Publication: Lao PDR Economic Monitor, January 2014 : Managing Risks for Macroeconomic Stability
Loading...
Published
2014-01
ISSN
Date
2014-03-25
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Abstract
The sector focus for this issue concerns school based management, current conditions and recommendations for the future. Lao PDR's education system faces challenges in meeting its goals of providing all students with access to education and improving learning outcomes. The study presents a framework explaining how school based management can help improve education quality. The Lao economy is estimated to grow at 8.1 percent in 2013, fueled by a vibrant resource sector, continued FDI-financed investment in hydropower, and accommodative macro economic policies. Growth is projected to moderate to 7.2 percent in 2014, reflecting a small projected slowdown in some real sectors, mainly mining and construction. Inflationary pressures, mainly through food prices, are not showing signs of dissipating by end 2013. In FY12/13, the fiscal deficit widened markedly due to a combination of a large increase in public sector wages and benefits, and a decline in grants and mining revenues. The FY13/14 budget plan indicates a narrower fiscal deficit of about 4.3 percent. The risk of debt distress remains moderate, according to the recent Joint IMF-World Bank Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) 2013. While the Bank of Lao PDR maintains nominal exchange rate stability of the Lao kip against major currencies, foreign exchange policy should probably give more consideration to reserve management and competitiveness. Foreign exchange reserves and net foreign assets continued to fall in the third quarter of 2013.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“World Bank. 2014. Lao PDR Economic Monitor, January 2014 : Managing Risks for Macroeconomic Stability. © http://hdl.handle.net/10986/17363 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 Mongolia Quarterly Economic Update, October 2011(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2011-10)The economic rebound in recent quarters has been stronger than expected and the economy is showing signs of overheating. These signs are show up in rising inflation, especially of those goods and services which are in strong demand, but cannot easily be imported or whose local supply cannot readily be increased to meet the growing demand. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth reached 20.8 percent year-on-year (yoy) in Q3, following an outturn of 17.3 percent in Q2. Growth for the year as a whole will likely hit 15 percent, if not more, up from 6.4 percent in 2010, and is being pushed by infrastructure spending as Mongolia develops its vast mineral wealth. Inflation continues its upward trend. The trade deficit is close to record levels (US$ 1.4 bn in September using 12-month rolling sums) driven by a surge in mining-related equipment and fuel imports. Exports are growing strongly too, driven by large coal shipments to China. The 2012 budget continues this fiscal expansion and targets a 74 percent increase in expenditures (mostly on wages and social transfers).Publication Mongolia Quarterly Economic Update, February 2012(Washington, DC, 2012-02)Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth accelerated to an unprecedented 17.3 percent in 2011 from 6.4 percent in 2010 and the unemployment rate fell from 13 percent in 2010 to 9 percent in 2011. However, real wages for unskilled workers in the urban informal sector are starting to fall as the inflation rate reached 11.1 percent year-on-year in December. Sharply rising government spending is the root cause of overheating: government spending rose by 56 percent in 2011 and is budgeted to rise by a further 32 percent this year, fueled by sharply rising resource revenues. This pro-cyclical fiscal policy could result in another 'boom-and-bust' cycle Mongolia experienced before, particularly as the global economy could face a substantial slowdown in growth due to the continuing European sovereign debt crisis, and which could result in a sharp drop in mineral prices and subsequently government revenues There have been major legislative developments in 2011 and early 2012 aimed at strengthening policy institutions and frameworks. The Integrated Budget Law (IBL) was passed in December 2011: this organic budget law contains measures to support fiscal sustainability and the successful implementation of the Fiscal Stability Law. It also strengthens the public investment framework by requiring feasibility studies and alignment with national priorities for projects to be included in the Public Investment Program and the budget. The Social Welfare Law was passed in early January. This mandates the provision of a targeted poverty benefit replacing the existing system of universal cash transfers. To ensure macroeconomic stability and to prevent a hard landing for the economy in case of an adverse external shock, Mongolia needs to adhere strictly to prudent fiscal policies as set out in the FSL and IBL and tightening both fiscal and monetary policy to reduce inflation, take macro-prudential action to reduce systemic risks in the banking sector and maintain a flexible exchange rate