Publication: Brazil - Broadening the Base for Growth : A Report on the State of Bahia
Loading...
Published
2001-10-26
ISSN
Date
2013-08-28
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Abstract
Over the last thirty years, Bahia has transformed itself from a somnolent rural economy to the leading manufacturing state of the Northeast. In the process, the state government has developed a reputation as a modernizing, fiscally responsible administration. But problems remain. Growth rates, even since the last recession, have been modest. Poverty remains widespread. The aim of this report is to define ways which the state can take to provide the basis for sustained, broad-based economic growth. Overall, the report is optimistic about Bahia's prospects. The economy is increasingly diversified. New entrants to the labor force, while still under-skilled, are better educated than their forebears. The state's strong fiscal condition gives it room to address gaps in social services. But a less capital-biased growth strategy, combined with 1) federal-level reforms in fiscal policy, labor legislation, and pension regulation; and 2) state-level reforms in the management of social services, would enhance the state's growth prospects and hasten the reduction of poverty.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“World Bank. 2001. Brazil - Broadening the Base for Growth : A Report on the State of Bahia. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/15475 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 Russia : Development Policy Review(Washington, DC, 2003-06-09)The objective of this report is to provide an assessment of the development objectives before the Russian Federation. To that end, this report assesses: 1) development outcomes and prospects, and 2) the extent to which the Government has been able to implement its social and structural reform program. The analysis and recommendations herein draw on knowledge acquired through various World Bank activities in Russia as well as on sources external to the World Bank. The report is organized as follows: Chapter 1 discusses development outcomes and prospects, which provides background for the report. Chapter 2 focuses on improving the investment climate by reducing energy subsidies, imposing a payments discipline, and strengthening corporate governance as part of the enterprise restructuring process. Incentives propounded to encourage the growth of small and medium enterprises would include improving the business environment, reforming tax policy, strengthening the financial sector, reforming infrastructure monopolies, promoting competitiveness, improving labor market flexibility, and promoting rural investments. Chapter 3 identifies key macroeconomic challenges and risks. Chapter 4 examines the framework for enhancing human capabilities and protecting vulnerable groups. Finally, Chapter 5 elaborates the steps to be undertaken to reform public sector management, including improving intergovernmental fiscal relations, public financial management, tax and customs administration, civil service, and the justice system.Publication Republic of Uzbekistan : Country Economic Memorandum(Washington, DC, 2003-04-30)Uzbekistan adopted upon independence in 1991, an import substitution development strategy, intended to transform the economy from heavy dependence on agriculture and natural resources, to a modern industrial economy, helping achieve some objectives, notably energy and food self-sufficiency, having sustained growth for the past six years. However, this report argues that important goals have not been met, and there are still significant opportunity costs, and risks to the development strategy. Priority reforms should be a decisive move to liberalize prices, production, marketing and distribution, coupled with the imposition of hard budget constraints. Given the need for a robust supply response, reforms need to be sufficiently comprehensive, and deep to allow for rapid re-alignment of productive factors. The initial liberalization would be followed by further institutional reforms, and restructuring in enterprise, banking, and energy sectors. Recommendations suggest the liberalization of the foreign exchange regime in conjunction with tight fiscal, and monetary policies, in order to raise bank interest rates to positive real levels. This leads to the necessary removal of barriers to foreign trade, by eliminating non-tariff barriers, and advance payment restrictions on imports, replacing export prepayment requirements with time limits on repatriation of exports earnings by domestic enterprises. Subsequently, the VAT should be refunded on all exports, and imports duty exemptions on inputs for exports, uniformly applied. Moreover, it is suggested to