Viewpoint

287 items available

Permanent URI for this collection

http://hdl.handle.net/10986/9427

Viewpoint is an open forum to encourage dissemination of public policy innovations for private sector–led and market-based solutions for development.

Items in this collection

Now showing 1 - 10 of 287

Competition and Poverty

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2016-04) Begazo, Tania ; Nyman, Sara

A literature review shows competition policy reforms can deliver benefits for the poorest households and improve income distribution. A lack of competition in food markets hurts the poorest households the most. Competition in input markets and between buyers helps farmers and small businesses. And more competitive markets bolster job growth over the longer term. More research is needed, however, to better understand the impact of competition reforms and antitrust enforcement on poverty and shared prosperity.
Small Business Tax Regimes

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2016-02) Coolidge, Jacqueline ; Yilmaz, Fatih

Simplified tax regimes for micro and small enterprises in developing countries are intended to facilitate voluntary tax compliance. However, survey evidence suggests that small business taxation based on simplified bookkeeping or turnover is sometimes perceived as too complex for microenterprises in countries with high illiteracy levels. Very simple fixed tax regimes not requiring any books or records tend to be overly popular but prone to abuse. System reforms will require more precise tailoring of the simplified regimes to their target beneficiaries, coupled with strong compliance management to detect and deter abuse. The overall objective of simplified taxation for micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in developing countries is generally to facilitate voluntary tax compliance and remove obstacles in moving toward business formalization and growth.
Investment Climate in Africa

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2015-07-01) Bridgman, David ; Adamali, Aref

The World Bank Group has been working on investment climate reform in Sub-Saharan Africa for nearly a decade, a period characterized by dramatic economic growth on the continent. Establishing links between such reform interventions and economic growth, however, is a complex problem. Although this note finds some connection between investment climate reform and economic growth, establishing more concrete evidence of causation will require greater focus at the country level, as well as on small and medium enterprises. This is where investment climate interventions generate change.
Export Competitiveness: Why Domestic Market Competition Matters

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2015-06) Goodwin, Tanja ; Pierola, Martha Denisse

This review of the empirical literature shows that industries with more intense domestic competition will export more. Competition law enforcement can be traced to export performance and is complementary to trade reforms. Pro-competition market regulation that reduces restrictions and promotes competition, where it is viable, is an important determinant for trade. The elimination of barriers to entry and rivalry, and a level playing field in upstream sectors contributes to export competitiveness in downstream manufacturing sectors. In some sectors, effective competition policy can directly lower trade costs.
Primary Care for the Poor: The Potential of Micro-Health Markets to Improve Care

( 2015-01) Coarasa, Jorge ; Das, Jishnu

Much of the primary curative care provided to the poor by the private sector occurs not at large hospitals but at small, single-person clinics. While such micro-health providers increase access, questions persist about quality. Some have argued that the micro-health sector needs to be better regulated. This note cites recent studies in arguing that the micro-health sector needs to be better understood. A more evidence based approach may enable the World Bank Group to better target investments and interventions and help these providers fulfill an important role serving the poor. The following recommendations are made at the conclusion of this paper: (1) Effort, rather than hardware or training, may count the most. (2) Scaling up interventions to improve quality requires understanding and addressing market failures. (3) Changing the way impacts are measured will lead to smarter investments.
Contract Farming

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2014-10) Minot, Nicholas ; Ronchi, Loraine

Contract farming involves production by farmers under agreement with buyers for their outputs. This arrangement can help integrate small-scale farmers into modern agricultural value chains, providing them with inputs, technical assistance, and assured markets. Critics contend that contract partners may subject farmers to abuses. The literature shows that in fact contract farming can raise farm income, but mainly for high-value crops. It also indicates that in many cases firms are willing to work with small farms. This note confirms that conflicts are common between buyers and farmers, and that alternative dispute resolution methods may help resolve them.
Reforming Business Taxes : What is the Effect on Private Sector Development?

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2011-12) Bruhn, Miriam

Tax rates and the administrative costs of tax compliance are key concerns of business. Studies within and across countries suggest that lowering corporate tax rates can increase investment, reduce tax evasion by formal firms, promote the creation of formal firms, and ultimately raise sales and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). These benefits, however, need to be balanced against other objectives of the tax regime. Although less is known about the effects of reducing compliance costs, evidence suggests that this too can lead to more formal firms and higher sales.
Settling Out of Court : How Effective is Alternative Dispute Resolution?

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2011-10) Love, Inessa

Alternative dispute resolution can help the justice system in a country function more efficiently. It often saves costs and time and increases user satisfaction. For cases that go back to court, however, the total cost and time may increase. Alternative dispute resolution can also have indirect benefits. It can increase the effectiveness of courts by reducing bottlenecks. And it can improve trust in the legal system, which may increase foreign investment.
Saving Viable Businesses : The Effect of Insolvency Reform

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2011-09) Klapper, Leora

The 2008 financial crisis and consequent rise in corporate insolvencies highlight the clear need for efficient bankruptcy systems to liquidate unviable firms and reorganize viable ones and to do so in a way that maximizes the proceeds for creditors, shareholders, employees, and other stakeholders. This note summarizes the empirical literature on the effect of insolvency reforms on economic and financial activity. Overall, research suggests that effective reforms increase timely repayments, reduce the cost of credit, and lower the rate of liquidation among distressed firms.
Attractive FDI : How Much Does Investment Climate Matter?

(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2011-08) Hornberger, Kusi ; Battat, Joseph ; Kusek, Peter

Business opportunities-as reflected in the size and growth potential of markets-are the most powerful drivers of foreign direct investment. But investment climate features such as strong institutions and investor friendly regulations also matter and may even boost the development impact of the investment. Moreover, many elements of the investment climate can be reformed in the short run and at comparatively low cost. Improving the investment climate therefore offers an excellent opportunity for countries seeking to attract foreign direct investment.