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 Opportunities and Risks in Central European Finances written by and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2000-01-01 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The recent emerging market crises in Asia and other regions suggests that while international capital inflows can make recipient economies stronger, they can potentially also increase the vulnerability of these economies to financial market crises. Two of the most notable sources of vulnerability are the quality of domestic financial intermediation and the speculative nature of some investment flows. 'Opportunities and Risks in Central European Finances' examines the nature of capital flows in the region, seeking to explain its dynamics, and potential sources of vulnerability. The book also appraises some potential costs that could be associated with a financial crisis. Finally, it presents views on how to manage these risks more effectively.
Download or read book Transition the First Ten Years written by Pradeep Mitra and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2002 with total page 164 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The wide variation in transition economies raises questions about differences in economic growth, the applicability of transition policies, and the advantages of economic reform. This report seeks to answer these questions.
Download or read book Structural Change in the Farming Sectors in Central and Eastern Europe written by Csaba Csáki and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2000-01-01 with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Farm structures in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) today cover a whole spectrum of forms, which include small subsistence-oriented household plots, medium-sized commercial family farms, and large corporations. The agricultural sector in CEE definitely has not embraced the family farm as the dominant farming structure, thus confounding the original expectations of Western experts. On the other hand, agriculture did not collapse because of fragmentation and privatization, as predicted by conservative doomsayers. To address the concerns of the farming sector in CEE with relation to EU accession, a workshop was held in Warsaw, Poland in June 1999. This volume represents a selection of papers presented at this workshop. It examines the reforms and policy changes necessary in the food and agriculture sectors of 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 are organized around the following three topics: Evolving farm structures and competitiveness in agriculture; Land laws and legal institutions for development of land markets and farm restructuring; and Development of farm services for improved competitiveness. This volume will be of interest to 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 agricultural reform in CEE.
Download or read book Ready for Europe written by Barbara Nunberg and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2000-01-01 with total page 380 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As the ongoing political and economic transition in the Central and Eastern Europe countries (CEE) moves into the next century, the most advanced countries in the region are preparing to deal with their prospective entry into the European Union. More a process than an event, joining the EU is likely to place heightened demands on public administrations throughout the region. To assist these countries with their efforts, the Bank conducted a study of the regions. The results of that study are included in this volume.'Ready for Europe' specifies and clarifies the administrative requirements of accession. The author uses in-depth case studies for three pre-accession countries, Estonia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic to make these specifications. The book defines the performance level countries will need to attain for a range of administrative tasks so the countries may reach a minimal threshold for EU membership. It applies selected standards to determine each country's readiness for accession and for the longer-term transition agenda. The author focuses on these three critical areas of administrative performance in the context of EU accession: How advanced is the development of a politically neutral, professional human resource cadre in the civil service? Do countries have the necessary institutional infrastructure at the government's core (that is, cabinet level) to formulate and coordinate policymaking in an efficient and democratic manner? How well are the dedicated institutional structures and processes established to shepherd countries through the accession process working?
Download or read book From Transition to Accession written by Esen Ulgenerk and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2000-01-01 with total page 88 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bulgaria is recovering from a severe economic and financial crisis after more than half a decade of macroeconomic mismanagement. As a candidate country for accession to the EU, Bulgaria will need to establish stable, well-regulated and competitive financial markets and institutions. This paper reviews developments in the financial markets.
Download or read book The Challenge of Rural Development in the EU Accession Countries written by Csaba Csáki and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2001-01-01 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.
Download or read book Poverty and Policy in Latin America and the Caribbean written by Quentin Wodon and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2000 with total page 154 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although the progress toward poverty reduction remains sluggish, other dimensions of social welfare in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region show signs of improvement. Adult literacy and school enrollment rates, life expectancy at birth, and the amount of access to safe water are increasing. Nutrition indicators are also improving. However, other factors demonstrate that many problems persist, especially the inequality between rich and poor. This report analyzes the evolution of poverty and inequality in the LAC region from 1986 to 1996 with projections to 1998. It reviews the policies which have been advocated or implemented to reduce poverty. The report combines the results of new empirical work using household surveys from 12 countries, short theoretical developments, and a review of the literature on issues related to poverty, inequality, and social policy in LAC. Some of the theoretical developments introduce new research techniques. Chapters three to six follow the framework proposed in the forthcoming 'World Development Report 2000-2001'. The framework identifies three essential elements for poverty reduction. Those elements include opportunities for the poor and investments in the human capital of the poor, security through social safety nets, and empowerment.
Download or read book From Transition to EU Accession written by Pietro Garibaldi and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2001-01-01 with total page 88 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book studies the Bulgarian labor market with a view to understanding the interactions between the performance of the Bulgarian economy and the functioning of its labor market. It evaluates the position of Bulgaria vis-a-vis compliance with the acquis commentaire, and provides a set of key policy recommendations that may enhance the job creation potential in years to come.
