World Bank Discussion Papers

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1596/39395

Report Series: World Bank Discussion Papers

Informal documents that present unpolished results of research or country analysis. They are circulated to encourage discussion and comment. Papers for which rapid publication is particularly important were often issued in this series. This series was superseded by the World Bank Working Papers series in 2003 and the World Bank Studies series in 2010.

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 17

Facets of Globalization : International and Local Dimensions of Development
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2001-10) Evenett, Simon; Yusuf, Shahid; Wu, Weiping; Yusuf, Shahid; Evenett, Simon; Wu, Weiping
The chapters in this volume underscore the transformative role of globalization and urbanization, and show the interplay between these forces. Trade reform and liberalized foreign investment regimess have contributed to the spatial reallocation of economic activity toward cities, especially those cities that can attract and nurture human capital and strong connections to other markets. Global factors have, therefore, reinforced agglomeration economies in shifting economic clout toward cities, and in so doing they may be exacerbating regional disparities in incomes. The rise of cities is changing political dynamics in developing nations. It is forcing a reappraisal of existing constitutional structures and center-local relations, as well as the important--and perhaps more mundane-- arrangements for funding and organizing investment by subnational entities. At the same time, democratization is reinforcing the pressures for local autonomy. This perspective shifts the debate away from whether or not globalization is undermining the role of the central state and toward one about the appropriate allocation of responsibilities and resources to different layers of government. Strong arguments support the position that municipalities can, with the appropriate resources and political structures to ensure their responsiveness to local needs, make substantial improvements in the well-being of urban residents. Experience suggests that some state functions ought to remain with government.
Agricultural Trade Liberalization in a New Trade Round : Perspectives of Developing Countries and Transition Economies
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2001-09) Ingco, Merlinda; Winters, L. Alan; Ingco, Merlinda; Winters, L. Alan
This discussion paper contains seven studies, designed to a) review, and assess the impact of the implementation of the Uruguay Round (UR) Agreement on Agriculture, and, b) to analyze the key issues, interests, and options for developing countries in the new World Trade Organization's (WTO) round of multilateral trade negotiations in agriculture. Six regional case studies are presented: Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Latin America, Eastern Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, and industrial countries. A quantitative analysis of the dynamics of multilateral liberalization in food, and agricultural trade is also presented. Among some of the key conclusions, it is suggested that much preparatory work was achieved in bringing agriculture fully into the multilateral trading system during the UR, and, a significant achievement was the development of a broad framework for reductions in trade-distorting policies. The UR was also successful in negotiating reduced volumes of subsidized exports, and in providing at least, minimum levels of access to markets. There were, however, a number of limitations in both what was agreed to, and in how the Agreement in Agriculture has actually been implemented, as the analyses show that the work achieved during the UR, will be of limited value, unless market distortions in agriculture can be reduced substantially. If liberal agricultural trade is to succeed, its limitations should be addressed, and policy induced distortions to agricultural production, be substantially reduced.
Environmental Health : Bridging the Gaps
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2001-05) Listorti, James A.; Doumani, Fadi M.
This discussion paper: a) proposes a new approach of targeted collaboration among different sectors; b) devises new tools or enhances existing ones to facilitate the contributions of different sectors to help relieve health problems; and c) puts theory into practice through a pilot in Ghana. The report is divided into three parts. Part 1 explains the foundations of environmental health and proposes a new approach that taps health benefits systematically outside the health sector through multisectoral collaboration. Part 2 provides basic tools to identify, prioritize, and propose remedial measures for many multisectoral health problems, many of which could and do otherwise fall between the cracks in single sector projects. Part 3 summarizes the findings and presents background material from a workshop in Ghana, "Targeted Collaboration among Line Agencies, Local Communities and the Ministry of Health," putting into practice the ideas of Parts 1 and 2. Annex A provides a rapid checklist on environmental health for practitioners and task managers. Annex B provides one-page summaries of about twenty major diseases.
The Indian Pharmaceutical Sector : Issues and Options for Health Sector Reform
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2002-09) Chellaraj, Gnanaraj; Govindaraj, Ramesh
This report assesses the pharmaceutical sector in India, particularly focusing on four key issues related to the production, procurement, and distribution of drugs in India: a) availability, b) affordability; c) quality, and d) the rational use of drugs. The results of a survey of three states indicate considerable variation across states in the above four areas in both public and private sectors. The report concludes that problems with the availability, affordability, and rational use of good quality, cost-effective, essential drugs have persisted in most parts of India, and that these health-related issues need be addressed as a priority. An overarching recommendation is the need to focus on strengthening the implementation and regulation of the pharmaceutical sector at the state level, rather than on simply introducing new regulations. Adequate pharmaceutical quality assurance needs to be particularly emphasized as, in its absence, other reform measures could be rendered moot. Similarly, the rational use of drugs needs to be emphasized as it is likely to yield significant cost savings to the government and to consumers, in addition to its positive impact on health.
Telecommunications and Information Services for the Poor : Toward a Strategy for Universal Access
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2002) Navas-Sabater, Juan; Dymond, Andrew; Juntunen, Niina
Access to information, and communications technologies has become crucial to a sustainable agenda of economic development, and poverty reduction, and yet access remains concentrated in a few regions and population groups, with the contours of this new "digital divide" closely following, and supplementing existing income, and economic divides. However, technological innovations, economic pressures, and regulatory reforms, are making access to information, and communications technologies more affordable, and, providing opportunities to close the digital divide. This discussion paper outlines a number of policy, and regulatory measures, including incentives to attract investors to high cost, or challenging areas, that can be used under different scenarios, to close the digital divide. While Bank Group experience shows an increasing number of projects with specific universal access components, this paper proposes alternatives for Bank Group support for universal access policies, through an appropriate mix of technical assistance, and investments.
