location. These findings bear clear policy implications by showing that increasing firms' size and improving the investment climate (in particular of small and medium firms and industries more exposed to international competition) could constitute a powerful means of industrial development and competitiveness, in the Middle East and North Africa region in particular. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 3/25/2009 , Also available in print.
    DOI: 10.1596/1813-9450-4869
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
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  • 4
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    The better you are the stronger it makes you : evidence on the asymmetric impact of liberalization (2009)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: 2009 World Bank eLibrary Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 4930
    Parallel Title: Iacovone, Leonardo The better you are the stronger it makes you
    Keywords: Free trade ; Industrial productivity ; Free trade ; Industrial productivity
    Abstract: "This paper studies how liberalization affects productivity growth using micro-level plant data. While previous studies have already shown the existence of a positive relationship between competition and economic performance, the novelty of this paper is that it analyzes not only the average impact of liberalization, but also goes "beyond the average" and shows how the liberalization can affect dissimilar plants in a different way. The author first develops a model which predicts that, while the impact of liberalization on productivity growth is positive "on average", more advanced firms tend to benefit more. In fact, liberalization generates two competing effects: on one side it spurs more innovative efforts because of the increased entry threat by foreign competitors, on the other side, enhanced competition curtails expected profits and reduces the funds available to finance innovative activities. The pro-competitive effect is weaker for less advanced firms as for them it is harder to catch-up with the "technology frontier". These predictions are then tested focusing on Mexican plants during the NAFTA liberalization. The results show that a 1 percent reduction in tariffs spurred productivity growth between 4 and 8 percent on average. However, for backward firms this effect is much weaker if not close to zero, otherwise for more advanced ones this effect is stronger with productivity growing between 11 and 13 percent. Consistent with the theoretical model the results are stronger in those sectors where the scope for innovative activities is more pronounced. These results are particularly important for policy makers because they suggest that while increasing competition may be good in spurring average productivity, it is also true that this effect does not hold for all type of firms, in particular more backward firms may need some complementary support policy to upgrade their capacities and keep up with the more competitive environment. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 5/26/2009 , Also available in print.
    DOI: 10.1596/1813-9450-4930
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
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  • 5
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    Foreign direct investment in services and manufacturing productivity growth : evidence for Chile (2008)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 4730
    Parallel Title: Fernandes, Ana Margarida Foreign direct investment in services and manufacturing productivity growth
    Keywords: Industrial productivity ; Investments, Foreign ; Industrial productivity ; Investments, Foreign
    Abstract: "During the 1990s, foreign direct investment in producer service sectors in Latin America was massive. Such investment may increase the quality of services, reduce their cost, and offer opportunities for knowledge spillovers to downstream users of the services. This paper examines the effects of foreign direct investment in services on manufacturing productivity growth in Chile between 1992 and 2004. The authors estimate an extended production function where plant output growth depends on input growth and a weighted measure of foreign direct investment in services. The novelty of the approach is that the authors are able to assess the intensity of usage of various types of services at the plant level and use that information in the estimation of the importance of foreign direct investment in those services. The econometric results show a positive and significant effect of foreign direct investment in services on productivity growth of Chilean manufacturing plants which is robust to a multitude of tests. The economic impact of the estimates is that forward linkages from foreign direct investment in services account for almost 5 percent of the observed increase in Chilean manufacturing productivity growth during the sample period. This evidence therefore suggests that reducing the barriers restricting foreign direct investment in services in many developing economies may help accelerate productivity growth in their manufacturing sectors. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 5/12/2009 , Also available in print.
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  • 6
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    Explaining enterprise performance in developing countries with business climate survey data (2008)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 4792
    Parallel Title: Dethier, Jean-Jacques Explaining enterprise performance in developing countries with business climate survey data
    Keywords: Industrial productivity ; Industrial productivity ; Developing countries Economic conditions ; Developing countries Economic conditions
    Abstract: "This paper surveys the recent literature which examines the impact of business climate variables on productivity and growth in developing countries using enterprise surveys. Comparable enterprise surveys today cover some 70,000 firms in over 100 countries around the world. The literature that has analyzed this data provides evidence that a good business climate drives growth by encouraging investment and higher productivity. Various infrastructure, finance, security, competition and regulation variables have been shown to significantly impact firm performance. Section 1 of this paper outlines the theoretical framework that underpins the investment climate literature. Section 2 describes the available datasets and surveys the key findings of the empirical literature, first macroeconomic and then microeconomic studies. Particular attention is paid to the robustness of the reported results. Section 3 highlights important econometric issues common to this literature and suggests a research agenda and possible improvements in survey design. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 5/8/2009 , Also available in print.
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  • 7
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    Di bao : a guaranteed minimum income in urban China? (2006)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3805
    Parallel Title: Wang, Youjuan Di bao
    Keywords: Guaranteed annual income ; Poor ; Guaranteed annual income ; Poor
    Abstract: "Concerns about incentives and targeting naturally arise when cash transfers are used to fight poverty. The authors address these concerns in the context of China's Di Bao program, which uses means-tested transfers to try to assure that no registered urban resident has an income below a stipulated poverty line. There is little sign in the data of poverty traps due to high benefit withdrawal rates. Targeting performance is excellent by various measures. Di Bao appears to be better targeted than any other program in the developing world. However, all but one measure of targeting performance is found to be uninformative, or even deceptive, about impacts on poverty. The authors find that the majority of the poor are not receiving help, even with a generous allowance for measurement errors. While on paper, Di Bao would eliminate urban poverty, it falls well short of that ideal in practice. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 1/10/2006 , Also available in print.