enhance price and market flexibility, to reduce significantly material balances, and phase-out completely the cash, and mandatory crop plans, to ensure that farms, and firms can respond to market price signals. Overall, this would foster an active commercial behavior by enterprises, strengthen social protection, and increase transparency.Publication Dominican Republic : Social and Structural Policy Review, Volume 1(Washington, DC, 2000-03-23)The report outlines the macroeconomic stability in the Dominican Republic during the 1990s, suggesting its strong economic growth, and poverty reduction, will contribute to the gradual transformation the country is undergoing towards policy reform. It analyzes poverty, especially severe in rural areas, where misdirected agriculture policies, and insufficient public investments, such as education, limit opportunities. But, the advancing trade liberalization, is expected to reduce export taxes, and although displaced industrial, and agricultural activities will be subjected to adjustment costs, there will nonetheless be improvements in consumers' welfare, and real wages. However, public resources for education remain very low, particularly for secondary education, and this should be considered as key element of the government's poverty reduction strategy, in addition to the establishment of safety nets to curtail malnutrition, and expand health, and sanitation programs, to tackle the extreme poverty. Recommendations suggest, first, to reduce macroeconomic vulnerabilities, through tight fiscal, and monetary policies, and, second, implement reforms, to prod a business environment, and, a strengthened banking sector, through market, and regulatory mechanisms.Publication Lithuania - Country Economic Memorandum : Converging to Europe - Policies to Support Employment and Productivity Growth(Washington, DC, 2002-10-07)Lithuania's long-term economic strategy aims at building the foundations for achieving rapid convergence with Western European countries. The medium-term objective of the economic policy is to meet the economic criteria for accession and to get ready for membership in the European and Monetary Union (EMU) after accession. This will be acheived through continued macroeconomic stability, fiscal consolidation, and further implementation of structural reforms needed for an efficient functioning of the market economy, improved productivity, and enhancement of competitiveness. This report focuses on three critical elements of the structural reform agenda: 1) labor market reform, aimed at increasing labor market flexibility and improving the utilization of labor resources throughout the economy; 2) regulatory reform and reform of the business environment, to support private sector development and growth in both urban and rural areas; and 3) social protection reform, to improve targeting, effectiveness, and efficiency.Publication Argentina : Income Support Policies toward the Bicentennial(Washington, DC, 2009)Argentina approaches its bicentennial as an independent republic; it has a window of opportunity in social protection policy. Following the most serious economic crisis in its history during 2001-02, the country mobilized an unprecedented effort to provide income support to the population in need. Now, as growth has returned and social indicators have recovered to pre-crisis levels, there is an opening to move from emergency income support programs to a more comprehensive, long-term, and sustainable strategy for social protection. The emergency response was effective, as it helped the country to overcome the worst of the crisis. The centerpiece of the strategy, plan Jefes y Jefas, provided benefits to nearly two million households during a period when poverty affected more than half the population and unemployment reached record levels. The number of beneficiaries slowly declined beginning in 2003, and was at nearly one-third of its maximum value by early 2008. This reduction was achieved by the reentry of beneficiaries into the formal labor market, the loss of eligibility, and the shift of beneficiaries to familias and seguro de capacitacion y empleo (Seguro), the successor programs to Jefes. Now that the crisis has passed, the policy debate has shifted toward the future of social protection over the longer term. The improvement in overall economic conditions since 2003 has resulted in a decline in unemployment, poverty, and inequality, and a recovery of formal employment and real salaries to pre-crisis levels. These positive trends have generated opportunities to consider longer-term and structural issues, including a debate over the future of whether this new type of noncontributory social policies, based on income transfers to households and individuals, should continue.
