Development Policy Review
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Publication
Sustainable Colombia : A Comprehensive Colombian Footprint Review
(Global Footprint Network, 2010-06-30)During the past several months, the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development of Colombia has been researching potential indicators that would be useful to assess and possibly adopt among which included the ecological footprint. This work was commissioned in order to provide the Ministry with a deeper understanding of the ecological footprint and to train a number of its staff on the scope of the footprint in order to support internal evaluations. As part of this exploratory phase, global footprint network held an ecological footprint training workshop in Bogota, Colombia, from May 21 to June 2, 2010, for an audience mostly comprised of Ministry officials, staff, and related institutions. In addition, global footprint network conducted a more in-depth analysis of Colombia's ecological footprint to determine if there is existing in-country data that is more accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date than the data reported to the United Nations (which is used for current Footprint calculations). This process will create a more refined calculation and help identify areas of improvement for data collection. A second focus of the work was having an initial understanding of how the ecological footprint of Colombia might be used in the future to support decision making. For this, we explored two main areas: how the ecological footprint of Colombia plays out across its sectors, and the linkages between biodiversity and the ecological footprint. At the time of writing this report, global footprint network is still attempting to obtain the necessary data (input-output tables) that will enable such a sectoral view, and is assessing the availability of data for a more 'quality-quantitative' economic linkage assessment between the ecological footprint and biodiversity. -
Publication
Uruguay - Policy Options for Improving the Efficiency of Uruguay’s Railway Sector : Consolidated Report
(World Bank, 2010-01-01)The aim of this paper is to review the state of the productive infrastructure of Uruguay and the development policies that govern it and to propose policy options for the long term contribution to achieving a higher level of economic and sustainable development, based on the premise that there is a link between the development of a country's infrastructure and its economic growth. The study analyzes the institutions and pertinent regulations. The study examines in greater depth the factors related to infrastructure production that affect the country in a quantum leap in economic growth. The first study concludes that while no one can assert that the sectors of Uruguay's electricity and transportation are inefficient, there are potential sectoral gains. The policy options have been framed by strategic pillars for each sector and can be summarized as follows: Increase the capacity of transport infrastructure and land ports. Maximize efficiency in providing service transport. Strengthen efficient allocation of resources through a multimodal vision. Improve efficiency and regulation. Position as a logistics center in Uruguay the MERCOSLJR. Therefore, the objective of this study is to review the policies in the areas of Uruguay's productive infrastucture that can have a major impact on the productive structure of the country and hence on economic growth, and hence propose elements and policy options for sectors in the long term. -
Publication
Chile - Zonas Extremas Policies and Beyond : An Assessment of Costs and Impact with Recommendations of Avenues for Policy Reform
(Washington, DC, 2005-10)In Chile, certain areas have historically been identified as Extreme Zones - Zonas Extremas (ZE) and qualified as such, have received special treatment in terms of public policies. Most of the exception instruments that currently benefit the ZE were created more than 20 years ago, and have followed an incremental dynamic, not based on impact assessments. This has generated a wide range of benefits, some of doubtful effectiveness and efficiency, with significant fiscal costs, and with diverse objectives that are not necessarily consistent. In addition, Chile has experienced considerable change since these policies were established, altering the conditions that initially justified some of them. Among the changes are greater decentralization, greater democratization - both at the national and local levels - opening and internationalization of the economy, social progress, and development of human capital. This study intends to develop guidelines for a comprehensive regional development policy for balanced long-term, and equitable growth, both at the interregional level-encompassing all the regions-and at the population level-with emphasis on targeting public efforts to the poorer population. Thus, the study will contribute to estimate the fiscal cost of the pro-ZE policies; to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of current ZE policies; and, to propose guidelines for a comprehensive regional development policy. To this end, the study pursues specific objectives: characterization and discussions on the qualification of ZEs; analysis of the consistency of current ZEs public policies; scaling of fiscal expenditure (subsidies) and tax-related (exemptions) that such policies imply; qualitative evaluation of its performance in terms of declared objectives; quantitative evaluation of performance in terms of economic and social impact; determination of effectiveness and efficiency; identification of best practices and international instruments in achieving similar objectives; and, proposal of guidelines for the reformulation, elimination and creation of instruments. -
