Directions in Development – serie
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148 produkter
148 produkter
Manila Water Concession
A Key Government Official's Diary of Thje World's Largest Privatization
Häftad, Engelska, 2000
257 kr
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330 kr
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204 kr
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Singapore's judiciary is known for its efficiency, technological sophistication, and accessibility. The outstanding functioning of the system is quite an achievement given that, as recently as 1989, the system was marked by delays, lack of access, high costs, and weak administrative capacities, among other problems. Improvements to Singapore's judiciary system have been achieved through judiciaryled reforms, which include a combination of organizational, procedural, administrative, cultural, and legal measures. Judiciary-Led Reforms in Singapore describes Singapore's justice system including the conceptual framework for judicial reforms in Singapore. This book highlights the process used for judiciary-led reforms and identifies salient aspects of the strategy, vision, leadership, and action plans. It also provides eight strategies adopted to improve the system. The last section offers an analysis of various group's perceptions of the system and evaluates the systems performance.
Trade Investment and Development in the Middle East and North Africa
Engaging with the World
Häftad, Engelska, 2003
284 kr
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There is a large potential for expanding trade in the Middle East and North Africa region. This work discusses ways forward for trade integration, capturing the diversity of country experiences within the region without losing the generality of principles involved.
384 kr
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Research in recent years on aid effectiveness shows that significant obstacles in fragile states, insecurity, poor governance and weak implementation capacity, usually prevent aid from achieving the desired results in these environments. This study investigates the attributes and effectiveness of donor-supported programmes and projects that worked well under difficult conditions in fragile states. Presented in this study are nine development initiatives in six less developed countries, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Timor Leste and Uganda. The cases show that development initiatives, which engage local communities and local level governments, are often able to have significant impact. However, for more substantial improvements to take places, localized gains need to be scaled up either horizontally (other localities) or vertically (to higher levels). Given the advantages of working at the local level and the difficulty of working through mainstream bureaucratic agencies at higher levels in these countries, donors often prefer to create 'parallel-agencies' to reach out to larger numbers of beneficiaries. However, this may in the long run weaken the legitimacy of mainstream government institutions, and donor agencies may therefore choose to work as closely as possible with government officials from the beginning to build trust and demonstrating that new initiatives are non-threatening and help prepare the eventual mainstreaming of 'parallel agencies'.
373 kr
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With the competitiveness of firms in an open and integrated world environment increasingly reliant on technological capability, universities are being asked to take on a growing role in stimulating economic growth. Beyond imparting education, they are now viewed as sources of industrially valuable technical skills, innovations, and entrepreneurship. Developed and developing countries alike have made it a priority to realize this potential of universities to spur growth, a strategy that calls for coordinated policy actions. The distinguished contributors to How Universities Promote Economic Growth examine the wealth of international experience on efforts to multiply links between universities and businesses. They offer valuable and succinct guidance on some of the most effective policy measures deployed by national and regional governments, firms and universities to enhance the contribution that tertiary institutions can make to economic change.
Strategic Environmental Assessment for Policies
An Instrument for Good Governance
Häftad, Engelska, 2008
195 kr
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Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is the key tool for integrating environmental considerations into policies, programs and plans. This book focuses on SEA applied to policies. From past experiences using SEA on policies, it draws lessons on the strengths and weaknesses of current SEA methodology. It proposes a new conceptual framework for conducting SEA of policies that could influence decision-makers to integrate environmental sustainability into policy formulation and implementation.
