Publication: Future Drivers of Growth in Rwanda: Innovation, Integration, Agglomeration, and Competition
Loading...
Published
2020
ISSN
Date
2018-11-07
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Abstract
A strong and widely acknowledged record of economic success—including a three-and-ahalf- fold increase in per capita income since 1994—places Rwanda among the world’s fastest-growing economies. Traumatic memories of the 1994 genocide are gradually fading, as associations begin to take a more positive form—of a nation on the rise, powered by human resilience, a sense of common purpose, and a purposeful government. Past successes and a sense of frailty have fueled aspirations for a secure, prosperous, and modern future. Sustaining high rates of economic growth is at the heart of these ambitions. Recent formulations of the nation’s Vision 2050 set a target of achieving upper-middleincome status by 2035 and high-income status by 2050. Future Drivers of Growth in Rwanda: Innovation, Integration, Agglomeration, and Competition, a joint undertaking by experts from Rwanda and the World Bank Group, evaluates the country’s possibilities and options in this endeavor. The report identifies four essential drivers of growth—innovation, integration, agglomeration, and competition—and reforms in six priority areas: human capital development, export dynamism and regional integration, well-managed urbanization, competitive domestic enterprises, agricultural modernization, and capable and accountable public institutions.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“World Bank Group; Government of Rwanda. 2020. Future Drivers of Growth in Rwanda: Innovation, Integration, Agglomeration, and Competition. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/30732 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
Digital Object Identifier
Associated URLs
Associated content
Other publications in this report series
Journal
Journal Volume
Journal Issue
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by metadata.
Publication Unleashing Prosperity : Productivity Growth in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union(Washington, DC : World Bank, 2008)The analysis presented in this report assembles, for the first time, evidence from a variety of sources in the countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union to show that policy and institutional reforms are important in achieving higher productivity growth. However, significant challenges remain in sustaining that growth. Many countries that started the reform process early, such as the new member states of the European Union, have come to resemble advanced market economies and face challenges in competing successfully in the global economy that are similar to the challenges faced by other European countries. For these new European Union members, the report argues, policies that facilitate innovation and firm expansion will be a key. But for other countries that started the reform process later, such as the countries of Southeastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, there is still a need to address the legacy of transition. For these countries, policies that accelerate restructuring and ease the entry and exit of firms will continue to be essential. This report - part of a series of regional studies of the World Bank's Europe and Central Asia region that has already covered poverty and inequality, the enhancement of job opportunities, trade and integration, migration and remittances, and the challenges posed by aging populations is intended as a contribution to the author thinking about how the World Bank may work more effectively with client states and other partners in the region to promote growth and foster higher living standards in a rapidly changing World.Publication Cambodia - A Better Investment Climate to Sustain Growth : Second Investment Climate Assessment(World Bank, 2009-04-01)The objectives of this Investment Climate Assessment (ICA) are to: (i) provide an up-to-date, fact-based analysis of the business environment for policy-makers in the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC), the private sector, civil society, and development partners; and (ii) outline priorities for improving the business environment and suggest policy options. The body of this report is comprised of three chapters. Chapter one gives a picture of the private sector in Cambodia in early 2008, including its structure, main features, and overall performance across key sectors and nationwide. The sectors featured are: garments, food packaging, telecoms, and finance. Chapter two reviews the business environment, starting with existing firms' perceptions of the business environment, and then goes into more depth on each dimension. The chapter concludes by discussing which of these challenges are truly binding constraints on growth. Chapter three, after taking stock of on-going reform efforts, concludes with some key directions for reform and a few concrete policy options for the short and medium term.Publication Lao Development Report 2014 : Expanding Productive Empoloyment for Broad-Based Growth(Washington, DC, 2014-10)Recent media reports of a perceived skills problem in Lao PDR have spurred an intense focus on skills development initiatives. Alarming media coverage of rising wages and complaints among firms of a shortage of skilled workers has raised concerns over whether Lao workers are equipped with the skills sought by