Download or read book Experiences with Integrated conservation Development Projects in Asia written by Malcolm Jansen and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1997-01-01 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: China is in the throes of two transitions: from a command economy to a market-based one and from a rural, agricultural society to an urban, industrial one. So far, both transitions have been spectacularly successful. China is the fastest-growing economy in the world, with per capita incomes more than quadrupling since 1978, achieving in two generations what took other countries centuries. Although swift growth and structural change have resolved many problems, they also have created new challenges: employment insecurity, growing inequality, stubborn poverty, mounting environmental pressures, rising costs of food self-sufficiency, and periods of macroeconomic instability stemming from incomplete reforms. Unmet, these challenges could undermine the sustainability of growth, and China's promise could fade. China 2020, a seven-volume set, examines China's recent history, where it is today, and the path it should follow during the first two decades of the 21st century. The volume in the set entitled, At Chinas Table: Food Security Options focuses on how China will avoid national chronic food insecurity. The report evaluates solutions such as food storage and other alternatives for addressing the problems of transitory food insecurity from drought or other seasonal calamity. It discusses national food security constraints and the investments required to maintain total factor productivity of 1.0 percent per year. The study also models and projects food supply and demand for 2020.
Download or read book Ukraine review of Farm Restructuring Experiences written by Zvi Lerman and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2000-01-01 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Restructuring has produced a definite favorable impact on labor relations and workers behavior in the reorganized farms. Managers of reorganized farm enterprises give a much more positive assessment of the behavioral patterns of their workers than managers of non-reorganized farms." Agriculture remains the main source of employment and livelihood for the large rural population of many transition countries, especially among the former Soviet republics. Accordingly the World Bank continuously monitors the progress of land reform and farm restructuring in the region because of the potential impact of these processes on rural development and poverty alleviation in rural areas. The present study on Ukraine is the latest addition to a long and growing series of World Bank publications on land reform and farm restructuring in the former socialist countries of Europe and Central Asia. The unique feature of all these publications is their reliance on first-hand empirical information collected through extensive farm surveys of various rural constituencies. Farm surveys have been conducted by the World Bank in many countries of the CIS (Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Georgia, Turkmenistan, Belarus) and Central and Eastern Europe (Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Albania). Analysis of survey findings enables the World Bank to base its policy dialogue with governments in the region on solid empirical facts, making the Bank's recommendation much more credible and relevant. The new findings for Ukraine will similarly provide a platform for useful policy discussions with this country's government and supply the many international donors active on the local scene with essential information for the design of their strategic programs.
Download or read book Getting Biodiversity Projects to Work written by Thomas O. McShane and published by Columbia University Press. This book was released on 2004 with total page 462 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explores both the theoretical and practical underpinnings of integrated conservation and development. It synthesizes existing experience to better inform conservationists and decision makers of the role ICDPs play in conservation and management and analyzes their successes and shortcomings.
Download or read book World Bank Group Assistance for Minerals Sector Development and Reform in Member Countries written by William Torrens Onorato and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1998-01-01 with total page 50 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: World Bank Technical Paper No. 399. This paper examines the increased role of the private sector in developing and maintaining critical infrastructure. It identifies governments' quest to shift part of the burden of new infrastructure investments to the private sector for the economic development of firms and industry and the improvement of quality of life and, given the constraints on public budgets, to finance growing infrastructure needs. Adequate infrastructure services include power, telecommunications, transport, water supply and sanitation. The paper also emphasizes the private sector involvement in bringing increased efficiency to investment and management and operation.
Download or read book Development AND Gorillas written by Tom Blomley and published by IIED. This book was released on 2010 with total page 88 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Economic Reform and Environmental Performance in Transition Economies written by Gordon Hughes and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 82 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ..".transition has proved to be a much longer and more difficult process than most had anticipated, and progress has varied. By 1998 only one country, Poland (which embarked on economic reform before the rest of the region), had reestablished sustained economic growth and surpassed the pretransition level of real gross domestic product (GDP)." - From 'Economic Reform and Environmental Performance in Transition Economies' Most global economy and environmental watchers expect the transition to a market economy to yield environmental benefits. The changing incentives that a market economy introduces should foster more efficient production, better use of resources, and increased community input. The advanced reformers of the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries proved this to be the case. They improved energy efficiency and reduced emissions intensity of pollutants. The slower-reforming countries of the Newly Independent States (NIS) also experienced lower pollution. However, that downturn coincided with the economic decline, which shut down many major polluters. This report reviews progress in environmental trends since transition began. It looks at air and water pollution and health indicators in the trends and in light of the environmental issues identified in the Environmental Action Programme for Central and Eastern Europe. It continues and builds on the World Bank's work in analyzing the environmental effects of transition, restructuring, and privatization with a view to identifying priority areas for investment and policy initiatives. The report will interest environmental policy makers and practitioners.
