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..this book...gives us a history lesson and a guide on how to build commercial finance that fits the needs of the world's poorest majority. Policy makers, finance leaders, and anyone who wants to join this revolution in banking must read this book. Around the world, a revolution is occurring in finance for low-income people. The microfinance revolution is delivering financial services to the economically active poor on a large scale through competing, financially self-sufficient institutions. In a few countries this has already happened; in others it is under way. The emerging microfinance industry has profound implications for social and economic development. For the first time in history, ...
If sustainable management of tropical forests is to be accomplished and deforestation brought under control, the on-the-ground performance of existing forest concessions, along with the allocation of new concessions, will have to be strengthened. This study examines the failures of forest concessions and the loss of tropical forests due to mismanagement during the last two decades. It also emphasizes the potential gains resulting from strengthening the allocation, management, and supervision of concessions by concentrating on improving procedures, introducing performance incentives, and monitoring key performance elements
Printed on Demand. Limited stock is held for this title. If you would like to order 30 copies or more please contact books@worldbank.org Contact books@worldbank.org, if currently unavailable. This paper is part of a four-volume series of publications on rural transport promoted by the World Bank's Rural Transport Thematic Group under the aegis of its knowledge management activities. The four volumes are Options for Managing and Financing Rural Transport Infrastructure, Improving Rural Mobility, Developing Rural Transport Policies and Strategies, and this paper on Design and Appraisal of Rural Transport Infrastructure.
From the Abstract: This volume examines the reforms and policy changes necessary in the rural sectors or the ten countries that have started the accession process for eventual membership in the European Union (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia). The papers in this volume are selected from the presentations at the Third World Bank/FAO EU Accession Workshop held in Sofia, Bulgaria, on June 17-20, 2000, and are organized around four topics: (i) defining the concepts of rural development-options for EU accession candidate countries; (ii) rural development in the European Union; (iii) rural development in Central and Eastern Europe; and (iv) international experiences and the role of international organizations in supporting rural development in the EU accession candidate countries. This volume is intended for agricultural policy makers and government officials in the candidate countries, EU officials, World Bank and FAO staff, development scholars, and all others interested in the process of rural development in Central and Eastern Europe.
Although the official rhetoric in most transition economies has been in favor of foreign direct investment (FDI), few countries have succeeded in attracting sizable inflows. Hungary stands out among those countries that have done so effectively. Several factors helped Hungary to get ahead of other transition economies in terms of attracting FDI. This volume analyzes Hungary's achievement, the scope and depth of FDI and the effect of FDI on Hungary's economy and foreign trade. This report will interest European Union member and candidate countries, foreign ministries, think tanks, and libraries.
Because evidence that shows that diesel fumes are more toxic than was previously thought, there has been increased interest in the use of natural gas for vehicles operating in cities. Transit buses, traditionally fueled by diesel, are one of the cheapest forms of mass transit. They are also significant polluters and typically operate in heavily congested urban areas, where significant air pollution problems exist. The report provides an overview of the issues that must be considered when evaluating natural gas an alternative to diesel for use in transit buses.
One question preoccupies many scholars and practitioners: How can economic growth in the Russian Federation be reinvigorated? This report contributes to the current debate.Nonpayments in Russia evolved into a complex, inter-linked system over the latter half of the 1990s, becoming one of the most critical issues facing policymakers. This paper analyzes this system, including its origins, its evolution, the factors that now perpetuate it, and its costs, and identifies a minimum set of economic reforms needed to dismantle it. The paper also proposes answers to key questions about nonpayments, including: • How has its course been influenced by government policy at the federal and subnational levels? • What are the links with macroeconomic policy? • What is the role of the energy sector, and how has the system affected the way businesses operate? • What are the implications for economic growth? • How indeed, as part of Russia's transition to a monetized, market economy, did the nonpayments system come to exert a stranglehold on virtually every aspect of the economy? This report will be of interest to policymakers and economists interested in transition economies.
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During Albania's transition from a centralized economy to one anchored in a body of Western laws, deep social unrest, widespread poverty, uncontrolled migration, and the reemergence of clan-based loyalties have led to an increase in the most vulnerable population groups. These groups are more likely to be marginalized by the economic cycle, thus making it more difficult to ensure asuccessful transition. One purpose of the study is to identify key emerging social issues and problems in Albania and determine their causes. However, the main purpose of this report is to propose a short- to medium-term action strategy to guide and connect social policy and assistance initiatives targeted to the vulnerable groups in areas where they are most numerous, through a bottom-up approach.
To enhance and sustain economic prosperity, Russian authorities must improve the business climate so that firms restructure and the private sector thrives within a market environment. Meeting this challenge requires actions on several fronts. The Russian government asked the World Bank to write policy papers to address this issue. This volume contains those policy papers which were then presented at a high-level workshop in Moscow. The topics include: removing impediments to robust interfirm competition, such as structural concentration, arbitrary regulatory practices, and entry barriers; strengthening corporate governance incentive systems; enhancing the nascent institutional framework for the exercise of creditor rights and implementation of enterprise bankruptcy procedures; reducing barter and other nonmonetary forms of business transactions; and fostering enterprise restructuring. The volume also contains formal comments on these papers presented by senior Russian officials at the workshop.