firms. The Government and other partners have responded by channeling more resources to skills development, for example with investments in vocational training facilities to train more workers. This report argues that the workforce problems which Lao PDR faces do not only stem from problems in the education sector. Looking only to skills development as a solution would not address the fundamental problems constraining economic growth, employment creation, and poverty reduction. Creating an environment conducive for farm and non-farm businesses to make investments and grow remains an essential first step for skills development. As World Bank (2004) states, Training does not create jobs. Skills are a derived demand and that demand depends on policies for growth and employment creation.Publication From Technological Catch-up to Innovation : The Future of China’s GDP Growth(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2012-01-02)This report stats that income gaps among countries are largely explained by differences in productivity. By raising the capital/labor ratio and rapidly assimilating technologies across a wide range of activities, China has increased factor productivity manifold since 1980 and joined the ranks of middle income countries. With the launch of the 12th FYP, China has set its sights on becoming a high income country by 2030 through a strategy combining high levels of investment with rapid advances in technology comparable to that of Japan from the 1960s through the 1970s, and Korea s from the 1980s through the end of the century. The report concludes that the best bet is an innovation system anchored to and drawing its energy from a competitive national economy. Technological progress and the flourishing of innovation in China will be the function of a competitive, globally networked ecosystem constructed in two stages during 2011- 2030. Government technology cum competition policies will provide impetus in the first stage, but success will hinge on the quality of the workforce, the initiative and policies of firms, the emergence of supporting services.Publication Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan - Development Policy Review : Improving Institutions, Fiscal Policies and Structural Reforms for Greater Growth Resilience and Sustained Job Creation (Vol. 2 of 2)(Washington, DC, 2012-06)Jordan's quest for long-term, inclusive and sustainable growth has remained largely elusive. By the Growth and Development Commission's measure of success, namely, an average growth rate of 7 percent over 30 years, Jordan's growth record cannot be dubbed 'successful'. This Development Policy Review (DPR) shows that sustaining growth and reducing unemployment is possible: Jordan has a strong human capital base, a large endowment in engineers, doctors, accountants, Information Technology (IT) specialists and a substantial highly-skilled diaspora (500,000 educated Jordanians abroad, 8 percent of the population). Furthermore, the market-oriented reforms of the early 2000s have made Jordan one of the most open economies in the Middle East and North Africa Region and have led to the emergence of dynamic non-traditional sectors (e.g., information and communication technologies, health tourism and business services). What is missing are: (i) an adequate and stable institutional framework for policymaking and long-term business development; (ii) good fiscal policies to manage shocks and maintain macroeconomic stability; good institutions and macroeconomic stability were identified by the growth commission as two of the five common characteristics of successful growth experiences; and (iii) further growth-enhancing structural reforms.
Users also downloaded
Showing related downloaded files
Publication World Development Report 2007(World Bank, 2006)The theme of The World Development Report 2007 is youth - young people between the ages of 12 to 24. As this population group seeks identity and independence, they make decisions that affect not only their own well-being, but that of others, and they do this in a rapidly changing demographic and socio-economic environment. Supporting young people's transition to adulthood poses important opportunities and risky challenges for development policy. Are education systems preparing young people to cope with the demands of changing economies? What kind of support do they get as they enter the labor market? Can they move freely to where the jobs are? What can be done to help them avoid serious consequences of risky behavior, such as death from HIV-AIDS and drug abuse? Can their creative energy be directed productively to support development thinking? The report will focus on crucial capabilities and transitions in a young person's life: learning for life and work, staying healthy, working, forming families, and exercising citizenship. For each, there are opportunities and risks; for all, policies and institutions matter.Publication Recipe for a Livable Planet(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-09-20)The global agrifood system has been largely overlooked in the fight against climate change. Yet, greenhouse gas emissions from the agrifood system are so big that they alone could cause the world to miss the goal of keeping global average temperatures from rising above 1.5 centigrade compared to preindustrial levels. Greenhouse gas emissions from agrifood must be cut to net zero by 2050 to achieve this goal. Recipe for a Livable Planet: Achieving Net Zero