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  • 8
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    Firm productivity in Bangladesh manufacturing industries (2006)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3988
    Parallel Title: Fernandes, Ana Margarida Firm productivity in Bangladesh manufacturing industries
    Keywords: Industrial productivity ; Industrial productivity
    Abstract: "The author studies the determinants of total factor productivity (TFP) for manufacturing firms in Bangladesh using data from a recent survey. She obtains TFP measures by making use of firm-specific deflators for output and inputs. Controlling for industry, location, and year fixed effects, she finds that: (1) firm size and TFP are negatively correlated; (2) firm age and TFP exhibit an inverse-U shaped relationship; (3) TFP improves with the quality of the firm's human capital; (4) global integration improves TFP; (5) firms with research and development activities and quality certifications have higher TFP, while more advanced technologies improve TFP only in the presence of significant absorptive capacity; (6) power supply problems cost firms heavily in terms of TFP losses; and (7) the presence of crime dampens TFP. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 8/21/2006 , Also available in print.
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  • 9
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    Access to financial services in Colombia : the "unbanked" in Bogota (2006)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3834
    Parallel Title: Manroth, Astrid Access to financial services in Colombia
    Keywords: Financial services industry ; Poor ; Financial services industry ; Poor
    Abstract: "The authors look at the depth of the financial sector in Bogota in terms of the "financial exclusion" of those, particularly poorer citizens, who operate without accounts in formal financial institutions-the unbanked. They begin with a review of the overall decline in financial intermediation from 1998 to 2003, which explains, in part, the high percentage of unbanked-61 percent in a recent household survey in Bogota. The authors next look at the banking system today, concluding that the present challenge is to increase financial intermediation overall, especially with the poor. Their analysis shows that Colombia's banks provide costly services mainly catered toward high-income clients. Existing fees and costs of checking, savings, and loan services average 5-10 percent of a monthly minimum wage, making them hard to afford for low-income clients. The authors also explore the characteristics and impacts of financial exclusion associated with lower and more uncertain incomes, lower education, and closer links to the informal sector. They cite the household survey conducted in Bogota, showing that 70 percent of the unbanked earn less than one minimum wage per month, are three times more likely to be unemployed than the banked, and have lower education levels. The unbanked save and borrow largely in the informal sector, at greater risk and greater cost. At the same time, however, high home ownership rates show that the unbanked have the capacity to build assets, demonstrating that they have "bankable" characteristics. The authors conclude with recommendations for government and for the financial sector to broaden access for the benefit of public and private sectors, and for the unbanked. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 2/6/2006 , Also available in print.
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  • 10
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    The urban unbanked in Mexico and the United States (2006)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3835
    Parallel Title: John, Patrick The urban unbanked in Mexico and the United States
    Keywords: Low-income consumers ; Low-income consumers ; Microfinance ; Microfinance ; Poor ; Poor ; Low-income consumers ; Low-income consumers ; Microfinance ; Microfinance ; Poor ; Poor
    Abstract: "This paper examines the ways in which lower-income households obtain basic financial services in urban communities in Mexico and the United States. And it discusses the efforts that private sector and government organizations are making to lower the cost or improve the quality of those services. The paper summarizes available information on these issues and assesses the rationale and challenges facing the strategies that both countries are using to improve the financial services available to lower-income households, giving particular attention to "unbanked" households, meaning households that do not have deposit accounts with any regulated deposit-taking institution, and also to lower-income households in large urban areas. In comparing the experiences of the two countries, the paper reviews the extent to which lower-income households are unbanked, their use of non-bank financial services, and strategies for improving financial services to the unbanked. The underlying differences between the countries' typical household incomes-national income per capita in Mexico in 2002 was US
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 2/7/2006 , Also available in print.
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  • 11
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    Export led growth, pro-poor or not? : evidence from Madagascar's textile and apparel industry (2006)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3841
    Parallel Title: Nicita, Alessandro Export led growth, pro-poor or not?
    Keywords: Globalization ; Job creation ; Poor ; Textile industry ; Globalization ; Job creation ; Poor ; Textile industry
    Abstract: "Madagascar's textile and apparel industry has been among the fastest growing in Sub-Saharan Africa. Fueled by low labor costs, a fairly productive labor force, and preferential access to industrial countries, Madagascar's exports of textile and apparel products grew from about US
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 2/7/2006 , Also available in print.