Users also downloaded
Showing related downloaded files
Publication Guinea-Bissau Country Climate and Development Report(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-10-23)Guinea-Bissau is endowed with a wealth of natural resources, with the highest natural capital per capita in West Africa (US3,874 dollars per capita), which could be leveraged for sustainable and resilient growth. However, Guinea-Bissau faces significant development hurdles, such as high poverty rates, political instability, and economic challenges, including an over-reliance on cashew nuts. Rural poverty has increased, and the nation's infrastructure, education, and health care systems are underdeveloped. Climate change poses a severe threat, potentially impacting agriculture, fisheries, and infrastructure. Without adaptation, it could lead to a significant cut in real GDP per capita (minus 7.3 percent by 2050) and increase in poverty (with up to over 200,000 additional poor by 2050, that is, 5 percent of the expected population, in the worst scenario). The country's low greenhouse gas emissions are expected to rise, mainly due to agriculture and land-use changes, with deforestation being a major contributing factor. Although Guinea-Bissau is a low emitter, it has high mitigation ambitions, targeting a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The Nationally Determined Contribution outlines significant climate actions, with initiatives focused on forest conservation, sustainable agriculture, and community development. However, the country's political instability, institutional weaknesses, and limited financial resources pose challenges to implementing these climate commitments, which depend heavily on external funding. The financial sector's underdevelopment and vulnerability to external shocks limit its ability to support green investments, though reforms could enhance resilience. Guinea-Bissau must consider its climate financing as development financing and vice-versa, engage the private sector, and integrate climate goals with national development plans to ensure a sustainable future. Concessional climate financing is vital due to the underdeveloped financial sector and the government’s limited borrowing capacity. Addressing Guinea-Bissau's vulnerability to climate change and its structural issues requires a cohesive approach that integrates development and climate strategies. This could involve improving governance, diversifying the economy, protecting natural capital, developing human capital, and investing in sustainable agriculture and infrastructure. The transition to a more sustainable and inclusive development pathway that supports economic growth is possible, but requires focusing on key strategic sectors, enhancing institutional capacity, and creating the conditions to mobilize finance. As a highly vulnerable country, there are myriad needs in the different sectors; however, to be more efficient and effective, Guinea-Bissau should prioritize actions in a few sectors, especially actions on biodiversity, agriculture, and social protection. Low carbon development, especially in energy and forestry sectors, could provide cost-efficient solutions and attract climate finance, including from the private sector, which will support the overall development agenda.Publication Mongolia Country Climate and Development Report(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-10-22)Mongolia’s development prospects are uniquely challenged by both the impacts of climate change and the global shift toward a low-carbon economy. The country’s efforts toward decarbonization pose significant challenges given the structurally high-emission intensity of its economy. While challenging, climate action also presents Mongolia with opportunities to achieve important development benefits. The effects of climate risks and the shift away from coal will have diverse impacts across different regions, communities, and socioeconomic levels. The report assesses the critical interconnections between Mongolia’s development ambitions and climate change action and identifies ways to transition to a more economically diversified, inclusive, and resilient development path. It highlights key climate and transition risks affecting Mongolia’s future development and presents a pathway to enhance climate mitigation and adaptation. The report also makes a case for strengthening policies to enhance resilience to climate change and ensure a just transition, particularly for the most vulnerable. The report is structured as follows: section 1 gives introduction. Section 2 delves into the linkages between development and climate in Mongolia and presents model-based findings on the economic and poverty impacts of climate change under different scenarios. Section 3 covers four in-depth sectoral analyses. The first two mainly focus on adaptation to climate change in the agriculture and water sectors. The third considers prospects for the extraction sector, while the fourth sectoral analysis focuses on decarbonizing power and heat generation. Section 4 shifts the focus to how the government can boost resilience for climate-vulnerable populations. Section 5 outlines options for mobilizing private and public financing and private investments to support the green transition. Section 6 examines the existing institutional and governance structure for climate action and presents recommendations to improve its effectiveness, and section 7 concludes with a framework for prioritizing the policy actions outlined in this report.Publication Comoros Country Climate and Development Report(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-06-18)The Union of the Comoros (The Comoros) has