Books published by World Bank Publications

Charts ICT revolution that has swept across Africa since the end of the 1990s. Large-scale investment in the sector has transformed telecommunications from a luxury enjoyed by a privileged few to a mass-market service, used in villages and cities alike, across the continent. This reviews the rapid growth in networks and the emergence of the mobile phone as a part of everyday life in Africa.

Identifies challenges in the migration process from Nepal to Qatar (related to high migration costs and their financing) and constraints in the remittance transfer process from Qatar to Nepal, which together limit the development and poverty reduction impact of remittance flows to Nepali households.

Highlighting the need to reform and modernize institutions toward better quality and standards, this book ties in with much of the work done in the World Bank on the business environment, trade facilitation, economic diversification, and enterprise innovation.

Presents a unique methodology to view science, technology and innovation (STI) in developing countries. The study provides a set of cases studies drawn from a diverse range of experiences across the Ugandan private sector and offers concrete policy recommendations on how to support broader development of STI in Uganda.

The breadth and depth of the papers included in this volume, all of which were presented at the World Bank's Annual Conference on Land Policy and Administration, are indicative not only of the diversity of issues related to land governance but, more importantly, highlight the wealth of promising new approaches to improving land governance.

Presents the outcomes of a survey conducted by the World Bank Payment System Development Group, at the request of the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic, as a follow up to the World Bank-led mission that visited the country in 2008 to assess the market for remittances. The survey aimed at analyzing the main characteristics of the market for remittances in the Czech Republic.

Presents the findings and recommendations of the evaluation of the World Bank's Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Pilot Program. It shows that SEA can contribute to improving development policy and sector reform by calling attention to environmental and social priorities, strengthening constituencies, enhancing policy capacities, and improving social accountability.

Analyses business reactions to the economic crisis through the lens of global value chains (GVCs). After reviewing the mechanisms underpinning the transmission of economic shocks in a world economy where trade and GVCs play increasing roles, the book assesses the impact of the crisis on global trade, production, and demand in a variety of sectors.

To assist in developing a strategy for a new phase of reforms that promotes more inclusive and sustainable growth, this recommends a three-pillar approach: eliminating absolute poverty, reducing inequality in opportunities, and containing inequality in outcomes. It also proposes a range of policy actions in these three broad areas.

Uses recent research from the World Bank to document and analyze the bidirectional relationship between poverty and migration in developing countries. The case studies compiled in this book, as well as the last, policy-oriented chapter - illustrate the diversity of migration experience and tackle the complicated nexus between migration and poverty reduction.

Reviews the development experiences of China's Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and industrial clusters through extensive research, field visits, and case studies in an attempt to benefit policy-makers, development practitioners, scholars from developing countries, and the global development community in general. It contains five detailed case studies.

Focuses on the policy issues and constraints confronting the design of the payout phase and examines risk factors for both pensioners and providers. It then scrutinizes the pension systems of five representative countries - Australia, Chile, Denmark, Sweden, and Switzerland - which provide a rich variety of experiences and policy lessons applicable to other reforming countries.

The second edition of the Impact Evaluation in Practice handbook is a comprehensive and accessible introduction to impact evaluation for policymakers and development practitioners.

Presents and discusses policy-relevant research on the current debt challenges which developing, emerging market, and developed economies face. Its value added lies in the integrated approach of drawing on theoretical research and evidence from practitioners' experience in developing, emerging market, and developed countries.

The Great Recession and Developing Countries delves into 10 country case studies that explore growth during the precrisis boom, the effects of the crisis, policy responses, and recovery. Looking beyond the crisis, the volume undertakes projections of medium-term growth and explores the possible impact of the global crisis.

This policy note provides an analysis of the evolution of key health indicators in Madagascar over the past few years, and proposes a series of recommendations to support improving access to health services for the most vulnerable and to address some of the more systemic issues that prevent the efficient use of financial and human resources in the sector.