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  • 12
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    Integrated urban upgrading for the poor : the experience of Ribeira Azul, Brazil (2006)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3861
    Parallel Title: Baker, Judy L Integrated urban upgrading for the poor
    Keywords: Community development ; Low-income housing ; Poor ; Community development ; Low-income housing ; Poor
    Abstract: "This study looks at the experience of integrated urban upgrading in a low-income neighborhood of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Infrastructure and social investments have been made in the community through a government program, with community participation playing a major role in the design and implementation. This approach is now perceived to be highly successful in terms of its implementation and positive impact on living conditions, and will provide the basis for a major state-wide program. This paper analyzes the lessons learned from the experience, with implications for scaling up as well as applications for other urban upgrading programs. Among the key issues looked at are: (1) what has worked well with the integrated urban upgrading approach and what has not; (2) how cost-effective the interventions were; (3) institutional arrangements given the multi-sectoral approach; and (4) sustainability issues of financing, tenure security, the prevention of further slum expansion, operations and maintenance, environmental sustainability, and job creation, and how they will impact on the poor over time. Key findings point to the importance of community participation, clear roles and responsibilities in institutional arrangements, the need for strong local government participation, and the high costs and challenges of providing housing for the poor. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 3/8/2006 , Also available in print.
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  • 13
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    Productivity matters for trade policy : theory and evidence (2006)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3925
    Parallel Title: Karacaovali, Baybars Productivity matters for trade policy
    Keywords: Free trade ; Industrial productivity ; Tariff ; Free trade ; Industrial productivity ; Tariff
    Abstract: "There is a growing literature that investigates the effect of trade liberalization on productivity. Nearly all such studies assume that trade policy is determined independently of productivity, hence it is exogenous. The author shows that this assumption is not valid in general, both theoretically and empirically, and that researchers may be underestimating the positive effect of liberalization on productivity when they do not account for the endogeneity bias. On the theory side, he demonstrates that under a standard political economy model of trade protection, productivity directly influences tariffs. Moreover, this productivity-tariff relationship partly determines the extent of liberalization across sectors even in the presence of a large exogenous unilateral liberalization shock that affects all sectors. The link between productivity and tariffs is maintained after the author includes in his political economy model a learning-by-doing motive of protection, which also serves as the source of liberalization. On the empirical side, he examines total factor productivity (TFP) estimates obtained at the firm level for Colombia between 1983 and 1998, and finds that more productive sectors receive more protection within this period. In estimating the effect of productivity on tariffs, he controls for the endogeneity of the two main right-hand-side variables-the inverse import penetration to import demand elasticity ratio and productivity-by using materials prices, the capital to output ratio, a measure of scale economies, and the TFP of the upstream industries as robust instruments. The author also accounts for the large trade liberalization between 1990 and 1992, and finds that the sectors with a higher productivity gain are liberalized less. Finally, he illustrates a system of equations estimation and shows that the positive impact of liberalization on productivity grows stronger when corrected for the endogeneity bias. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 9/1/2006 , Also available in print.
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  • 14
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    Does access to credit improve productivity? : evidence from Bulgarian firms (2006)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3921
    Parallel Title: Gatti, Roberta Does access to credit improve productivity?
    Keywords: Credit ; Industrial productivity ; Credit ; Industrial productivity
    Abstract: "Although it is widely accepted that financial development is associated with higher growth, the evidence on the channels through which credit affects growth on the micro-level is scant. Using data from a cross section of Bulgarian firms, the authors estimate the impact of access to credit (as proxied by indicators of whether firms have access to a credit or overdraft facility) on productivity. To overcome potential omitted variable bias of OLS estimates, they use information on firms' past growth to instrument for access to credit. The authors find credit to be positively and strongly associated with total factor productivity. These results are robust to a wide range of robustness checks. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 5/17/2006 , Also available in print.
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  • 15
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    Who bears the cost of Russia's military draft? (2005)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3547
    Parallel Title: Lokshin, Michael Who bears the cost of Russia's military draft?
    Keywords: Draft Economic aspects ; Poor ; Draft Economic aspects ; Poor
    Abstract: "The authors use data from a large nationally representative survey in Russia to analyze the distributional and welfare implications of draft avoidance as a common response to Russia's highly unpopular conscription system. They develop a simple theoretical model that describes household compliance decisions with respect to enlistment. The authors use several econometric techniques to estimate the effect of various household characteristics on the probability of serving in the army and the implications for household income. Their results indicate that the burden of conscription falls disproportionately on the poor. Poor, rural households, with a low level of education, are more likely to have sons who are enlisted than urban, wealthy, and better-educated families. The losses incurred by the poor are disproportionately large and exceed the statutory rates of personal income taxes. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 4/12/2005 , Also available in print.
