The question of what countries trade, and why is a complex and pressing one. This blog characterizes the specific activities involved in exports, providing an understanding that goes beyond…

Hagen Kruse, Marcel Timmer, Xianjia Ye, Gaaitzen de Vries, Deborah Winkler |

The substantial infrastructure needs in Sub-Saharan Africa cannot be met without sizeable private-sector financing. Anecdotal evidence from a recent IFC study shows improved regulatory frameworks…

Zivanemoyo Chinzara, Sebastien Dessus, Stephan Dreyhaupt |

Investments in human capital will be affected by climate change, and like every sector of the economy, the education sector will need to adjust. This blog analyses alternatives for adapting…

Patrick Behrer, Alaka Holla |

This blog is a biweekly feature highlighting recent working papers from around the World Bank Group. It introduces four papers published from November 1 to November 15 on various topics, including…

Marcelo Buitron, Policy Research Working Paper team |

One year since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the level of education became the main predictor of joblessness in Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria, and Uganda. These four countries represent 34% of…

Ivette Maria Contreras-González, Gbemisola Oseni, Amparo Palacios-Lopez, Janneke Pieters, Michael Weber |

The COVID-19 pandemic was one of the largest global shocks in recent history, but it did not increase extreme poverty in Africa as it was feared it would. The reason may be a combination of things…

Kibrom A. Abay, Nishant Yonzan, Sikandra Kurdi, Kibrom Tafere |

This blog is a biweekly feature highlighting recent working papers from around the World Bank Group. It introduces five papers published in August 2022 on various topics, including COVID-19…

Marcelo Buitron, Policy Research Working Paper team |

The World Bank's Global Tax Program explores the gender dimensions of tax systems, aiming to help developing countries formulate tax policies with a gender lens. Results from three countries…

Caren Grown, Ceren Ozer, Chiara Bronchi |

One objective of fiscal policy is to stabilize a country’s macroeconomic environment. Countercyclical fiscal measures intend to offset the effects of the economic cycle on a country’s economy. For…

Jose Luis Diaz Sanchez, Joana Monteiro da Mota |

With daily reports of infections and lives lost, along with schools, workplaces, and public places shut down, one has to simply look around to observe the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on our…

Kidus Fikremariam |