Policies that can keep individuals employed for a longer time are especially important as societies age and governments would like to encourage older workers and workers in less good health to…

Judit Krekó, Daniel Prinz, Andrea Weber |

To capture the immediate and ongoing effects of the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai submarine volcano, the World Bank carried out phone surveys in partnership with the Governments of…

Shohei Nakamura, Utz Pape |

Focusing on Kiribati, Tonga and Vanuatu, in late 2020 the World Bank conducted roughly 450 interviews with temporary migrant workers, their families and communities, and their employers. We…

Kirstie Petrou, Dung Doan, Ursula Casabonne |

Firms play an important role in the impact of payroll taxes on their workers and different firms respond differently to payroll tax cuts. Findings suggest that governments need to consider the…

Anikó Bíró, Réka Branyiczki, Attila Lindner, Lili Márk, Daniel Prinz |

The World Bank Group’s earlier resilience projects and recent support to Tonga’s emergency response and recovery efforts – including a development policy loan of over US$18M – have been vital in…

Alina Monica Antoci |

The Russian invasion of Ukraine threatens the uneven recovery of East Asia and Pacific. The invasion comes on top of the economic distress caused by the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, the financial…

Aaditya Mattoo, Ekaterine T. Vashakmadze, Ergys Islamaj |

Physical infrastructure has a critical role to play in supporting post-pandemic recovery and in laying the longer-term foundations for green, resilient, and inclusive development.

Riccardo Puliti |

Many Caribbean islands are battling not only with the COVID-19 pandemic , but also compounding hazards during the Atlantic hurricane season. However, within the region, the Overseas Countries and…

Kerri Cox, Rendell Ernest de Kort, Stefan Leeffers, Mary Boyer |

Tonga has been concerned about the health implications of a lack of available and affordable fresh fish in local markets. This blog explores three ways to boost food security and foster healthy…

Tu’ikolongahau Halafihi, Sutayut Osornprasop, Sione Hufanga |

A new paper, How could the Pacific restore international travel after COVID?, highlights the benefits of a phased approach to opening up the Pacific, alongside the potential pitfalls, and less…

Andrew Blackman, Hamish Wyatt |