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  • 16
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    Assessing the impact of the investment climate on productivity using firm-level data : methodology and the cases of Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (2005)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3621
    Parallel Title: Escribano, Alvaro Assessing the impact of the investment climate on productivity using firm-level data
    Keywords: Industrial productivity ; Industrial productivity ; Industrial productivity ; Investments ; Investments ; Investments ; Industrial productivity ; Industrial productivity ; Industrial productivity ; Investments ; Investments ; Investments
    Abstract: "Developing countries are increasingly concerned about improving country competitiveness and productivity as they face the increasing pressures of globalization and attempt to improve economic growth and reduce poverty. Among such countries, investment climate assessments (ICA) have become a standard instrument for identifying key obstacles to country competitiveness and imputing their impact on productivity, in order to prioritize policy reforms for enhancing competitiveness. Given the survey objectives and the nature and limitations of the data collected, the authors discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using different productivity measures based on data at the firm level. Their main objective is to develop a methodology to appropriately estimate, in a robust manner, the productivity impact of the investment climate variables. To illustrate the use of this methodology, the authors apply it to the data collected for ICAs in three countries-Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Observations in logarithms (logs) of the variables, and not in rates of growth, are pooled from all three countries. The econometric analysis is done with variables in logs to reduce the impact of measurement errors and allow inclusion of as many observations as possible since the "panel" data set is very unbalanced. The authors address the endogeneity of the production function inputs and of the investment climate variables by using a variant of the control function approach based on individual firm information, and by aggregating investment climate variables by industry and region. The authors show that it is possible to get robust results for 10 different productivity measures, if one follows a consistent econometric methodology of specification and estimation. For policy analysis, they recommend using those results of investment climate variables on productivity that are robust for most of the productivity measures. The also analyze efficiency aspects of firms in each country. Finally, they decompose the results to obtain country-specific impacts and establish corresponding priorities for policy reform. The actual estimates for the three countries show the level of significance of the impact of investment climate variables on productivity. Variables in several categories, red tape and infrastructure in particular, appear to account for over 30 percent of productivity. The policy implications are clear: investment climate matters enormously and the relative impact of the various investment climate variables indicates where reform efforts should be directed. Given the robustness of the results, the authors argue that the econometric methodology of productivity analysis developed here ought to be used as a benchmark to assess productivity effects for other ICAs or surveys with firm-level data of similar characteristics. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 6/6/2005 , Also available in print.
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  • 17
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    Health shocks in China : are the poor and uninsured less protected ? (2005)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3740
    Parallel Title: Lindelow, Magnus Health shocks in China
    Keywords: Health insurance ; Medical care, Cost of ; Medical economics ; Poor ; Health insurance ; Medical care, Cost of ; Medical economics ; Poor
    Abstract: "Health shocks have been shown to have important economic consequences in industrial countries. Less is known about how health shocks affect income, consumption, labor market outcomes, and medical expenditures in middle- and low-income countries. The authors explore these issues in China. In addition to providing new evidence on the general impact of health shocks, they also extend previous work by assessing the extent of risk protection afforded by formal health insurance, and by examining differences in the impact of health shocks between the rich and poor. The authors find that health shocks are associated with a substantial and significant reduction in income and labor supply. There are indications that the impact on income is less important for the insured, possibly because health insurance coverage is also associated with limited sickness insurance, but the effect is not significant. They also find evidence that negative health shocks are associated with an increase in unearned income for the poor but not the non-poor. This effect is however not strong enough to offset the impact on overall income. The loss in income is a consequence of a reduction in labor supply for the head of household, and the authors do not find evidence that other household members compensate by increasing their labor supply. Finally, negative health shocks are associated with a significant increase in out-of-pocket health care expenditures. More surprisingly, there is some evidence that the increase is greater for the insured than the uninsured. The findings suggest that households are exposed to considerable health-related shocks to disposable income, both through loss of income and health expenditures, and that health insurance offers very limited protection. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 10/4/2005 , Also available in print.
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  • 18
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    Trade costs, export development, and poverty in Rwanda (2005)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3784
    Parallel Title: Diop, Ndiame Trade costs, export development, and poverty in Rwanda
    Keywords: Exports ; Poor ; Exports ; Poor ; Rwanda Commerce ; Rwanda Commerce
    Abstract: "For Rwanda, one of the poorest countries in the world, trade offers the most effective route for substantial poverty reduction. But the poor in Rwanda, most of whom are subsistence farmers in rural areas, are currently disconnected from markets and commercial activities by extremely high transport costs and by severe constraints on their ability to shift out of subsistence farming. The constraints include lack of access to credit and lack of access to information on the skills and techniques required to produce commercial crops. The paper is based on information from the household survey and a recent diagnostic study of constraints to trade in Rwanda. It provides a number of indicative simulations that show the potential for substantial reductions in poverty from initiatives that reduce trade costs, enhance the quality of exportable goods, and facilitate movement out of subsistence into commercial activities. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 12/2/2005 , Also available in print.
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  • 19
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    Measuring the impact of the investment climate on total factor productivity : the cases of China and Brazil (2005)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3792
    Parallel Title: Subramanian, Uma Measuring the impact of the investment climate on total factor productivity
    Keywords: Industrial productivity ; Industrial productivity ; Investments ; Investments ; Industrial productivity ; Industrial productivity ; Investments ; Investments
    Abstract: "This study measures the impact of investment climate factors on total factor productivity (TFP) of firms in Brazil and China. The analysis is conducted in two steps: first an econometric production function is estimated to produce a measure of TFP at the firm level. In the second step, variation in TFP across firms is statistically related to a indicators of the investment climate as well as firm characteristics. The results yield a number of insights about the factors underlying productivity. In both countries, and in a variety of industry groups, indicators of poor investment climate, especially delays in customs clearance and interruptions in utility services, have significant negative effects on TFP. Reducing customs clearance time by one day in China could increase TFP by 2-6 percent. Indicators such as email usage have positive effects on TFP. In the case of China, state-owned firms and firms located in the interior are shown to be much less productive than privately owned firms and firms located in the east. In Brazil, the results present an interesting contrast between the apparel industry and the electronics industry. In the apparel industry, older firms in competitive markets are more productive, while in the case of electronics, newer firms with higher market shares are more productive. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 12/9/2005 , Also available in print.