Download or read book Dismantling Russia s Nonpayments System written by Brian Pinto and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2000-01-01 with total page 94 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.
Download or read book Structural Reforms in Southeastern Europe Since the Kosovo Conflict written by Daniela Gressani and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2002-01-01 with total page 46 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study examines the progress made by the countries of south-east Europe (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Romania, and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) towards implementing structural economic reforms in the three years since the end of the Kosovo conflict, as well as considering the challenges that lie ahead. It discusses four key areas of reform: strengthening public finances and fighting corruption; creating a liberal trade environment; encouraging foreign investment; and fostering the growth of private markets.
Download or read book Agricultural Support Policies in Transition Economies written by Alberto Valdés and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2000-01-01 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Studies of Russia, Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, and Turkey.
Download or read book Food and Agriculture in Bulgaria written by Csaba Csáki and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2000 with total page 188 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Agriculture traditionally played a significant role in the Bulgarian economy. Before the present decade, Bulgaria was a major exporter of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables within Eastern and Central Europe. While the Bulgarian government has progressed rapidly since 1997, the delay in reforms has rendered Bulgarian food products as noncompetitive on the international market. Also, many important components of the transition are not completed. This report reviews the recent history and current state of Bulgarian agriculture and agroindustry. It examines the status of the sectoral reforms program, including reforms affecting pricing and trade, rural finance, land markets, and agroindustry, with emphasis on evaluating its progress toward meeting the criteria for EU accession. It highlights the tremendous advances made recently, and also suggests an agenda for prioritizing the remaining obstacles. This report is intended for agricultural scientists, public officials, politicians, agricultural and agroindustrial leaders, economic researchers and others interested in the transformation of agriculture in the transition economies and in issues pertaining to accession of Central and East European candidate countries to the European Union.
Download or read book A Diagnostic Framework for Revenue Administration written by Jit B. S. Gill and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2000-01-01 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A systematic diagnosis of a revenue administration is a prerequisite to developing a successful strategy for its reform. However, given the complexity of tax and customs administration, this is not a simple task. A host of external and internal factors need to be analyzed to uncover the roots of organizational and institutional dysfunction. Also, the diagnosis needs to be done in a participatory manner to build consensus around the causes for inadequate performance and their remedies. This framework enables a step-by-step analysis of the environment, history, resources, strategy, transformation processes, outputs and feedback mechanisms of the revenue administration system, with a view to identifying systemic deficiencies that lead to inefficiency and ineffectiveness in its operations. Besides a detailed set of diagnostic questions for each area of analysis, the framework provides illustrations of frequently encountered problems and their possible remedies. The framework can be used in a group setting involving different stakeholders, to guide brainstorming sessions and draft reform strategies.
Download or read book Hungary written by Ioannis Nicolaos Kessides and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2000-01-01 with total page 106 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hungary was one of the first countries in Central and Eastern Europe to embark on economic transition. It has also led the region in terms of the restructuring and privatization of the infrastructure sectorselectricity, gas, and telecommunications. In fact, when negotiations over accession into the EU commenced, Hungary's institutional and structural framework was comparable to, if not ahead of, that of most EU countries. However, even an excellent process of reform provides some opportunities for further improvements, especially as new information and experience accumulate.This report: Provides a diagnostic assessment of recent and ongoing structural and regulatory reforms in Hungary's infrastructure sectors-electricity, oil and gas, and telecommunications; Identifies priorities for additional competitive restructuring and regulatory decontrol measures, their expected impacts, and policies designed to minimize the transition costs of deregulation and market liberalization; Assesses the progress made toward compliance with the European Union (EU) accession requirements and identify areas that might benefit from special attention to accelerate the transition to a liberalized regime; Identifies the major regulatory issues that need to be addressed in the medium term by the Hungarian regulatory agencies and suggest a strategy for addressing these issues. This volume will be of interest to Bank staff, policymakers, and World Bank client countries.
Download or read book Food Safety Issues in the Developing World written by Laurian Unnevehr and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2000-01-01 with total page 88 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Food safety is receiving more attention worldwide with the rising incidence of foodborne disease, concern over new potential hazards, and growth in agricultural trade. Investments to improve food safety in developing countries can reduce the burden of disease and remove the barriers to fresh food product exports, providing another source of income for the rural sector. International disputes over sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures influence the ability of developing countries to compete in export markets. These countries need to evaluate their interest in the SPS agreement under the World Trade Organisation (WTO); participate more fully in international agencies responsible for harmonisation; develop the capacity to assess equivalence for process standards, which are increasingly used for fresh food products; and resist the imposition of inappropriate standards.
Download or read book Access to Education for the Poor in Europe and Central Asia written by Nancy Vandycke and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2001-01-01 with total page 58 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper focuses on the long-term benefits of education. It also examines the supply of education, the short-term incentives to invest in education for the poor, and draws on the policy implications. This paper also stresses the need to study further the determinants of school enrollment among the poor.