Download or read book Legal Impediments to Effective Rural Land Relations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia written by Roy L. Prosterman and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 344 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Excessive concentration of land ownership, as is feared by many transition governments, has not been a feature of land markets where they have been allowed to function relatively freely and where land has been allocated in kind to households and individuals."The World Bank has long been active in the Europe and Central Asia region in monitoring and evaluating land reform developments and supporting the development of land markets. Bank efforts to date have made a significant impact in our client countries, and studies produced by the Bank have been used as impartial references on this subject by both international organizations and the countries themselves. This report was developed as a result of these efforts. It focuses on: The principal issues faced by the transition economies of Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union The potential approaches for resolving specific problem issues.
Download or read book The East Asian Miracle and Information Technology written by Nagy Hanna and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1999 with total page 452 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: World Bank Discussion Paper No. 326.Draws on the successful experiences of five East Asian economies--Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan (China), and Hong Kong--to show how they have exploited the opportunities made possible by the information technology revolution and built sustainable competitive advantages in many high-value-added industries and services. The study examines the role of government in unleashing private-sector response, promoting the information technology industry, diffusing technology, and focusing resources on strategic elements of the national information infrastructure. It also explores the role of the private sector in influencing the development and use of the new technologies.
Download or read book Planning the Management Operation and Maintenance of Irrigation and Drainage Systems written by and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1998 with total page 140 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper provides the basis for the preparation of manuals necessary for managers and staffs to perform needed activities at the proper time. The guide provides a comprehensive list of issues that should be addressed in operation and maintenance manuals for irrigation and drainage systems, and a listing of published materials and working papers which will assist in the formulation of plans for operation and maintenance. The paper serves as a valuable tool to help improve the performance of irrigation and drainage systems and to assist managers in developing and improving effective organizations to serve water consumers better.
Download or read book Environmental Management and Institutions in OECD Countries written by Magda Lovei and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1998 with total page 82 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As environmental protection is attracting increasing political attention and public support, many developing countries are designing and putting into practice environmental institutions. This study analyzes the experience of several OECD countries in order to identify factors that influence the role and success of environmental management; possible causes of the discrepancy between national environmental objectives and actual performance; and implications of lessons learned and recommendations for countries that are in the process of establishing or redesigning their environmental management systems.
Download or read book Subnational Budgeting in Russia written by Lev M. Freinkman and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 146 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Not only are Russia's regions economically diverse, but the policies that regional governments have adopted to deal with the strains of economic transition also vary widely. Some regions have generally embraced market reforms, while others have sought to preserve enclaves of socialism, with price restrictions, large subsidies, and barriers to trade." Reforms of Russia's budgetary system at the subnational level are vital to preserve macroeconomic stability, improve the efficiency and accountability of government, and enhance incentives for local and regional governments to vigorously support economic growth. Previous analytical and reform efforts have focused on possible changes at the federal level and in the system of center-region relations. An opportunity now exists to make progress by providing reform advice and conditional aid to policymakers at the regional and subregional level. This report focuses on opportunities for reform at the subnational level. It reviews recent trends in fiscal adjustment, budgeting, and government debt at the regional and local levels in Russia. It analyzes major problems and suggests a number of measures and performance indicators that could form part of a reform strategy initiated by the Government of Russia.