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  • 20
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    Reforming the posts : abandoning the monopoly-supported postal universal service obligation in developing countries (2005)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3627
    Parallel Title: Kenny, Charles Reforming the posts
    Keywords: Poor ; Postal service ; Poor ; Postal service
    Abstract: "The monopoly-supported universal service obligation (USO) is usually defended on the grounds that the monopoly allows for cross-subsidy in letter services that in turn allows universal access to a service of great importance to all. The author argues that letter delivery (as opposed to other services that may be provided by post offices) is not in universal demand in poor countries, that the size of the market in developing countries is such that USOs could not be met under the monopoly model, and that the monopoly carries heavy costs for sector development and consumer welfare. He proposes in the place of the postal USO a competitive approach involving universal access to a range of services that poor people have a need to access. Regarding reform of the incumbent, the author takes a preliminary first cut at examining the statistical relationship between postal performance (as measured by letters per capita allowing for income per capita), trust in the postal service, and postal efficiency, and finds a significant link between the three. The results suggest that reforms that improve postal efficiency and trust in the postal network will improve the performance of the postal network. The author suggests that there may be better uses of cross-subsidy from within the sector and government subsidy from without than supporting the inefficient delivery of a service rarely used by poor people. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 8/23/2005 , Also available in print.
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  • 21
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    Online Resource
    Banking sector crises and inequality (2005)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3659
    Parallel Title: Honohan, Patrick Banking sector crises and inequality
    Keywords: Financial crises ; Income distribution ; Poor ; Financial crises ; Income distribution ; Poor
    Abstract: "An apparent temporary narrowing of income inequality has been observed during several recent banking crises. But it would be a mistake to conclude that such crises don't matter for the poor. For one thing, the correlation is not strong, and the opposite pattern has also been present. Besides, the poor are much less able to absorb a cut in income: safety-net policies are crucial during a downturn even if the gap between rich and poor has temporarily narrowed. More fundamentally, distributional shifts during the crisis may be less important than the fact that underlying financial policy and infrastructures conducive to crisis can also be associated with more unequal societies."--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 8/19/2005 , Also available in print.
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  • 22
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    On the contribution of demographic change to aggregate poverty measures for the developing world (2005)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3580
    Parallel Title: Ravallion, Martin On the contribution of demographic change to aggregate poverty measures for the developing world
    Keywords: Fertility, Human ; Mortality ; Poor ; Fertility, Human ; Mortality ; Poor
    Abstract: "Recent literature and new data help determine plausible bounds to some key demographic differences between the poor and non-poor in the developing world. The author estimates that selective mortality-whereby poorer people tend to have higher death rates-accounts for 10-30 percent of the developing world's trend rate of
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 5/11/2005 , Also available in print.
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  • 23
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    Productivity, ownership, and the investment climate : international lessons for priorities in Serbia (2005)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3681
    Parallel Title: Goldberg, Itzhak Productivity, ownership, and the investment climate
    Keywords: Industrial productivity ; Investments ; Privatization ; Industrial productivity ; Investments ; Privatization
    Abstract: "The authors use data on 27,000 firms from 50 countries, half of which are transition economies, together with the case of Serbia to examine the relationship between productivity, the investment climate, and private ownership of firms. As government capacity to address investment climate constraints is limited, the prioritization of the constraints is critical. Identification of the relative effects of various investment climate constraints and ownership on productivity should serve as a guide for such prioritization. Although ownership has recently received less attention in policy decisions than before, according to the econometric analysis of productivity reported by the authors, private ownership is an equally or more important determinant of productivity than other components of the investment climate. The importance of ownership shows that an unfinished privatization and restructuring agenda might have negative effects on productivity, in parallel to poor investment climate. Another important finding is that countries in which firms complain more about infrastructure tend to have less productive firms. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 8/12/2005 , Also available in print.