Government Guarantees
Allocating and Valuing Risk in Privately Financed Infrastructure Projects
Häftad, Engelska, 2007
395 kr
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Government guarantees can help persuade private investors to finance valuable new infrastructure. But because their costs are hard to estimate and usually do not show up in the government's accounts, governments can be tempted to grant too many guarantees. Drawing on a diverse range of disciplines, including finance, history, economics, and psychology, Government Guarantees aims to help governments give guarantees only when they are justified. It reviews the history of government guarantees and identifies the cognitive and political obstacles to good decisions about guarantees. It then develops a framework for judging when governments should bear risk in an infrastructure project (seeking to make precise the oft-invoked principle that risks should be allocated to those best placed to manage them); explains how guarantees can be valued; and discusses how aspects of public-sector management can be modified to improve the likely quality of government decisions about guarantees. Although intended mainly for governments and those who advise them, the book may be of interest to others concerned about the problems of allocating and valuing exposure to risk.Similarly, although its focus is physical infrastructure, it may be relevant to people working on public-private partnerships in education, health, and other social services.
222 kr
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The authors examine the challenges facing Africa's youth in their transition from school to working life, and propose a policy framework for meeting these challenges. Topics covered include the effect of education on employment and income, broadening employment opportunities, and enhancing youth capabilities. The book includes a CD-ROM of case studies of four countries and household data on 13 countries.
Africa's Future, Africa's Challenge
Early Childhood Care and Development in Sub-Saharan Africa
Häftad, Engelska, 2008
276 kr
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Early childhood intervention programs are one of the most effective ways to build human capital and break the cycle of poverty. Yet the amount spent on early childhood care and education varies considerably, and no model exists that suits every cultural context. Countries have to identify cost effective and adaptable interventions that meet the needs of their communities. At stake is the future of 140 million children and more.
Aging Population, Pension Funds, and Financial Markets
Regional Perspectives and Global Challenges for Central, Eastern and Southern Europe
Häftad, Engelska, 2009
284 kr
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Population aging is placing enormous pressures on the pension benefits governments are able to provide. The former transition economies of the countries of Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe (CESE) face unique challenges. The growth of their aging populations outpaces other European countries, while the growth of their financial markets (essential to fund pension provisions) lags behind. With support and direction from the ERSTE Foundation, an Austrian group focused on Central European policy issues, a World Bank team investigated the challenges faced by these countries against the background of international experience from the OECD countries and Latin America. ""Aging Population, Pension Funds, and Financial Markets: Regional Perspectives and Global Challenges for Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe"" examines how well the financial systems in the CESE economies were prepared for the challenges of multipillar pension reform, how ready they are for the approaching payout of benefits to the first participants, whether returns from pension funds can be sustained in an aging population, and how determined policy actions might be implemented to complete financial market development.
340 kr
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This book explores policy options for China to implement its strategy of enterprise-led innovation. It identifies two sets of challenges facing China and recommends actions along four dimensions: pursuing a balanced strategy, creating the right incentives, building capacity of the private sector, and strengthening the ecosystem for the venture capital industry.
284 kr
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Nigeria has a clear vision of where it wants to be. The country's vision 2020 expresses a bold desire to be among the top twenty economies by the year 2020. The economy has posted impressive growth figures since 2003 driven by higher oil prices and a series of home-grown, economic reforms. The country is now firmly on the road to middle-income status. But what else do government and the private sector need to do to create the jobs and growth that will underpin the national development strategy? What are the challenges that Nigeria??s businesses face today? What can government do to promote job creation? What are the roles of the Federal and State governments in promoting private sector growth? This Investment Climate Analysis aims to provide answers to these questions. It is built on a 2,300 firm survey and provides evidence-based recommendations designed to support the vision 2020 and the President??s seven point agenda. Improving productivity will take simultaneous efforts to foster competition, to improve the business environment as well as to facilitate better management and training within individual firms. Nigeria??s best firms have not been able to grow their market share. To allow this to happen, policy-makers need to address and eliminate the obstacles to competition including barriers to entry, convoluted taxation, property registration and licensing.
340 kr
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This book offers an original perspective on AIDS as a development issue in South Asia, a region with a heterogeneous epidemic and estimated national HIV prevalence rates of up to 0.5 percent. The analysis challenges the common perception of HIV and AIDS which has been shaped to a large extent by analysis of HIV and AIDS in other regions with much higher prevalence rates. Three risks to development are associated with HIV and AIDS in South Asia: the risk of escalation of concentrated epidemics, the economic welfare costs, and the fiscal costs of scaling up treatment.