that will act as the first buffer in any external shock materializes. These are uncertain times for Mongolia. The economy faces growing headwinds from the global economic environment, while the looming elections increase domestic uncertainty. Until a substantial amount of savings has accumulated in the stabilization fund, Mongolia remains strongly exposed to volatility in commodity prices.Publication India Development Update, April 2013(Washington, DC, 2013-04)The economy is likely to expand by 5.0 percent in FY2013. Although the slowing momentum of economic growth may have bottomed out in the third quarter of FY2013, even a substantial pickup in the last quarter of the fiscal year is unlikely to lift the growth rate of real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at factor cost much beyond 5.0 percent given the weakness observed over the previous three quarters. Inflation and fiscal deficit have declined, but the current account deficit has widened. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has had to strike a tough balance between providing some monetary stimulus and restraining further price growth. As inflation, measured by the wholesale price index, has begun to decelerate in recent months, the authorities may gain additional policy room. Continued progress on the reform agenda is key to mitigating downside risks. The authorities' ability to respond to negative external shocks is more limited today than during the 2008-09 global crisis. Additional efforts may be needed to create the fiscal space for India's progress towards universal health coverage. The depreciation of the rupee appears to have lost steam, and the currency strengthened in the second half of the year. With a weaker Balance of Payment (BoP) position, the rupee continued to lose value during FY2013 and hit an all-time low in June, remaining around that level until August. Food inflation remained high while fuel inflation accelerated after deregulation of diesel prices. Expenditure compression in the social sectors and reduction in capital spending allowed for reaching the fiscal targets.Publication Taking Stock, December 2010(World Bank, Hanoi, 2010-12)In the post-global economic crisis environment, Vietnam's economy continues to grow at a reasonably rapid and stable rate. While the speed of global economic recovery has been uneven across the world, Asia as a region has done particularly well. And within Asia, Vietnam's growth performance continues to be impressive. As shown in left panel of, Vietnam was one of the fastest growing economies in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region prior to the global economic crisis and has remained so in the post-crisis period as well1. After registering a real gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 5.3 percent in 2009, Vietnam's economy is expected to grow between 6.5-6.7 percent in 2010. Vietnam, like China, stands out not only for achieving a higher average growth rate but also a more stable growth path. This however has meant that the speed with which the Vietnam's economy is bouncing back from the lows of 2009 appears to be less impressive than countries that experienced negative growth last year. This edition of 'Taking Stock' a semi-annual publication from the World Bank attempts to understand the recent macroeconomic changes in Vietnam. It documents changes to the macroeconomic outcomes and policies with a view to inform policy discussions in the country. The analysis is mostly retrospective in nature, though discussions on prospective challenges and outlook are also briefly mentioned. Developments in the global economy in general and in the EAP region in particular are juxtaposed against Vietnam's own economic outcomes and policies to provide a more complete and nuanced picture of the issues.Publication Lao Economic Monitor, April 2015(World Bank, Vientiane, 2015-04)Based on preliminary estimates, the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) economy grew by 7.5 percent in 2014, compared to an average of 8 percent over 2011-13. Looking forward, real gross domestic product (GDP) growth is projected to slow further in 2015 before accelerating in the medium term. Average annual inflation in 2014 decelerated to 4.2 percent from 6.4 percent a year earlier, driven primarily by slower growth in food prices and a decline in fuel prices. In response to a widened fiscal deficit in FY2012-13, the government embarked on much needed fiscal corrective measures in FY2013-14 and FY2014-15. Foreign exchange reserves coverage remains low as compared with prudential benchmarks. While the nominal exchange rate remained relatively stable within the band set by the Bank of Laos (BOL), the real exchange rate continued to appreciate. Indications in 2014 are that bank credit growth is slowing down sharply compared to its previous rapid pace over several years. In order to grasp new opportunities and enjoy the benefits of regional integration, it is necessary for Lao PDR to take steps to create a conducive business environment. In order to achieve broad-based, inclusive growth and poverty reduction in Lao PDR, channeling greater resources toward tackling key workforce skills and productivity challenges is of significant importance.