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  • 24
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    Doha scenarios, trade reforms, and poverty in the Philippines : a computable general equilibrium analysis (2005)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3738
    Parallel Title: Cororaton, Caesar B Doha scenarios, trade reforms, and poverty in the Philippines
    Keywords: Equilibrium (Economics) ; Free trade ; Poor ; Equilibrium (Economics) ; Free trade ; Poor ; Philippines Commercial policy ; Philippines Commercial policy
    Abstract: "Since the early 1980s the Philippines has undertaken substantial trade reform. The current Doha Round of World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations is now likely to bring further reform and shocks to world import prices and export demand. The impact of all these developments on the poor is not very clear and is the subject of intense debate. The authors use a detailed economywide computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to run a series of policy experiments. They find that poverty increases slightly with the implementation of the prospective Doha scenario. These effects are focused primarily among rural households in the wake of falling world prices and demand for the Philippines' agricultural exports. The authors find that the impacts of full liberalization-involving free world trade and complete domestic liberalization-depend strongly on the mechanism the government adopts to offset forgone tariff revenue. If an indirect tax is used, the incidence of poverty falls marginally, but the depth (poverty gap) and severity (squared poverty gap) increase substantially. If, instead, an income tax is used, all measures of poverty increase. In both cases, full liberalization favors urban households, as exports, which are primarily nonagricultural, expand. In separate simulations, the authors discover that free world trade is poverty reducing and favors rural households, whereas domestic liberalization is poverty increasing and favors urban households. Under free world trade, rural households benefit from increasing world agricultural demand. The anti-rural bias of domestic liberalization stems from the fact that import prices fall more for agricultural goods than for industrial goods, as initial import-weighted average tariff rates are higher for the former. In conclusion, the current Doha agreement appears likely to slightly increase poverty, especially in rural areas and among the unemployed, self-employed, and rural low-educated. The Philippines is found to have an interest in pushing for more ambitious world trade liberalization, as free world trade holds out promise for reducing poverty. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 10/4/2005 , Also available in print.
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  • 25
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    Learning-by-doing, learning-by-exporting, and productivity : evidence from Colombia (2005)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3544
    Parallel Title: Fernandes, Ana Margarida Learning-by-doing, learning-by-exporting, and productivity
    Keywords: Exports ; Industrial productivity ; Exports ; Industrial productivity
    Abstract: "The empirical evidence on whether participation in export markets increases plant-level productivity has been inconclusive so far. The authors explain this inconclusiveness by drawing on Arrow's (1962) characterization of learning-by-doing, which suggests focusing on young plants and using measures of export experience rather than export participation. They find strong evidence of learning-by-exporting for young Colombian manufacturing plants between 1981 and 1991: total factor productivity increases 4-5 percent for each additional year a plant has exported, after controlling for the effect of current exports on total factor productivity. Learning-by-exporting is more important for young than for old plants and in industries that deliver a larger percentage of their exports to high-income countries. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 4/7/2005 , Also available in print.
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  • 26
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    Gifted kids or pushy parents? : foreign acquisitions and plant performance in Indonesia (2005)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3597
    Parallel Title: Arnold, Jens Matthias Gifted kids or pushy parents?
    Keywords: Exports ; Industrial productivity ; International business enterprises ; Exports ; Industrial productivity ; International business enterprises
    Abstract: "This paper uses micro data from the Indonesian Census of Manufacturing to analyze the causal relationship between foreign ownership and plant productivity. To control for the possible endogeneity of the FDI decision, the difference in differences approach is combined with a matching technique. An advantage of this novel method is the ability to follow the timing of the observed changes in productivity and other aspects of plant performance. The results suggest that foreign ownership leads to significant productivity improvements in the acquired plants. The improvements become visible in the acquisition year and continue in the subsequent periods. After three years, the acquired plants outperform the control group in terms of productivity by 34 percentage points. The data also suggest that the rise in productivity is a result of restructuring, as acquired plants increase their investment outlays, employment, and wages. Foreign ownership also appears to enhance the integration of plants into the global economy through increased exports and imports. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 5/16/2005 , Also available in print.
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  • 27
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    Bank privatization and productivity : evidence for Brazil (2005)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3666
    Parallel Title: Nakane, Márcio Issao Bank privatization and productivity
    Keywords: Banks and banking ; Industrial productivity ; Privatization ; Banks and banking ; Industrial productivity ; Privatization
    Abstract: "Over the past decade, the Brazilian banking industry has undergone major and deep transformations with several privatizations of state-owned banks, mergers and acquisitions, closing down of troubled banks, entry by foreign banks, and so on. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impacts of these changes in banking on total factor productivity. The authors first obtain measures of bank level productivity by employing the techniques due to Levinsohn and Petrin (2003). They then relate such measures to a set of bank characteristics. Their main results indicate that state-owned banks are less productive than their private peers, and that privatization has increased productivity. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 8/19/2005 , Also available in print.
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  • 28
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    Inequality is bad for the poor (2005)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3677
    Parallel Title: Ravallion, Martin Inequality is bad for the poor
    Keywords: Income distribution ; Poor ; Poverty ; Income distribution ; Poor ; Poverty
    Abstract: "It has been argued that inequality should be of little concern in poor countries on the grounds that (1) absolute poverty in terms of consumption (or income) is the overriding issue in poor countries, and (2) the only thing that really matters to reducing absolute income poverty is the rate of economic growth. The author takes (1) as given but questions (2). He argues that there are a number of ways in which the extent of inequality in a society, and how it evolves over time, influences the extent of poverty today and the prospects for rapid poverty reduction in the future. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 8/18/2005 , Also available in print.