395 kr
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Working in Health focuses on two key human resources for health policy questions: What is the impact of government fiscal policy on health worker staffing levels, and how effectively do governments manage health wage bill resources in the public sector? Through in-depth country case studies in Kenya, Zambia, Rwanda, and the Dominican Republic this book demonstrates how an analysis of wage bill budget trends, budget execution rates, and other factors helps determine whether wage bill ceilings are an important constraint to hiring health workers in the public sector. This book also reviews policies and practices related to recruiting, deploying, promoting, sanctioning, and paying health workers in the public sector in the four countries. In both of these policy areas, the options for reform are discussed. The health workforce challenges in developing countries are significant, but the evidence base for policy makers is weak. This book is an important contribution in the areas of fiscal policy and public sector management.
173 kr
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Although Kenya has recorded some improvements in the last four years, including an increase in productivity, Kenyan firms still face an adverse business environment. The central objective of this report is to identify the main impediments to productivity growth faced by Kenyan firms. The top constraints identified by the Kenyan managers were tax rates, access to finance, corruption, security, infrastructure services (electricity and transportation), and business licensing. Kenya has reduced the corporate tax rates in recent years. Nevertheless, objective indicators suggest that the tax burden in Kenya remains higher than in most comparator countries. Although a more detailed analysis of the tax burden in Kenya is recommended, one potential impact of a high tax regime is higher evasion, as well as the presence of a larger informal sector.
373 kr
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Governments are becoming increasingly aware of the important contribution that high performance universities make to competitiveness and economic growth. This book explores what are the challenges involved in setting up globally competitive universities, also called "elite" or "flagship"universities
Improving Health Service Delivery in Developing Countries
From Evidence to Action
Häftad, Engelska, 2009
340 kr
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Reliable information on how health service strategies affect the poor is in short supply. In an attempt to redress the imbalance, 'Improving Health Service Delivery in Developing Countries' presents evidence on strategies for strengthening health service delivery, based on systematic reviews of the literature, quantitative and qualitative analyses of existing data, and seven country case studies. The authors also explore how changes in coverage of different health services affect each other on the national level. Finally, the authors explain why setting international targets for health services has been not been successful and offer an alternative approach based on a specific country's experience. The book's findings are clear and hopeful: There are many ways to improve health services. Measuring change and using information to guide decisions and inform stakeholders are critically important for successful implementation. Asking difficult questions, using information intelligently, and involving key stakeholders and institutions are central to the "learning and doing" practices that underlie successful health service delivery.
276 kr
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Vanuatu is a traditional and largely patriarchal society; women have extremely low representation in Parliament and in other decision-making bodies. Despite this, women are increasingly involved in private sector development and in the market economy. Yet government support for women's economic empowerment and for businesswomen has been limited, and reforms are needed to the general legal framework to ensure gender equality. This groundbreaking book, ""Women in Vanuatu"", brings together data and available evidence on the subject and makes the case for actions needed to ensure gender equality. The authors argue that designing and implementing measures that benefit both women and men makes good economic sense and will ultimately strengthen all businesses in Vanuatu. ""Women in Vanuatu"" will be useful to both donors and nongovernmental organizations designing projects as well as researchers looking to further examine gender barriers in the country.
Changing Face of Rural Space
Agriculture and Rural Development in the Western Balkans
Häftad, Engelska, 2009
384 kr
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Presents a strategic policy framework to governments in the Western Balkans and the international donor community for facilitating the development of a modern agrifood sector and a vibrant rural space in the Western Balkans in the context of the region's integration process with the European Union.