significant vulnerability to climate change-related risks but has considerable opportunities to strengthen preparedness and resilience against these challenges. According to the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index, the Comoros is the 29th-most vulnerable country to climate change and the 163rd most ready to adapt (out of 191). The Comoros archipelago is exposed to many natural hazards that adversely affect the country’s natural capital, people, and physical infrastructure. In 2014, the economic cost of climate-related disasters was estimated at 5.7 million dollars annually, equivalent to 9.2 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Between 2018 and 2023, as many as 11 tropical depressions or cyclones impacted the country, with Cyclone Kenneth causing the greatest damage, equivalent to 14 percent of GDP, resulting in total economic growth falling from 3.6 percent in 2018 to 1.9 percent in 2019. More than 345,000 people (40 percent of the population) were affected by the cyclone, with 185,000 people experiencing severe impacts and 12,000 people displaced. However, there is an opportunity for the country to grow more robust and shock-responsive, and to establish pre-positioned funding mechanisms to enhance future crisis response efforts. For the Comoros, adaptation and climate-resilient development are the key climate change focus areas, with the country projected to face 836 million dollars 2050 in additional costs due to climate-related impacts. Current plans to adapt to the impacts of climate change in the Comoros include efforts to improve water management, strengthen coastal protection, and develop climate-smart agriculture practices. Given the country’s reliance on its natural resource base for economic growth and mobility, protection of these resources from climate change will be essential for promoting resilient growth and development. In addition to growing the adaptive capacity of the country’s natural resource sectors, strategic economic diversification will be important to help minimize future climate impacts, and development activities will need to be undertaken in such a way as to attract low-carbon co-benefits. The Union of the Comoros is committed to addressing climate change through its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and national priorities. The country’s NDC (which was revised in 2021 for a ten-year horizon) sets ambitious targets, with a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 23 percent by 2030. The country also plans to significantly increase the share of renewable energy in its energy portfolio, reaching 33 MW by 2030. This will not only promote low-carbon development but also reduce the country’s dependency on imported oil and coal, which currently make up 95 percent of the energy mix. Additionally, the Comoros has declared its intention to increase CO2 removals by 47 percent by 2030, compared to BAU.Publication Jobs in a Changing Climate: Insights from World Bank Group Country Climate and Development Reports Covering 93 Economies(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-11-05)The World Bank Group’s Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs) provide a crosscutting look at how countries’ development prospects, and the job opportunities they offer to their people, can be threatened by climate impacts and supported by climate policies. Climate change and policies affect jobs through impacts on productivity, energy and material efficiency, and physical, human, and natural capital. They can also transform employment opportunities, especially through complementary measures that help workers and firms adapt to and benefit from new technologies and production practices. Prepared by the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), CCDRs integrate country perspectives, climate science and economic modeling, private sector information, and policy analysis to assess how countries can successfully grow and develop their economies and create jobs despite increasing climate risks and while achieving their climate objectives and commitments. Each CCDR starts from the country’s development priorities, opportunities, and challenges, and is developed in close consultation with governments, businesses, and civil society, ensuring the recommendations reflect national priorities. By combining evidence on adaptation, resilience, and emissions pathways, CCDRs highlight where climate action can reinforce development and job creation, and where targeted policies are needed to manage risks and smooth labor market transitions. Taken together, these elements can help create local jobs, ensure economic transitions are just and inclusive, and equip workers and firms to navigate the disruptions and opportunities of a changing climate and changing technologies.Publication Kyrgyz Republic Country Climate and Development Report(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-11-03)This Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) on the Kyrgyz Republic aims to support the country’s development goals amid a changing climate. The CCDR considers two policy scenarios up to 2050: the business-as-usual (BAU) and high-growth scenarios. As it quantifies the likely impacts of climate change on the Kyrgyz economy between now and 2050, the report highlights key government actions to best prepare for and adapt to climate impacts (referred to as “with adaptation” measures), with a particular focus on the time horizon up to 2030. The CCDR also outlines a path to net zero emissions by 2050 (referred to as “with mitigation” measures, “decarbonization,” or, simply, “net zero 2050”), highlighting associated development co-benefits.