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  • 29
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    The impact of business environment and economic geography on plant-level productivity : an analysis of Indian industry (2005)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3664
    Parallel Title: Lall, Somik V The impact of business environment and economic geography on plant-level productivity
    Keywords: Industrial location ; Industrial productivity ; Work environment ; Industrial location ; Industrial productivity ; Work environment
    Abstract: "The authors' analysis of manufacturing plants sampled from India's major industrial centers shows large productivity gaps across cities. The gaps partly reflect differences in agglomeration economies and in market access. However, they are also explained to a greater extent by differences in the degree of labor regulation and in the severity of power shortages. This is an indication that governments can help narrow regional disparities in industrial growth by fostering the "right business environment" in locations where industry might otherwise be held back by powerful forces of economic geography. There is indeed a pattern in the data whereby geographically disadvantaged cities seem to compensate partially for their natural disadvantage by having a better business environment than more geographically advantaged locations. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 8/16/2005 , Also available in print.
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  • 30
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    Are external shocks responsible for the instability of output in low income countries? (2005)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3680
    Parallel Title: Raddatz, Claudio E Are external shocks responsible for the instability of output in low income countries?
    Keywords: Business cycles ; Industrial productivity ; Business cycles ; Industrial productivity
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 9/1/2005 , Also available in print.
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  • 31
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    Local economic structure and growth (2005)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3728
    Parallel Title: Almeida, Rita Local economic structure and growth
    Keywords: Industrial productivity ; Regional economic disparities ; Technological innovations Economic aspects ; Industrial productivity ; Regional economic disparities ; Technological innovations Economic aspects ; Portugal Economic conditions 1974- ; Regional disparities ; Portugal Economic conditions 1974- ; Regional disparities
    Abstract: "The author tests how the local economic structure-measured by a region's sector specialization, competition, and diversity-affects the technological growth of manufacturing sectors. Most of the empirical literature on this topic assumes that in the long run more productive regions will attract more workers and use employment growth as a measure of local productivity growth. However, this approach is based on strong assumptions about national labor markets. The author shows that when these assumptions are relaxed, regional adjusted wage growth is a better measure of regional productivity growth than employment growth. She compares the two measures using data for Portugal between 1985 and 1994. With the regional adjusted wage growth, the author finds evidence of Marshall-Arrow-Romer (MAR) externalities in some sectors and no evidence of Jacobs or Porter externalities in most of the manufacturing sectors. These results are at odds with her findings for employment-based regressions, which show that concentration and region size have a negative and significant effect in most of the manufacturing sectors. These employment-based results are in line with most of the existing literature, which suggests that using employment growth to proxy for productivity growth leads to misleading results. "--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 9/23/2005 , Also available in print.
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  • 32
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    Productivity and the investment climate : what matters most? (2004)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3335
    Parallel Title: Bastos, Fabiano Productivity and the investment climate
    Keywords: Industrial productivity ; Investments ; Industrial productivity ; Investments
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 6/4/2004 , Also available in print.
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  • 33
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    North-South technology diffusion, regional integration, and the dynamics of the "natural trading partners" hypothesis (2004)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3434
    Parallel Title: Wang, Yanling North-South technology diffusion, regional integration, and the dynamics of the "natural trading partners" hypothesis
    Keywords: Free trade ; Industrial productivity ; International economic relations ; Free trade ; Industrial productivity ; International economic relations
    Abstract: "Based on static analysis, a number of studies argue that forming a regional trade agreement is more likely to raise welfare if member countries are "natural trading partners," while other studies claim that the opposite is true. Schiff and Wang look at the argument from a dynamic viewpoint by examining the impact of North-South trade on technology diffusion and total factor productivity (TFP) in the South. Specifically, it examines the impact on TFP in the Republic of Korea, Mexico, and Poland of trade with Japan, Canada plus the United States (North America) and the European Union. Using industry-level data, they find that (1) technology diffusion and productivity gains tend to be regional: Korea benefits mainly from trade with Japan, Mexico with the United States, and Poland with the European Union; and (2) though these results suggest that the dynamic version of the "natural trading partners" hypothesis holds for all three countries, careful analysis shows that it holds for Korea and Mexico but not necessarily for Poland. This paper--a product of the Trade Team, Development Research Group--is part of a larger effort in the group to examine the dynamic effects of North-South regional trade blocs"--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 10/19/2004 , Also available in print.
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  • 34
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    Predicting the poverty impacts of trade reform (2004)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3444
    Parallel Title: Reimer, Jeffrey J Predicting the poverty impacts of trade reform
    Keywords: Commercial policy ; International trade ; Poor ; Commercial policy ; International trade ; Poor
    Abstract: "An important area of research in recent years involves assessing the microeconomic implications of macro-level policies--particularly those related to international trade. While a wide range of research methodologies are available for assessing the microeconomic incidence of micro-policies, as well as for assessing the effect of macro-level policies on markets and broad groups of households, there is a gap when it comes to eliciting the disaggregated household and firm level effects of trade policies. Recent research addresses this knowledge gap and the present survey offers an overview of this literature. The preponderance of the evidence from the studies encompassed by this survey points to the dominance of earnings-side effects over consumption-side effects of trade reform. This is problematic, since household surveys are notable for their underreporting of income. From the perspective of the poor, it is the market for unskilled labor that is most important. The poverty effects of trade policy often hinge crucially on how well the increased demand for labor in one part of the economy is transmitted to the rest of the economy by way of increased wages, increased employment, or both. Further econometric research aimed at discriminating between competing factor mobility hypotheses is urgently needed. This paper--a product of the Trade Team, Development Research Group--is part of a larger effort in the group to assess the poverty impacts of trade policies"--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 11/19/2004 , Also available in print.