Users also downloaded
Showing related downloaded files
Publication Digital Africa(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2023-03-13)All African countries need better and more jobs for their growing populations. "Digital Africa: Technological Transformation for Jobs" shows that broader use of productivity-enhancing, digital technologies by enterprises and households is imperative to generate such jobs, including for lower-skilled people. At the same time, it can support not only countries’ short-term objective of postpandemic economic recovery but also their vision of economic transformation with more inclusive growth. These outcomes are not automatic, however. Mobile internet availability has increased throughout the continent in recent years, but Africa’s uptake gap is the highest in the world. Areas with at least 3G mobile internet service now cover 84 percent of Africa’s population, but only 22 percent uses such services. And the average African business lags in the use of smartphones and computers as well as more sophisticated digital technologies that catalyze further productivity gains. Two issues explain the usage gap: affordability of these new technologies and willingness to use them. For the 40 percent of Africans below the extreme poverty line, mobile data plans alone would cost one-third of their incomes—in addition to the price of access devices, apps, and electricity. Data plans for small- and medium-size businesses are also more expensive than in other regions. Moreover, shortcomings in the quality of internet services—and in the supply of attractive, skills-appropriate apps that promote entrepreneurship and raise earnings—dampen people’s willingness to use them. For those countries already using these technologies, the development payoffs are significant. New empirical studies for this report add to the rapidly growing evidence that mobile internet availability directly raises enterprise productivity, increases jobs, and reduces poverty throughout Africa. To realize these and other benefits more widely, Africa’s countries must implement complementary and mutually reinforcing policies to strengthen both consumers’ ability to pay and willingness to use digital technologies. These interventions must prioritize productive use to generate large numbers of inclusive jobs in a region poised to benefit from a massive, youthful workforce—one projected to become the world’s largest by the end of this century.Publication Dreams and Barriers(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2022-12)High aspirations for their future motivate youth to strive toward them and achieve better outcomes. However, the influence of perceived constraints on the motivational power of is unclear: do high aspirations motivate independently of constraints or only when expected constraints seem workable This paper explores this question with a gender lens and using a large, cross-sectional survey of adolescent students in Indonesia. The findings show that most students aspire to high education levels, but only half of the students expect to complete the level to which they aspire. Although girls have higher aspirations than boys, girls are less likely to expect to achieve their aspirations. Years of aspired education are strongly correlated with better current schooling outcomes (grades and attendance), and while expectations are also associated with better schooling outcomes, the relationship is nonlinear. Aspirations seem to motivate students despite their perceived constraints, unless there is a large gap between their aspirations and expectations. Although there are similar patterns for boys and girls, aspirations are more correlated with boys’ attendance, and expectations are more strongly related to boys’ grades and attendance. Students cite both mental barriers and economic constraints to achieving their aspirations, especially the latter for girls. The results suggest that both male and female Indonesian students could benefit from programs that boost aspirations and address psychological and economic constraints.Publication World Bank Group Evaluation Principles(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2019)The World Bank Group is committed to its twin goals: to eradicate extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity in a sustainable manner. The World Bank Group’s Forward Look – A Vision for the World Bank Group in 2030 outlines how the World Bank Group strives to achieve these goals in close partnership with our shareholders: first, by working to accelerate inclusive and sustainable economic growth; second, by helping countries to invest more effectively in people; and third, by fostering resilience to global shocks and threats.Implementing the Forward Look and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals require the World Bank Group to continually adapt to rapidly changing situations based on evidence of what works and what does not. Timely and appropriate adaptive management requires building a culture of continuous improvement and problem-solving, based on evidence. Evaluation plays a key role in generating the evidence about what works in different contexts, and in identifying lessons for World Bank Group stakeholders. The 2015 External Review of the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) recommended that the World Bank Group develop an “institution-wide, principles-based living evaluation policy” that outlines the principles, criteria, and accountabilities for evaluation across the organization. In response, World Bank Group Management and IEG have jointly developed common principles for evaluation in the World Bank Group, which form the foundation of this document. The common principles include core principles for evaluation, and principles for selecting, conducting, and using evaluations. These aim to strengthen accountability and learning for evidence-based decision making and program improvement to enhance development results. They are designed to: (a) align the World Bank Group’s evaluative efforts with global challenges and the World Bank Group’s strategic focus; (b) clarify the roles and responsibilities of key actors and encourage synergy among them throughout the evaluation process; and (c) ensure that all World Bank Group evaluations are robust, of high quality, and credible.Publication Algeria Economic Update, Fall 2024(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-12-04)This Algeria Economic Update reports on the main recent economic developments and policies. It places them in a global and longer term context and assesses the implications of these developments and policy changes for Algeria’s economic prospects. The report is intended for a broad audience, including policymakers, business leaders, financial market participants, and the community of analysts and professionals working in/on Algeria. The report is divided into three chapters. Chapter 1 presents macroeconomic developments in Algeria over the year 2023 and the first half of 2024, while Chapter 2 describes the short- and medium-term outlook for the Algerian economy, and Chapter 3 presents macroeconomic considerations in support of non-hydrocarbon export development. This report is based on data available on October 30, 2024.Publication Europe and Central Asia Economic Update, Spring 2025: Accelerating Growth through Entrepreneurship, Technology Adoption, and Innovation(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-04-23)Business dynamism and economic growth in Europe and Central Asia have weakened since the late 2000s, with productivity growth driven largely by resource reallocation between firms and sectors rather than innovation. To move up the value chain, countries need to facilitate technology adoption, stronger domestic competition, and firm-level innovation to build a more dynamic private sector. Governments should move beyond broad support for small- and medium-sized enterprises and focus on enabling the most productive firms to expand and compete globally. Strengthening competition policies, reducing the presence of state-owned enterprises, and ensuring fair market access are crucial. Limited availability of long-term financing and risk capital hinders firm growth and innovation. Economic disruptions are a shock in the short term, but they provide an opportunity for implementing enterprise and structural reforms, all of which are essential for creating better-paying jobs and helping countries in the region to achieve high-income status.