Awakening Africa's Sleeping Giant
Prospects for Commercial Agriculture in the Guinea Savannah Zone and Beyond
Häftad, Engelska, 2009
340 kr
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Stronger agricultural growth is needed to reduce poverty in Africa, yet the region continues to fall behind. During the past three decades, many traditional African export crops have lost their competitive advantage in international markets, and many food crops consumed in Africa have faced increased competition from imports. In contrast to Africa's experience, during the same period farmers in two remote and formerly unpromising agricultural regions elsewhere in the developing world-Brazil's Cerrado and the Northeast Region of Thailand-conquered important world markets, defying the predictions of many skeptics. What accounted for their success? And could the experience of these two regions carry important lessons for African agriculture? ""Awakening Africa's Sleeping Giant: Prospects for Commercial Agriculture in the Guinea Savannah Zone and Beyond"" summarizes the findings of the study on Competitive Commercial Agriculture for Africa, a collaborative effort led by the World Bank and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. The study focused on Africa's Guinea Savannah zone, a vast and still largely unexploited area that shares many similarities with the Brazilian Cerrado and the Northeast Region of Thailand. Based on detailed case studies carried out on three continents, the book concludes that opportunities abound for Africa's farmers to compete effectively in regional and global markets. Considerable challenges will have to be overcome, however, and recent progress observed in a number of African countries could easily be reversed by bad policy choices. Making African agriculture competitive will depend on getting policies right, strengthening institutions, and increasing and refocusing investments in the sector.
Intergovernmental Reforms in the Russian Federation
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back?
Häftad, Engelska, 2009
276 kr
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This study represents the most comprehensive review of fiscal federalism in the Russian Federation, presenting a strong case for greater decentralization. Given its vast size, immense diversity including economic, geographic, cultural, ethnic, and historical differences across regions Russia is a prime candidate for decentralization. In this work, De Silva et al make a strong case for greater decentralization in Russia based not only on the traditional economic benefits of fiscal federalism but also on the political benefits from local government competition.
Decentralized Decision-Making in Schools
The Theory and Evidence on School-Based Management
Häftad, Engelska, 2009
268 kr
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Spells out the concept and theoretical framework of School-based management, reviews the evidence, supports designing of impact assessments in various countries, and offers guidance to teams preparing education projects with a component on decentralization of authority.
Emerging Evidence on Vouchers and Faith-Based Providers in Education
Case Studies from Africa, Latin America, and Asia
Häftad, Engelska, 2009
268 kr
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While public-private partnerships in education in the United States have received a lot of attention, research on such partnerships elsewhere has been limited-even though such partnerships have been steadily gaining prominence, particularly in developing countries. Aiming to fill this gap, this book presents fresh, technically sound empirical evidence on the effectiveness and cost of various public-private education partnerships from around the world, including voucher programs and faith-based schools. The evidence on the impact in terms of school performance, targeting, and cost of public-private partnerships is mixed. Some evidence suggests that voucher schools outperform public schools, but the difference between both types of schools is not as large as one might think, and is often smaller than simple statistics suggest. Evidence on faith-based schools tends to show slightly better performance than public schools, but this is not the case in all countries. While in some countries faith-based schools reach the poor better than public schools, in other countries the reverse is observed. As for the private costs of education, evidence shows that costs depend on the systems in place in each country, but that when school choice is limited, parents can still influence the performance of their children through private expenditure for tutoring. More rigorous studies on such partnerships, particularly in developing countries, are necessary.
395 kr
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Assesses China's rural health system before and during the reforms of the 2000s. This book outlines ideas for building on these reforms to further strengthen the system including over the long-term.