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  • 35
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    Economic geography : real or hype? (2004)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3465
    Parallel Title: Koo, Jun Economic geography
    Keywords: Economic geography ; Industrial location ; Industrial productivity ; Economic geography ; Industrial location ; Industrial productivity ; India Economic conditions 1991- ; India Economic conditions 1991-
    Abstract: "Economic geography has become a mantra for many economists, geographers, and regional scientists. Previous studies have tested the importance of economic geography for production activities and found a significant association between them. Most of these studies, however, have not taken into account that economic geography influences location decisions at the firm level. Koo and Lall show a potential bias that can arise when firm location choices are not considered in estimating the contribution of economic geography to industry performance. Their analysis using microdata of Indian manufacturing firms shows there is an upward bias in the contribution of economic geography to productivity when firm location choices are not considered in the analysis. This paper--a product of the Infrastructure and Environment Team, Development Research Group--is part of a larger effort in the group to examine industry location decisions. The study was partly funded by the Bank's Research Support Budget under the research project "Urbanization and the Quality of Life."--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 1/3/2005 , Also available in print.
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  • 36
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    Location and welfare in cities : impacts of policy interventions on the urban poor (2004)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3318
    Parallel Title: Available in another form Location and welfare in cities
    Keywords: Poor ; Squatter settlements ; Poor ; Squatter settlements
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 6/4/2004 , Also available in print.
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
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    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
  • 37
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    Online Resource
    Emerging infrastructure policy issues in developing countries : a survey of the recent economic literature (2004)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3442
    Parallel Title: Estache, Antonio Emerging infrastructure policy issues in developing countries
    Keywords: Infrastructure (Economics) ; Poor ; Infrastructure (Economics) ; Poor
    Abstract: "Estache reviews the recent economic research on emerging issues for infrastructure policies affecting poor people in developing countries. His main purpose is to identify some of the challenges the international community, and donors in particular, are likely to have to address over the next few years. He addresses six main issues: (1) the necessity of infrastructure in achieving the Millennium Development Goals; (2) the various dimensions of financing challenges for infrastructure; (3) the debate on the relative importance of urban and rural infrastructure needs; (4) the debate on the effectiveness of infrastructure decentralization; (5) what works and what does not when trying to target the needs of the poor, with an emphasis on affordability and regulation challenges; and (6) the importance of governance and corruption in the sector. The author concludes by showing how the challenges identified define a relatively well integrated agenda for both researchers and the international infrastructure community. This paper,a product of the Office of the Vice President, Infrastructure Network,is part of a larger effort in the network to stimulate more analytical assessments of emerging issues in the sector"--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 11/17/2004 , Also available in print.
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
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  • 38
    Online Resource
    Online Resource
    Indoor air quality for poor families : new evidence from Bangladesh (2004)
    [Washington, D.C] : World Bank
    Details
    Language: English
    Pages: Online-Ressource
    Edition: Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive Also available in print
    Series Statement: Policy research working paper 3393
    Parallel Title: Available in another form Indoor air quality for poor families
    Keywords: Indoor air pollution ; Poor ; Ventilation ; Indoor air pollution ; Poor ; Ventilation
    Abstract: "Indoor air pollution (IAP) from cooking and heating is estimated to kill a million children annually in developing countries. To promote a better understanding of IAP, the authors investigate the determinants of IAP in Bangladesh using the latest air monitoring technology and a national household survey. The study concludes that IAP is dangerously high for many poor families in Bangladesh. Concentrations of respirable airborne particulates(PM10) 300 ug/m3 or greater are common in the sample, implying widespread exposure to a serious health hazard. Poor households in Bangladesh depend heavily on wood, dung, and other biomass fuels. The econometric results indicate that fuel choice significantly affects indoor pollution levels: Natural gas and kerosene are significantly cleaner than biomass fuels. However, household-specific factors apparently matter more than fuel choice in determining PM10 concentrations. In some biomass-burning households, concentrations are scarcely higher than in households that use natural gas. The results suggest that cross-household variation is strongly affected by structural arrangements cooking locations, construction materials, and ventilation practices. The authors' analysis also suggests that poor families may not have to wait for clean fuels or clean stoves to enjoy significantly cleaner air. Within their sample household population, some arrangements are already producing relatively clean conditions, even when "dirty" biomass fuels are used. Since these arrangements are already within the means of poor families, the scope for cost-effective improvements may be larger than is commonly believed. This paper--a product of the Infrastructure and Environment Team, Development Research Group--is part of a larger effort in the group to identify appropriate policies for the improvement of environmental quality"--World Bank web site
    Note: Includes bibliographical references , Title from PDF file as viewed on 9/8/2004 , Also available in print.
    URL: Volltext  (Deutschlandweit zugänglich)
    Library Location Call Number Volume/Issue/Year Availability
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    Online Resource
    MPI Ethno. Forsch.
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