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This blog is maintained by the Growth and Crisis (GC ) Program of the World Bank Institute.

We bring you timely news, resources, tools, ideas and commentaries on issues related to the global economic crisis and growth.

September 2007

Fridays Academy: The Labor Market, Economic Growth, and Poverty Reduction

Submitted by Ignacio on Fri, 09/28/2007 - 10:13

As usual on Fridays, from Raj Nallari and Breda Griffith's lecture notes.

 

Skills

 

Educational Attainment by Region

Educational Attainment by Region

 Source: WDR 2005, p. 138

 

The link between investments in human capital in promoting sustainable long-run economic growth that in turn helps to reduce poverty is well understood.  Pierre and Scarpetta (2004) note that “a simple decomposition of the sources of economic growth over the past decades suggests that the combined effect of greater utilization of labor and enhancement in human capital have generally made a significant contribution to improvements in output per capita” (p. 2). Enhancing human capital depends on a positive investment climate. A skilled workforce will help to attract new firms and is necessary for existing firms to embrace new technologies. At the same time, a better or more positive investment climate raises the returns to investing in education. Government support for education and training affects the prospect for individuals and the ability of firms to enter new markets and adopt new technologies. Firm-level surveys show that more than 20 percent of firms in many developing countries rate inadequate skills and education of workers as a major or severe obstacle to their operations.

 

Making PRSP inclusive

Submitted by Ignacio on Thu, 09/27/2007 - 14:48

Inclusive PRSP

 

Handicap International has published this handbook, where it presents ideas, experiences and suggestions on how to make PRSPs (Poverty Reduction Strategies) more inclusive. [Via Development Gateway]

 

For more information on how to include disable people in development efforts, check the Global Partnership for Disability and Development (GPDD).

The World Bank on Youtube and Flickr

Submitted by Ignacio on Tue, 09/25/2007 - 15:53

The World  Bank has recently launched its own Youtube channel, and has also created a photo collection in Flickr.

 

Stay tuned for our own PGPblog videos coming soon ...

 

Miner

 

 

                                                                                                           

Fridays Academy: The Labor Market, Economic Growth, and Poverty Reduction

Submitted by Ignacio on Fri, 09/21/2007 - 13:47

 

As usual on Fridays, from Raj Nallari and Breda Griffith's lecture notes.

 

Unemployment and Under Employment

New blogs: End Poverty in South Asia / Paul Krugman

Submitted by Ignacio on Wed, 09/19/2007 - 17:08

Shanta Devarajan, Chief Economist of the South Asia Region at the World Bank, has recently started a blog to "create a conversation around how South Asia can end poverty in a generation". Its name: End Poverty in South Asia

 

Paul Krugman has also started blogging at the New York Times.

 

Welcome to the blogosphere !

Adept Poverty Analysis

Submitted by Ignacio on Tue, 09/18/2007 - 16:14

The World Bank's Development Research Group has recently launched a new software platform for automated, faster economic analysis.

 

According to our colleagues, the new software package, ADePT (Automated DEC Poverty Tables), "simplifies and speeds up routine poverty analysis and helps to minimize errors. It also introduces new techniques and methods of applied economic analysis to a wider audience. It can be used as a tool for sensitivity analysis, data checking, and as an educational tool. By producing a standard set of tables and graphs, the program allows comparisons of poverty statistics across countries."

 

ADePT is free and can be easily downloaded from the Bank's website.

 

More information, and installation instructions.

Fridays Academy: The Labor Market, Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction

Submitted by Ignacio on Fri, 09/14/2007 - 10:03

 

We continue our Fridays Academy series, as usual with lecture notes from Raj Nallari and Breda Griffith.

 

Labor Supply

 

Labor supply depends on population—its age composition, gender composition, skill level, global distribution and migration patterns.  The exhibit below examines labor supply trends by region for 1980 and 1999 and forecasts to 2015. Developing economies account for 74% of the global working age population and these economies’ labor forces are expected to expand very rapidly over the coming decade.  Across the regions, the labor force in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and the Middle East North Africa is expected to increase by at least 2 percent per year. Population growth is the principal factor driving labor force growth and, while this has slowed in developing countries, the working age population continues to increase (as population growth slowdown only feeds through to a labor force slowdown with a lag).   

 

Labor Supply Trends by Region, 1980 – 2015

Shed some light on Africa

Submitted by Ignacio on Wed, 09/12/2007 - 16:25

Literally ... and win up to $200,000 to do it.

 

The World Bank's Development Marketplace has recently launched the Lighting Africa Grant Competition.

 

The World Bank Group and its partners are pleased to announce a Development Marketplace (DM) competition for the design and delivery of low cost, high quality, non-fossil fuel-based lighting products targeting low income consumers in Sub-Saharan Africa.  The DM is part of the broader Lighting Africa program managed by the World Bank Group which seeks to reach 250 million customers with modern, affordable lighting by 2030.

 

Deadline to submit proposals is October 31, 2007.

 

The CGD recently blogged about this bright idea.

More information on the Lighting Africa initiative.

Development Marketplace 2007 Global Competition winners.

The Poverty and Growth Blog is back

Submitted by Ignacio on Tue, 09/11/2007 - 17:09

... a bit later than planned. Apologies.

 

Our excuses also to those who sent comments during the Summer and didn't see them published. The spam we have been getting has reached overwhelming levels and we have to redesign slightly the "comment" section. It should be working very soon.

 

We will also continue with our Fridays Academy series, and will add new features in upcoming weeks, so stay tuned.

 

Thank you