Sector/Thematic Studies

6,525 items available

Permanent URI for this collection

http://hdl.handle.net/10986/2110

Economic and Sectoral Work are original analytic reports authored by the World Bank and intended to influence programs and policy in client countries. They convey Bank-endorsed recommendations and represent the formal opinion of a World Bank unit on the topic. This set includes the sectoral and thematic studies which are not Core Diagnostic Studies. Other analytic and advisory activities (AAA), including technical assistance studies, are included in these sectoral/thematic collections.

Sub-collections of this Collection

Equitable Growth, Finance & Institutions Insight

Items in this collection

Now showing 1 - 10 of 14

Digital and Telecom: Myanmar Infrastructure Monitoring

(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2022-03-31) World Bank

Myanmar has experienced a series of total and partial internet shutdowns since the military coup in February 2021. These restrictions have varied in intensity across the country and over time, ranging from the complete shutdown of all wireless broadband services and nightly shutdowns of fixed line services between February and April 2021, followed by limited access to a whitelist of websites and services and intermittent subnational shutdowns starting in May 2021. The restrictions on internet access have had a profound impact on investments in the sector, subsequently affecting the growth of digital infrastructure and digitally enabled services in Myanmar. Internet restrictions have also had important implications on household welfare, firm operations, and growth of the digital economy in Myanmar. New regulations, market exit by private sector providers, and continued internet restrictions threaten to reverse the progress made over the last decade. Continued internet restrictions can lead to further restraint of online economic activity and closure of many young digital start-ups that rely on consistent, reliable, and widespread internet adoption to reach markets.
Transport and Logistics: Myanmar Infrastructure Monitoring

(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2022-03-31) World Bank

Transport and logistics services in Myanmar have been substantially hit by the impacts of the February 2021 coup and the surge in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. Logistics companies have been affected by rising fuel prices, border closures, and a shortage of shipping containers. While the initial effects after the military coup on the transport sector were extremely severe, there have been signs of some recovery of transport services since May 2021. Public transport in Yangon experienced a significant reduction in passenger demand in early months after the coup, subsequently recovering some ground by December 2021. Higher fuel prices and currency liquidity shortages significantly increased the cost of inland transport services. Transportation and logistics services are expected to be severely impacted by continuing high fuel prices, mobility constrains, political instability, and evolution of the pandemic. The export and import via container are expected to recover gradually due to agricultural and garment industry-led demand. However, improvement of exports and imports in the medium term is uncertain given the complexity of trade relations with international trade partners. In addition to effects of the coup and political conflicts, risks related to the pandemic will also significantly impact logistics supply chains and mobility in the near to mid-term.
Energy Sector: MyanmarvInfrastructure Monitoring

(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2022-03-31) World Bank

Myanmar’s energy sector has been severely affected by the dual shocks of the February 2021 coup and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Developments in the energy sector after the coup have undermined nascent energy sector reforms over the last few years, including reforms that led to improved service delivery, restructured electricity tariffs, and increased electricity access. Constraints in human resources resulting from the dismissal of over 4,400 staff in key entities and departments under the Ministry of Electricity and Energy (MoEE) has put power sector operation at risk. Public boycott of electricity payments and rising costs of electricity due to dollar-denominated independent power producers have adversely affected the financial viability of the power sector. The political instability in the aftermath of the coup has led to significant operational and financial burdens on the sector, affecting the sector financial viability and fiscal sustainability. Investor confidence has plummeted amid uncertainty and a worsening investment climate, jeopardizing the implementation of approved power projects, including renewable solar. While the global commodity rally continues, there are serious challenges ahead, including the need for skilled labor to ensure electricity reliability, maintain the security of power infrastructure, and increase electricity revenues.
Yokohama Urban Design Sketchbook: Translating a Community-Led Vision into Practice

(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2022-03-10) Miki-Imoto, Haruka ; Shkabatur, Jennifer ; Noda, Tsuneo

