Stand alone books
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Publication
Economic Implications of Chronic Illness and Disability : In Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union
(Washington, DC : World Bank, 2008)This report aims to fill in the knowledge gap in this field by analyzing cross-country data on basic indicators, and by carrying out more detailed empirical analysis on causal relationships of interest, including the impact of disability on employment, wages, poverty, and children's school enrollments-focusing on four transition countries with household survey data sets that allow more elaborate econometric analyses. This report argues that it is timely to bring the economic costs of disability to the forefront of development policy because of the large impact poor health status and disabilities have on employment, poverty, children's schooling, and time spent in caring for disabled individuals, especially by adult females (which in turn inhibits higher female labor force participation prospectus). In recent years, there has been some recognition of the need to discuss disability issues in strategy documents such as poverty reduction strategy papers (PRSPs) and country assistance strategies (CASs). But in the absence of basic empirical evidence on the living conditions and behavior of disabled individuals, it is a challenge to formulate concrete steps to tackle this particular economic development problem. -
Publication
Poverty and Social Impact Analysis of Reform : Lessons and Examples from Implementation
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2006)Poverty and Social Impact Analysis (PSIA) is an approach used increasingly by governments, civil society organizations, the World Bank, and other development partners to examine the distributional impacts of policy reforms on the well-being of different stakeholders groups, particularly the poor and vulnerable. PSIA has an important role in the elaboration and implementation of poverty reduction strategies in developing countries because it promotes evidence-based policy choices and fosters debate on policy reform options. This publication presents a collection of case studies that illustrate the spectrum of sectors and policy reforms to which PSIA can be applied; it also elaborates on the broad range of analytical tools and techniques that can be used for PSIA. The case studies provide examples of the impact that PSIA can have on the design of policy reforms and draw operational lessons for PSIA implementation. The case studies deal largely with policy reforms in a single sector, such as agriculture (crop marketing boards in Malawi and Tanzania and cotton privatization in Tajikistan); energy (mining sector in Romania and oil subsidies in Ghana); utilities (power sector reform in Ghana, Rwanda, and transition economies, and water sector reform in Albania); social sectors (education reform in Mozambique and social welfare reform in Sri Lanka); taxation reform (Nicaragua); as well as macroeconomic modeling (Burkina Faso). -
Publication
Labor Markets and Social Policy in Central and Eastern Europe : The Accession and Beyond
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2005)This book summarizes social policy reform during the transition and European Union accession and analyses the social policy challenges which continue to face both old and new member states. Specifically, the book amplifies two sets of arguments. First, social policy under communism was in important respects well-suited to the old order and - precisely for that reason - was systematically badly-suited to a market economy. Strategic reform directions thus followed from the nature of the transition process and from constraints imposed by EU accession. Secondly, successful accession is not the end of the story: economic and social trends over the past 50 years are creating strains for social policy which all countries - old and new members - will have to face. -
Publication
Poland and the Knowledge Economy : Enhancing Poland's Competitiveness in the European Union
(Pruszkow, Poland: Rewasz Publishing House and the World Bank, 2004)The Poland Knowledge Economy Assessment (KEA) aims to provide policy options for securing sustainable growth, and improving competitiveness, by creating an environment conducive to business development, and investment in general, as well as to knowledge generation and absorption via innovation, and learning, in particular, as well as by stimulating investment in innovation, and in learning systems. This KEA argues that efficient, and relevant lifelong learning systems, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), institutions and funding mechanisms to support innovative research and development (R&D), are essential components of the National Innovation System (NIS). The foremost theme of this report is securing sustainable growth and competitiveness in Poland, by stimulating investment in R&D, and in appropriate learning systems, which have a key role in developing a country's absorptive capacity-the ability to identify, assimilate, and exploit knowledge from both domestic, and external sources. Therefore, policies that support the development of inter-firm linkages, and the capacity to absorb new knowledge that can be gained through such linkages, are crucial elements. As regards R&D and innovation, efforts need to be made to build institutions and provide financial incentives aiming to increase Polish R&D. Nevertheless, it should be stressed that an improvement in the business environment in Poland is a necessary condition for raising the R&D within firms. Most importantly, efforts need to be made to increase the quality, and relevance of the formal education system, ensure the provision of life long learning systems to the entire population, and improve the linkages between academia, the scientific, and business communities that assist the transfer of technology in other countries. It is proposed that the regulatory framework be updated to the European Union (EU) 2002 level, and that the capacity, and market credibility of the Office of Telecommunications and Post Regulation (the regulatory authority), be strengthened in order to sustain competition. The implementation of e-government services for businesses, as well as citizens is key for improving the efficiency, and competitiveness of Polish business. -
