Global Economic Prospects is a World Bank Group Flagship Report that examines global economic developments and prospects, with a special focus on emerging market and developing economies, on a semiannual basis (in January and June). Each edition includes analytical pieces on topical policy challenges faced by these economies.
Competition is a core element of economic growth, but empirical evidence on how competition affects productivity in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region is limited. This study fills this gap with state-of-the-art empirical research, drawing on firm surveys in the formal sector and novel domestic competition enforcement datasets.
This book presents the World Bank's most comprehensive assessment yet of investment in developing economies. It explores why investment matters, why it has stalled in many countries, and what it will take to reignite it.
Critical Regulatory Frameworks for Business in Latin America
Policy and regulatory frameworks are crucial to shaping private decisions. This study examines how labor market regulations, social protection systems, and tax systems are shaped in eleven Latin American countries. It finds substantial heterogeneity in regulatory environments, giving rise to highly uneven playing fields for businesses.
Objectives, Behavioral Responses, and Technological Advances
This report re-evaluates taxation in Latin America and the Caribbean, expanding the focus from collection efficiency and equity to include economic growth as a key objective. It examines how taxpayer behavior and technological advancements affect the effectiveness and trade-offs of core taxes, and calls for a nuanced, context-specific approach.
Food insecurity is proving to be an intransigent problem. This book examines how transport and logistics impact food security in Africa. Using a modeling approach, the report identifies weaknesses and opportunities for improvement along the entire food supply chain.
The fifth edition of the Global Findex Database introduces new data on financial health, including resilience to climate risks and use of fintech. It also incorporates the Connectivity and Digital Transformation survey, a new data source on digital connectivity that explores access and use of mobile phones, the internet, and digital IDs.
The Impact of Heat on Health and the Economy of Bangladesh
A manifestation of climate change, temperatures in Bangladesh are increasing at an alarming rate, with frequent bouts of extreme heat events. In 43 years, between 1980 and 2023, maximum temperature in the country increased by 1.1 degreesC, while the "feels like" temperature rose by 4.5 degreesC over the same duration. How does increasing exposure ......
Wealth-Sharing Mechanisms for Peace and Equitable Growth in the Middle East and North Africa
Discover how the Middle East and North Africa region can transform its vast oil and gas wealth into sustainable, inclusive prosperity. This book explores strategies for equitable resource distribution, transparent governance, and strong economic policies and institutions to foster peace and growth in the region.