Pioneered in Yokohama City, Japan, the Yokohama Urban Design Sketchbook (YUDS) is a citizen engagement and co-creation methodology for urban design at the neighborhood level. It leverages cross-sectional sketches and drawings to translate citizens' visions and ideas of urban areas into concrete proposals of urban design. YUDS also develops interest among the community on urban areas and it enhances community engagement in broader urban planning and municipal processes. Based on the experience of Yokohama City, the YUDS methodology has been successfully piloted and tested in two distinct urban contexts: in Panama City, Panama, in April 2019, and in Barranquilla, Colombia, in February 2020. The YUDS methodology consists of structured participatory workshops, in which participants collaboratively produce sketches that reflect their urban vision. The uniqueness of the methodology derives from the use of cross-sectional sketches, a simple yet powerful tool that overcomes barriers of communication and encourages consensus among participants regard-less of their language, generation, or social position. The most significant feature of YUDS is the use of schematic representations by the use of cross-sectional sketches. This approach is different from traditional urban design methodologies, which typically rely on photography, maps, and bird's-eye view illustrations.The implementation of the YUDS methodology requires careful planning and dedication of time and resources. Workshops require the preparation of urban design materials and their simplification for nonprofessional participants. The methodology also works best when a municipal champion is committed to the process, and when university researchers and students are closely engaged in the preparation and implementation of each workshop.
Tanzania - Re-positioning Health Service Delivery in Response to the Changing Disease Burden

(Washington, DC, 2022-03) World Bank

Over the last two decades, Tanzania has registered improvement in the health status of the population and a reduction in the overall disease burden. However, the burden of communicable diseases and maternal and child health conditions, including nutrition, remains persistently high. These conditions can be prevented and treated with existing affordable and cost-effective interventions but remain major public health problems. Besides the persistently high burden of communicable diseases, Tanzania is witnessing a growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and is at risk of a protracted, full-fledged double burden of disease. The study assessed the current and future trajectory of the disease burden, assessed the organization and performance of the health care delivery system in responding to the disease burden, and identified actions that Tanzania would need to employ to address the major causes of disease burden so that they may cease to be major public health problems.
The Future Of Medical Work in Southern Africa: Case Study of the Future of Medical Work and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Work in South Africa

(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2022-02-28) Ivins, Courtney Price ; Annie Liang ; Serfontein, Nicole Danielle ; Schneider, Pia Helene ; Matsebula, Thulani Clement

Major global trends such as economic integration, urbanization, climate change, demographic shifts, digital and technological advances, and rising consumerism will all affect population health and shape the future of medical work. In South Africa, these trends can be harnessed as opportunities, but this will require the government to take a strategic approach and to give its immediate attention to six health workforce issues: (i) the mismatch between the number and the skills of health graduates produced by the health education system and the number and specialties needed for future medical work; (ii) the unsustainable financing system for expensive medical education; (iii) the large numbers of foreign-trained medical graduates whose degrees are not being fully recognized in South Africa; (iv) high vacancy rates in health facilities coinciding with high unemployment and inadequate human resource management; (v) insufficient data on the health workforce; and (vi) the public sector’s reluctance to collaborate with the private sector and international health labor. With more large-scale disasters looming, South Africa’s experience with the COVID-19 pandemic will provide important lessons for the future of medical work. Based on the findings of this case study, we make recommendations on health education policy and human resource policy. These include (i) investing in high- quality education and aligning investments in health education and medical research with future needs; (ii) looking for innovative ways to finance medical education; (iii) investing in the health workforce on the basis of health workforce planning and future projections of need; (iv) modernizing the human resource management in health facilities and facilitating the use of modern technology; (v) making substantial investments in the collection and analysis of data on the health workforce and using results in workforce planning; and (vi) expanding public-private sector collaboration and developing policies to manage the mobility of the health workforce to and from the private sector and abroad.
Papua New Guinea Economic Update, February 2022: Navigating a Fragile Recovery