Publication
Nicaragua - Development Policy Review : Sustaining Broad-Based Growth
(Washington, DC, 2004-12-03)This document reviews Nicaragua's development agenda from a growth perspective. That focus emerges from the country's Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), which traces the widespread poverty observed in Nicaragua, to the collapse of the 1980s, and considers a continued, broadly-based economic recovery as the best way to eliminate it. The focus on growth guides the review of policy developments in various economic, social, and infrastructure sectors. The Development Policy Review (DPR) has the objective of providing analytical underpinnings, both for the Government in developing and refining its growth strategy, and the Bank and other donors, in designing their assistance programs for Nicaragua. The macroeconomic program agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) seeks to promote sustained growth, and poverty reduction in a stable manner, by connecting the country's large fiscal, and external imbalances, addressing key vulnerabilities, and removing long-standing barriers to growth. Key focal points of the program are measures to improve governance, and accountability in the public, private sectors, rein in sustainable government spending, raise the tax effort, and strengthen the banking sector. On the structural front, significant advances were made in 2002 in education and health, including strengthening of the public sector management, through an integrated financial management system, and other important reforms. However, key macroeconomic challenges outline the country's continuing dependence on a few primary commodity exports and aid, both of which have contributed significantly to the high level of economic volatility. A second issue concerns the sustainability of Nicaragua's macroeconomic framework, a weak spot in policymaking, deserving careful attention. To address shortcomings, the report suggests accompanying the Fiscal Transfers Law with additional measures, or legislation that 1) defines the spending responsibilities; 2) strengthens project planning and executing capacities of the weaker municipalities; and, 3) establishes appropriate accountability, and financial management mechanisms. In addition, the pension reform initiated in the mid-1990s, seeks to replace the current defined-benefit, pay-as-you-go system, by a defined-contribution system. The status of the pension reform is being reviewed, reassessing its fiscal costs with assistance form the Bank. -
Publication
Ecuador - Development Policy Review : Growth, Inclusion and Governance - The Road Ahead
(Washington, DC, 2004-05-31)This Development Policy Review (DPR) for Ecuador compliments the policy notes already produced and is medium-term oriented, focused on strategic priorities as perceived from the Bank's own vision of Ecuador. The report looks at the political economy from both a historical and economic perspective. It adds an assessment of the implementation of the economic, social, and governance agenda during the first year of current administration and makes proposals for its fine-tuning. The DPR contains an overview of the major development outcomes including macroeconomic performance, fiscal policy and public debt sustainability, the social gap, governance, corruption, long-term growth trends, and competitiveness. A development agenda is laid out along with medium term outlook and risks. -
Publication
Guyana - Development Policy Review : The Challenges of Governance and Growth
(Washington, DC, 2003-11-06)The objective of this Development Policy Review, is to provide an up-to-date, integrated assessment of Guyana's development policy agenda, with the main focus on governance, growth, and poverty alleviation. The report consists of three parts: assessment of development outcomes, discussion of the development policy agenda, and, assessment of the medium-term outlook. It discusses some of the key political economy issues, critical to this review - ethnic and political tensions, as well as the surge in crime and violence. The report draws on the extensive wealth of existing analysis, within, and outside the Bank, and, highlights critical areas where further research is needed. Among the key structural measures adopted recently, are the amendment of the tax law, and of the procurement law, and the start of implementation of the sugar restructuring program. These achievements come on top of progress made in other reform areas, since the adoption of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) in 2001. The pressing issue is the implementation of the remaining reform agenda. The PRSP needs to be updated, as the economic situation has since deteriorated, with economic growth rate, and government revenue collection much lower than anticipated. Radical improvement in the business climate, namely through macroeconomic stability, better governance, and improved social capital, and physical infrastructure; diversification of the economic base into high-value, competitive activities; and, the restructuring of the traditional sectors - mining and sugar - are necessary conditions for a better economic outlook. Specifically, attaining fiscal and debt sustainability, revitalizing agriculture, restructuring the mining sector, promoting an investment climate, improving public sector management, and investing in human development, should stand at the forefront of the development agenda.