Publication
Averting AIDS Crises in Eastern Europe and Central Asia : A Regional Support Strategy
(Washington, DC, 2003)The Regional Support Strategy is in recognition of the threats that unchecked epidemics of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis pose to many of the World Bank's client countries. It is an instrument to guide the World Bank's role in the global development agenda, which includes the Declaration of Commitment at a Special Session of the U.N. General Assembly in June 2001. That declaration reaffirmed a pledge made by world leaders to have halted and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2015. The document provides a unifying framework for the World Bank's work on HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It identifies the potential costs of inaction, the constraints on an effective response, priority actions to resolve such constraints, and the Bank's plans for helping countries do so as part of a multi-institutional effort. HIV/AIDS is fast becoming a threat to health and economic development in parts of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Despite the dangers, country responses to the epidemic have been patchy and limited by widespread denial. Where actions have been taken to contain the epidemic, they have tended to be pilot efforts on a scale that is too small to make a dent in the overall course of the epidemic. Governments and civil society have started to address the problem, but they need to do much more to avert HIV/AIDS crises in the region. -
Publication
Tobacco Control Policy Control Policy : Strategies Successes and Setbacks
(Washington, DC: World Bank and Research for International Tobacco Control, 2003)This publication was commissioned and published in the hope that descriptions of strategies, successes, and setbacks in promoting stronger tobacco control policies around the world would be of wide interest and might be useful to people grappling with similar issues. As participants in academic, advocacy, and policy meetings on tobacco control, we have been struck by the impact of real-life stories and examples. We have been educated and edified by many excellent presentations and discussions of the principles, practice, and impact of tobacco control policy - but what we remember most clearly, long after, are the stories. We have seen rooms come alive with interest and crackle with energy when people who had been at the center of efforts to develop tobacco control policy related their experiences. The case studies in this book are addressed to a wide set of readers who share an interest in health issues and policy - people in non-governmental organizations, community activists, scientists, decision-makers, health officials, and members of the public. Each story is set in the unique historical, cultural, and political environment of a particular country, but there are common threads and shared lessons that can be applied and adapted in many other countries and circumstances. -
Publication
World Bank Economists' Forum : Volume 2
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2002)The first World Bank Economists' Forum was held on May 3-4, 1999. The forum attempts to answer these questions: How do you recognize a hidden fiscal crisis? When capital flows are volatile, what types of policy announcements can help fend off currency crises? Do government training programs for unemployed workers have an effect? What infrastructure investments reduce infant mortality? This book collects nine outstanding papers presented at the forum. The main theme surveyed in this book include fiscal policy, capital flows, trade, decentralization, labor markets, infrastructure, health, and worker training. The second volume collects eight more papers, concerned with household behavior and health, communities and welfare, local governments and basic services, and firms and governments under uncertainty. -
Publication
Large Mines and the Community : Socioeconomic and Environmental Effects in Latin America, Canada and Spain
(Washington, DC: World Bank and the International Development Research Centre, 2001)The book examines the impacts of medium- and large-scale mines on local communities, through six case studies, analyzing both the socioeconomic and cultural effects, as well as environmental impacts of mining operations on the communities. From a multidimensional perspective, studies investigate mining operations costs, and benefits, with an emphasis on the sustainability of benefits, and the outcomes of the legal, and consultative processes, in an aim to identify best practices - from the stakeholders' perspectives - in the management of mining development, extraction, and closure phases. It is relevant to note the two factors that affected increased globalization of trade markets in recent years: the decline of the communist trading block, and the increased environmental control in developed countries, being mineral activities in developing, and transition countries one of the most notable. Recommendations suggest that mining sustainability can only be maintained with public, and community support for the social, and economic activities of a region, based on valuable comprehensive environmental reviews of mine projects, and articulated with local populations through employment, and services provision. To this end, training strategies for the formation of "semi-technicians" or, a broader technical formation, should prepare a skilled work force, able to make contributions, and as well, be less dependent on one specific economic sector. But, concerted efforts on participatory local development should focus not only on capacity building, but on strengthening local community leadership beyond the lifecycle of a mine.