(Washington, DC, 2022-02) World Bank

Reflecting a strong global economic rebound, Papua New Guinea (PNG) reversed its downward economic growth trajectory in 2021. The World Bank estimates that the PNG economy contracted by 3.5 percent in 2020 before returning to positive economic growth of 1 percent in 2021. Domestic agricultural production continued unabated through the pandemic, and the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) related mobility restrictions were not as severe as in some other economies. However, gross domestic product (GDP) growth has lagged global and regional averages. PNG’s economic performance in 2021 was constrained by falling gold and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production that resulted in a decline in extractive sector output for a second consecutive year. Despite reversing the trajectory of the widening fiscal deficit, it remained large at over 7 percent GDP. Public debt exceeded 50 percent of GDP, and the country is at high risk of debt distress, according to the latest World Bank - International Monetary Fund (IMF) debt sustainability analysis. Despite an accommodative monetary policy, private sector lending remained flat due to subdued economic conditions. The current account surplus remained substantial owing to depressed imports and high commodity prices. However, due to the large debt repayments of the extractive sector, shortages of foreign currency remain a key problem for PNG’s economy.
Turkey Economic Monitor February 2022: Sailing Against the Tide

(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2022-02-01)

Turkey’s economic performance has been a tale of two economies, overall high growth, matched by a deterioration in macro-financial conditions. Good progress in vaccination rollouts allowed Turkey to reopen gradually in 2021 despite a continued rise in Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. Real economic activity remained strong, driven by strong broad-based export growth and domestic demand. Exports of goods reached record high levels in 2021 supported by buoyant external demand, improved price competitiveness and demand shifts to Turkey due to rising shipping costs. Turkey’s GDP grew by 22 percent year-on-year in 2021Q2–the second highest among G-20 countries–and 7.4 percent in 2021Q3. Strong goods and services export performance helped current account deficit to narrow significantly. Robust economic activity led to strong revenue growth and supported fiscal balances. The labor market saw a good recovery in 2021 and employment levels surpassed pre-pandemic levels, supported by buoyant economic activity. The regional inequalities of the COVID-19 shock manifested in larger impacts for women from Eastern regions, widening pre-existing gender gaps. The authorities began to cut interest rates in September, by 500 basis points by the end of 2021, despite rising inflation and inflation expectations. This has exacerbated macro-financial conditions and impacted investor confidence - causing financial market turbulence, large deprecation of the Lira, higher inflation, and increased dollarization. The Lira has been the most depreciating currency among emerging market economies this year. The large depreciation of the Lira coupled with rising international prices caused inflation to increase to its highest rate since the August 2018 shock.
Vulnerability Map for Response to the COVID-19 Epidemic: A Case Study on Indonesia

(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2022-02-01) Hou, Xiaohui ; Stewart, Benjamin P. ; Tariverdi, Mersedeh ; Pambudi, Eko Setyo ; Harimurti, Pandu ; Nagpal, Somil ; Jia, Wei ; Vicencio, Jasmine Marie ; Görgens, Marelize ; Garrett, Keith Patrick

The COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as a threat to global health security. This paper uses geospatial analyses to create a COVID Vulnerability Mapping Dashboard that examines and displays social vulnerability indices at the national and subnational levels in Indonesia. The dashboard answers three main questions: 1. Where are the vulnerable populations 2. What is the capacity of local health systems and 3. What is the local trend in COVID cases The dashboard prototype presented herein was developed and used to direct attention to geographic areas where risks are expected to be greatest.
Economic Impacts of Protected Area Tourism on Local Communities in Nepal

(Washington, DC, 2022) World Bank ; Mattson, Mark

Nepal is endowed with a wealth of natural resources including snow-capped mountains, abundant rivers, sub-tropical forests, significant biodiversity and wildlife, and pristine, diverse landscapes. A part of the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, the country is recognized for its high endemicity and intact forest habitats. Over 45 percent of tourists to Nepal visit these protected areas, which play a significant role in driving tourism, and contribute to the country’s economy. Visitors, however, predominantly visit only four parks, and thus, there is much potential for protected areas in Nepal to further contribute to development goals while maintaining the country’s rich biodiversity asset base. This combination of protected areas and rich biodiversity is equally a major tourism asset in an industry which attracts eight billion visitors a year to protected areas. The potential of Nepal’s protected area network, and its contribution to the country’s economic development is yet to be fully realized. This situation mirrors that of many countries in which governments value protected areas in conservation strategies but overlook them in economic development plans. This oversight is of great concern, as countries, globally, struggle to contain unprecedented biodiversity losses while trying to address development setbacks inflicted by COVID-19. This study therefore sets out to strengthen the economic case for the government of Nepal to promote sustainable and inclusive tourism in its protected areas by estimating the direct and indirect benefits to local economies from protected area tourism.