Download or read book Financial Integration Vulnerabilities to Crisis and EU Accession in Five Central European Countries written by Mustapha K. Nabli and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'A major source of vulnerability in the CE5 is their nascent financial systems and their ability to handle large and increasing volume of capital. As the experience of East Asia demonstrates, a high priority should be given to improving the quality and performance of the banking system.'- From 'Financial Integration, Vulnerabilities to Crisis, and EU Accession in Five Central European Countries'The objective of this study is to help assess the possible vulnerabilities in a number of Central European countries as they proceed with global financial integration and EU accession. The report focuses on those countries slated to be the first in the region to join the EU, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia (CE5). The study: Discusses the context and presents a short description of the CE5 countries' experience in attracting capital flows Analyzes the manifestations of vulnerability to financial crises and sustainability of foreign capital flows to the CE5 Interprets the results and draws implications in view of the initial conditions of the various countries Compares the EU accession of the CE5 to the Southern Mediterranean countries' accession to the EC in the 1980s Draws conclusions and makes recommendations
Download or read book Successful Conversion to Unleaded Gasoline in Thailand written by Philip Sayeg and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1998-01-01 with total page 82 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Government of Thailand within a five-year period (1991-95) introduced a series of initiatives that resulted in the elimination of leaded gasoline and reduction of ambient lead by a factor of 10. This report describes the strategies the government employed: educating about the dangers of airborne lead; setting a lower at-pump price for unleaded gasoline; helping the oil companies establish a system to distribute unleaded gasoline throughout the country; conducting monitoring and follow-up studies; and adjusting environmental regulations as necessary to support these policies.
Download or read book Overcoming Obstacles to Liberalization of the Telecom Sector in Estonia Poland the Czech Republic Slovenia and Hungary written by Robert Bruce and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study emerges from discussions with representatives of the World Bank and high-level representatives of government and the telecommunications services industry in Hungary, Estonia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Hungary. It considers the problems inherent with the liberalization of the telecom sector. This publication is a Technical Paper sponsored by the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network of the World Bank's Europe and Central Asia Division. It is part of a comprehensive series regarding the many important factors that influence European Union (EU) accession in the Central and East European countries (CEEC). The topics in the series cover both the social and economic aspects of accession across a broad range of sectors. The series also provides background information for specific acceding countries. These publications will be of interest to EU member and candidate countries, their ministries, and any one studying the accession issue.
Download or read book Designing Rules for Demand driven Rural Investment Funds written by Thomas B. Wiens and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1998-01-01 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The demand-driven rural investment fund (DRIF) is a new mechanism for decentralizing decisionmaking authority and financial resources to local governments and communities to use for investments of their choice. To counteract the local government's weak capacity to choose and implement projects well, central governments have often constrained the choices of communities by limiting the types of projects eligible for financing and requiring specific procedures for procurement and disbursement. This study explores the extent to which well-designed DRIF rules and incentive structures can substitute for central control. It looks at the different and often conflicting motivations of donors, central governments, and communities and explores how rules can be devised to allow actors to achieve their objectives.
Download or read book Non payment in the Electricity Sector in Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union written by and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "In Albania, consumers with guns stolen from the government threatened to shoot the utility officials who attempted to disconnect defaulting customers." This situation and others less dramatic, but every bit as corrupt, aggravated the utility non-payment issue and pushed it into the foreground. This study reviews the non-payment problem in the electricity sector in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union during 1990-1997. In addition to non-payment, the review also covers the problem of low cash collections and the preference in some countries for the use of cash substitutes such as barters, offsets, and promissory notes. The objective of the study is to identify which policies and measures addressing the problem of non-payment in the electricity sector worked in practice and which did not. Therefore, it includes stories of both success and failure. It is aimed at equipping Bank staff and decision makers with a set of practical tools that can be of use when the political will exists to tackle the problem.
Download or read book DeMIStifying MIS written by Luc Lecuit and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 84 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Managers are often far from the real action, so they need something that will tell them what is going on... Luckily, the rapid evolution of tools for collecting, analyzing and diffusing information has greatly improved our ability to manage from a distance. However the speed of technological change means that changes in management practices and tools are inescapable." Development of Management Information Systems (MIS) for social funds has become essential due to some of the characteristics unique to these types of projects or organizations. Among these unique characteristics are the need for transparency and efficiency because of the highly visible nature of the activities. These guidelines define MIS and underscore its importance. They also outline specific tools to assist in selection of an MIS and summarize its design and implementation. These guidelines are meant to be a practical tool to help those who are setting up or managing a social fund navigate in MIS waters. Technical jargon is kept to a minimum and a glossary of technical terms is provided to assist readers who do not have a technical background. However, special Technical Boxes have been included for the "experts" in this field.
