The unprecedented progress of East Asia Pacific is a triumph of working people. Countries that were low-income a generation ago successfully integrated into the global value chain, exploiting their labour-cost advantage. In 1990, the region held about one-third of the world's labour force. Leveraging this comparative advantage, the share of global ......
This twelfth annual survey of emerging stock markets, prepared by the Emerging Markets Group of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), is the premier source of its kind. It provides essential coverage of stock market characteristics for the 45 markets covered by the IFC's three highly regarded stock market indexes -- the Global, Investable, ......
Enabling the Business of Agriculture 2019 presents indicators that measure the laws, regulations and bureaucratic processes that affect farmers in 101 countries. The study covers eight thematic areas: supplying seed, registering fertilizer, securing water, registering machinery, sustaining livestock, protecting plant health, trading food and ......
The Role of Capital Markets in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Firms in low- and middle-income countries have historically found it harder to access capital than their peers in richer economies. This report uses a new database on bond and equity issuance to show that gap is narrowing, with increased participation in capital markets leading to greater investment and job creation.
Productivity and Digital Technologies in East Asia and Pacific
In recent decades, economic growth in East Asia and the Pacific (EAP) has been driven primarily by capital accumulation rather than increases in productivity. To raise productivity and revitalize the region's economy, bold policy action is needed to unleash competition, improve infrastructure, and reform education.
This study constitutes the first systematic assessment of the causes of chronic fiscal weakness in the very poorest economies?those with annual per capita incomes of less than $1,145 a year.
toward a development approach supporting refugees, the internally displaced, and their hosts
The Syrian refugee crisis has galvanized attention to one of the world's foremost challenges: forced displacement. The total number of refugees and internally displaced persons, now at over 65 million, continues to grow as violent conflict spikes.This report, Forcibly Displaced: Toward a Development Approach Supporting Refugees, the Internally ......
Initial teacher education is the first stage in teachers' career-long professional development. This report analyzes how primary school teachers are prepared across the world and identifies lessons and guiding principles that can help improve the quality of teacher preparation mechanisms.