International Finance

Category : Economy

Africa’s Agriculture and Agribusiness Markets Set to Top US$ One Trillion in 2030

Africa’s farmers and agribusinesses could create a trillion-dollar food market by 2030 if they can expand their access to more capital, electricity, better technology and irrigated land to grow high-value nutritious foods. WASHINGTON, March 4, 2013–A new World Bank report “Growing Africa: Unlocking the Potential of Agribusiness,” says that Africa’s farmers and agribusinesses could create...

Poland needs to give its Entrepreneurs a Second Chance

Poland’s development of an economy is almost organic, with each generation of enterprises going through successive phases of growth and decline, and being displaced by a new generation, with different, often more sophisticated products.x Before being a successful entrepreneur, Henry Ford was a failed one.  In 1901, his first company went bankrupt, because of poor...

Strengthening Social Accountability in Europe and Central Asia

City governments and mayors in the region are now facing difficult challenges arising from climate change, economic transformation, and demographic shifts in their cities. Sustainable development – particularly in cities – must be both environmentally responsible and socially inclusive. This is especially true for the Europe and Central Asia region, wherein more than two-thirds of...

Improved South-Southeast Asia Connectivity Key to Boosting Trade, Rebalancing Economy

Technology the key in Boosting trade between South East Asia and South Asia. April 28, 2013: Better connectivity between South Asia and Southeast Asia – through hardware and associated software – can unlock the full benefits of closer economic ties between the two subregions and help rebalance Asian growth toward domestic and regional markets, delegates...

Asia’s Last Safety Net: Pensions in an Aging Continent

Many governments are now confronted by a substantial and highly vulnerable segment of the population in urgent need of some form of social protection, largely because older people are disproportionately affected by poverty. As the region’s families change and populations age, the elderly are being left behind. National pension systems, and creative policy decisions, are...

Reforming Corporate Financial Reporting: Lessons from REPARIS

The international financial crisis has had a serious impact on the countries of the Europe and Central Asia region. Growth is slower, unemployment is higher, public debt has soared, and trust in the stability of banks has been eroded. The Role of Financial Reporting in the Policy Response to the Financial Crisis The international financial...

Why Urbanization May Benefit the Environment

Urbanization brings higher productivity because of its positive externalities, economies of scale and build green industrial zones to attract manufacturing. Urbanization degrades the environment, according to conventional wisdom. This view has led many developing countries to limit rural – urban migration and curb urban expansion. But this view is incorrect. There are a number of...

Fiscal Reforms Adapt To China’s Condition

China’s fiscal revenues are still relatively low compared to OECD countries, making it difficult to allocate adequate public resources to social development. It is a welcome step that [People’s Republic of] China’s new leaders have stated their intention to focus on not just the trajectory but the quality, efficiency and sustainability of economic growth. This...