Accountability in Public Expenditures in Latin America and the Caribbean
Revitalizing Reforms in Financial Management and Procurement
Häftad, Engelska, 2009
284 kr
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Fiscal discipline and public sector efficiency became prominent issues in Latin America and the Caribbean in the late 1980's following external debt crises that troubled many countries in the region. Resolution of the debt crises necessitated a first wave of reforms that largely focused on upgrading legal and regulatory frameworks or improving information systems. Nearly twenty years later progress in matching OECD practices and performance in public financial management and procurement has been uneven and has been one of the factors that impeded higher growth and competitiveness in Latin America and the Caribbean. Countries such as Chile, Brazil and Costa Rica with relatively good performance, in this respect, have shown what other countries in the region can do and how they would benefit. Increased globalization, seemingly intractable issues of income inequality, the onset of the recent global financial crises and the emergence of an assertive middle class that demands better governance, are all reasons why Latin America and the Caribbean governments should closely examine incomplete financial management and procurement reform programs and embark on trajectories that will improve their performance and be better responsive to the needs of their citizens. This book sets out, based on more than a decade of World Bank diagnostics, key areas that remain to be addressed by governments in the Latin America and the Caribbean region to underpin sustainable arrangements that deliver efficient and effective services, which are accountable to citizens. Success will have the important additional benefit of serving to notify international financial markets of the integrity of their stewardship function.
Public Procurement of Energy Efficiency Services
Lessons from International Experience
Häftad, Engelska, 2009
340 kr
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This book looks at a largely untapped energy efficiency market, the public sector. Efficiency potential in this sector is substantial, but implementing energy savings programs have been complicated by a number of factors, including limited incentives to lower energy costs, rigid budgeting and procurement procedures, and limited access to financing. This book looks at energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) as a means of overcoming some of these barriers in public facilities, since they can outsource the full project cycle to a commercial service provider. ESPCs allow public agencies to solicit various technical solutions, mobilize commercial financing, and assign performance risk to third parties, allowing them to pay from a project s actual energy savings. The findings stem from case studies that identified approaches, models and specific solutions to ESPC procurement, including budgeting, energy audits, and bid evaluation. Such an approach also offers enormous potential to bundle, finance and implement energy efficiency projects on a larger scale in the public sector, which can yield further economies of scale.ESPCs can also serve as an attractive element for fiscal stimulus packages and efforts by governments to green their infrastructure, which can create local jobs, reduce future operating costs, and mitigate their carbon footprint. Lower energy bills, in turn, helps to create fiscal space in future years to meet other critical investment priorities. And, this can help stimulate local markets for energy efficiency goods and services and lead by example, demonstrating good practices and providing models to the private sector.
229 kr
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Migration and Skills
The Experience of Migrant Workers from Albania, Egypt, Moldova, and Tunisia
Häftad, Engelska, 2010
276 kr
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The European Union (EU) is one of the most favored destinations for immigrants in the world. The subject of migration has been moving up the policy agenda of the EU for some time now. This increasing emphasis will continue with the EU 2020 (post-Lisbon) Strategy, which refers to the potential contribution of migration to EU growth and promotes the idea of labor mobility. Faced with an aging population, possible labor and skills shortages in the economies, and the need to compete for talent with countries such as Australia, Canada, and the United States, the EU is beginning to see legal migration as an opportunity and is thus taking a more proactive approach toward it. Migration and Skills: The Experience of Migrant Workers from Albania, Egypt, Moldova, and Tunisia aims to unravel the complex relationship between migration and skills development. Based upon extensive field surveys carried out by the European Training Foundation and joint analysis of data with the World Bank, the book paints a precise picture of potential and returning migrants from four very different countries?two "traditional" (Egypt, Tunisia) and two "new" (Albania, Moldova) sending countries.It describes the skills these migrants possess, the extent to which migrants are able to use their skills and training while abroad, and the impact that the experience of migration has on their skills development. The book also offers suggestions on how the governments of countries sending migrants and countries receiving them could move towards more eff ective policies for managing legal migration flows. Policies that address the increasingly circular nature of migration benefit all parties involved. By studying the phenomenon of migration in detail, Migration and Skills: The Experience of Migrant Workers from Albania, Egypt, Moldova, and Tunisia seeks to promote a better understanding of the human faces behind migration: who they are and what they can offer, both to their host countries and their origin countries to which they return.
Accounting for Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean
Improving Corporate Financial Reporting to Support Regional Economic Development
Häftad, Engelska, 2009
340 kr
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Examines financial reporting and auditing in the LAC region in an effort to distill lessons learned and suggest priorities for accounting and auditing reform in the region.