Unleashing Russia's Business Potential : Lessons from the Regions for Building Market Institutions
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2002-03) Broadman, Harry G.; Broadman, Harry G.
This analyzes, based on more than seventy company case studies across 13 Russian regions during the spring, summer, and fall of 2000, and the summer of 2001, examines four key issues that Russian firms face in carrying out business transactions in Russia's regional markets: 1) the state of enterprise competition; 2) the regulatory regime governing the delivery of infrastructure services (with a focus on the telecom, and Internet sector); 3) the sources, and use of corporate finance; and, 4) the efficacy of the court system in fostering the settlement of commercial disputes. The study formulates policy recommendations for each of the areas analyzed. In so doing, it sheds light on salient inter-regional differences in existing policy frameworks, and in the structure, and nature of the country's enterprise sector, as well as on how regional governments, and firms both respond to, and shape these differences. The study also highlights the evolution of inter-regional policy, and economic changes over time, assessing the extent to which, two years after the 1998 crisis, enterprise restructuring at the local level, has been affected by the devaluation of the ruble.
Managing the Real and Fiscal Effects of Banking Crises
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2002-01) Klingbiel, Daniela; Laeven, Luc; Klingbiel, Daniela; Laeven, Luc
The study provides two recent analyses, spurred by the recent East Asian crisis, of government responses to financial distress, and, also presents a comprehensive database on systemic, and borderline banking crises. In the first chapter, the authors review the tradeoffs involved in public policies for systemic, financial, and corporate sector restructuring. They find that consistent policies are crucial for success, though such consistency is often missing. This consistency covers many dimensions, and entails among other things, ensuring that there are sufficient resources for absorbing losses, and, that private agents face appropriate incentives for restructuring. The authors also find that sustainable restructuring, requires deep structural reforms, facing upfront, political economy factors. In the second chapter, the authors use cross-country evidence to determine whether specific crisis containment, and resolution policies, systematically influence the fiscal costs of resolving a crisis. They find that accommodating policies - such as blanket deposit guarantees, debtor bailouts, and regulatory forbearance, etc. - significantly increase fiscal costs. The third chapter, is a comprehensive database on systemic banking crises that have occurred since the late 1970s. The database also includes information on borderline (non-systemic) banking crises during the same period.
The Environmental Implications of Privatization : Lessons for Developing Countries
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2002-04) Lovei, Magda; Gentry, Bradford S.
Governments worldwide have increasingly recognized the economic potential and fiscal advantages of privatization. What is less well recognized is that, under the right conditions, privatization can also yield environmental benefits and contribute to sustainable development. This report reviews a number of case studies to draw lessons about the environmental implications of privatization. It emphasizes that privatization offers an opportunity for making strategic decisions with longer-term impacts; streses that integrating environmental and social considerations into the privatization process leads to better, more sustainable outcomes; and recommends approaches to building on the positive linkages between privatization and environmental protection.
Participation in Project Preparation : Lessons from World Bank-assisted Projects in India
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2001-05) Vedeld, Trond
The study assesses the extent to which the India program, is meeting the Bank's objective of mainstreaming participatory approaches, in project preparation, and design. From a variety of social, and natural resource management sectors, ten projects were selected, appraised during 1990 and 1998, in which participation was an overall project objective. Key findings suggest that beneficiary participation was successful, contributing to participatory designs in many projects. Social assessments were used more often than before, while involvement of primary beneficiaries improved during the 1990s, reflecting a change in the ways of thinking of, both Bank staff, and Government officials. Participatory work improved significantly, showing a move from a focus on social mitigation of potentially adverse impacts, to proactive work, with broader operational frameworks for participation in project planning. Direct beneficiary participation, was less common in strategy, and policy formulation, but more common in formulating local-level project approaches, though the level of primary beneficiary participation, never went beyond information sharing, and consultation. However, there was an increased collaboration with primary stakeholders, and, capacity building, and empowerment did take place. The study stipulates the potential of beneficiaries is underutilized, and challenges participatory management, to improve processes so as to adapt to the social, and institutional context, and, to consider participation within a broader local capacity.
Financing of Private Hydropower Projects
(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2000-07) Head, Chris
This study provides an overview of the issues and challenges related to the private financing of hydropower projects in developing countries. From the very limited pool of projects that have already reached or are nearing financial closure, ten have been chosen for the study from five countries with the most active in promoting private hydro development. Collectively the case study projects provide a reasonable cross-section of private hydro schemes that have been or are being developed. The financing of greenfield private infrastructure on a limited-recourse basis in developing countries faces certain common issues irrespective of the type of project. However, hydropower faces additional difficulties caused by the site-specific nature of projects, high construction risk and long construction periods, their capital-intensive nature with a high proportion of local costs, unpredictable output subject to river flows and broader water management constraints, complex concession process to achieve transparency in the award and pricing of output, and environmental sensitivities. The study suggests the need for longer-term financing to better suit hydropower characteristics, a regulatory framework and realistic public-private risk-sharing arrangements responsive to the requirements of hydropower projects, and the careful preparation of projects by the public sector to enable their formulation on an adequate technical and contractual basis for development as a private concession.