Emissions in the Agrifood System offers the first comprehensive global strategic framework to mitigate the agrifood system’s contributions to climate change, detailing affordable and readily available measures that can cut nearly a third of the world’s planet heating emissions while ensuring global food security. These actions, which are urgently needed, offer three additional benefits: improving food supply reliability, strengthening the global food system’s resilience to climate change, and safeguarding vulnerable populations. This practical guide outlines global actions and specific steps that countries at all income levels can take starting now, focusing on six key areas: investments, incentives, information, innovation, institutions, and inclusion. Calling for collaboration among governments, businesses, citizens, and international organizations, it maps a pathway to making agrifood a significant contributor to addressing climate change and healing the planet.Publication Africa’s Pulse, No. 32, October 2025: Pathways to Job Creation in Africa(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-10-07)Economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to increase from 3.5 percent in 2024 to 3.8 percent in 2025 and accelerate further to an annual average rate of 4.4 percent in 2026–27. Improved terms of trade are helping to stabilize local currencies, but real income per capita is only set to rise slightly, leaving extreme poverty largely unchallenged. By 2050, the region is projected to have over 620 million more working-age individuals. This demographic shift calls for innovative and transformative approaches to job creation, as current growth doesn't significantly lead to wage employment. To tackle these issues, foundational infrastructure and skills, a favorable business environment, and good governance are essential. Addressing the constraints to the private sector development opens the door for productive sectors of the economy to grow and generate quality employment, including but not limited to agribusiness, tourism, and healthcare, among others. With the right approach, Sub-Saharan Africa can establish a vibrant job market. This would help meet the needs of its growing labor force.Publication Taking Stock, September 2025: Special Focus : Nurturing Viet Nam’s High-tech Talents(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-09-04)Following strong momentum in the first half of 2025, driven by front-loaded exports, the Vietnamese economy is expected to moderate over the remainder of the year as export growth normalizes, with a forecast real GDP growth of 6.6 percent in 2025. As an export-oriented economy, Viet Nam remains vulnerable to slower global growth and softening demand from major trading partners. Trade-policy uncertainty may also begin to weigh on business and consumer confidence. Over the medium term, growth is projected to ease to 6.1 percent in 2026 before rebounding to 6.5 percent in 2027, supported by a recovery in global trade and Viet Nam’s continued appeal as a competitive manufacturing base. To support growth and hedge against external uncertainty, the report recommends a focus on scaling up public investment, mitigating financial-sector risks, and advancing structural reforms. The special focus of this edition titled Nurturing Viet Nam’s High Tech Talents” highlights the need to build a skilled talent base that can support and accelerate the country’s innovation ecosystem. Achieving Viet Nam’s high tech ambitions and its goal of high income status by 2045 will require not only a broad and growing pipeline of young STEM graduates, but also a stronger core of experts who lead research, run laboratories, and turn ideas into market-ready products. The report highlights the potential to raise public and private R&D spending in Viet Nam, complementing broader business enabling reforms. Total R&D spending in Viet Nam remains lower than more developed regional peers. There is scope to increase PhD-level faculty to grow the pipeline of advanced-degree graduates and high-caliber researchers. Strengthening university–industry-government linkages could catalyze the development of a work-ready workforce and promote technology transfer and knowledge spillovers.Publication Global Economic Prospects, June 2025(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-06-10)The global economy is facing another substantial headwind, emanating largely from an increase in trade tensions and heightened global policy uncertainty. For emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs), the ability to boost job creation and reduce extreme poverty has declined. Key downside risks include a further escalation of trade barriers and continued policy uncertainty. These challenges are exacerbated by subdued foreign direct investment into EMDEs. Global cooperation is needed to restore a more stable international trade environment and scale up support for vulnerable countries grappling with conflict, debt burdens, and climate change. Domestic policy action is also critical to contain inflation risks and strengthen fiscal resilience. To accelerate job creation and long-term growth, structural reforms must focus on raising institutional quality, attracting private investment, and strengthening human capital and labor markets. Countries in fragile and conflict situations face daunting development challenges that will require tailored domestic policy reforms and well-coordinated multilateral support.