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 Czech Republic written by João do Carmo Oliveira and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2001-01-01 with total page 118 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report contains the most significant elements of intergovernmental fiscal relations in the Czech Republic including administrative structure, expenditure and revenue assignments, fiscal imbalances and transfers, access to borrowing and indebtedness, and budgeting. Although each of these elements is discussed in its own chapter, it is important to remember that they are interrelated and that reform design needs to be conducted in a coordinated manner.
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 A Guide to the World Bank written by and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2003 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The World Bank Group works in more than 100 developing economies and is one of the world's largest sources of development assistance. In 2002, the institution provided US $19.5 billion in loans to its client countries. This guide reviews the organisation's history, objectives and operations, and looks at the five institutions that make up the World Bank Group: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
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 Generating public sector resources to finance sustainable development written by Stefano Pagiola and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2002 with total page 148 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Annotation This specific objective of this book is to explore potential avenues for generating more resources for the public sector to invest in sustainable development.
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 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 Breathing Clean written by Masami Kojima and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2001-01-01 with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.
Download or read book Farm Sector Restructuring in Belarus written by Csaba Csáki and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2000 with total page 158 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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 Belarus 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 features of all these publications is their reliance on first-hand empirical information collected through extensive farm surveys of various rural constituencies. 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 recommendations more credible and relevant. The survey findings in this volume will provide a platform for useful policy discussions with this country's government and supply international donors that are active there with essential information to design their strategic programs.
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 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 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 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 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 The Current Regulatory Framework Governing Business in Bulgaria written by Thomas O'Brien and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2001-01-01 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This technical paper outlines the key elements of the regulatory environment for business in Bulgaria. Its eight chapters are based largely on a review of Bulgarian legislation and regulations, in effect in the second half of the year 2000. In Bulgaria, there have been many positive economic developments in recent years. By describing and enhancing the understanding of the regulatory framework, this paper aims to help bring about further improvements in the years ahead.
Download or read book Measurement and Meaning written by Estanislao Gacitúa-Marió and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2001-01-01 with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This yearÂ's Global Economic Prospects argues for reshaping the global architecture of world trade to promote development and poverty reduction. The report focuses on four policy areas: -Using the WTO ministerial to launch a Â"development roundÂ" of trade negotiations that would reduce global trade barriers. -Engaging in global collective action to promote trade outside the negotiating framework of the WTO. -Adopting pro-trade development policies of high-income countries unilaterally. -Enacting new trade reform in developing countries. The report contends that the policies recommended in these four areas would reshape the global trade architecture in a way that would enhance the prospects of developing countries and reduce world poverty. While the most likely scenario is for recovery beginning in 2002, todayÂ's slow growth of global trade and weakening financial flows to all but the most creditworthy countries, has impeded growth in developing countries. Global Economic Prospects 2002 concludes that the long-term promise of well-implemented trade reform is therefore tangible: a world with a much higher standard of living, hundreds of millions lifted out of poverty, and a sharp increase in children living beyond their fifth birthday to become productive citizens of the world.
