With the global economic challenges that followed the COVID-19 pandemic, combined debt stock of low- and middle-income countries rose by 5.6%, from $8.6 trillion in 2020 to $9 trillion in 2021.…

In advance of the next meeting of the Sovereign Debt Roundtable on April 12, I want to provide a quick update on recent developments and reiterate my call for prompt action toward debt…

We know that when used wisely and transparently, debt is important to finance development. Prudent debt can power economies and pave the way for a resilient future—allowing countries to focus on…

This blog is a biweekly feature highlighting recent working papers from around the World Bank Group. This entry introduces 6 papers published from February 16 to 28 on various topics, including…

As Sri Lanka recovers, it is essential not only to help people escape poverty and vulnerability, but also to strengthen their resilience to future shocks in an increasingly volatile world.

While it is tempting to put the COVID-19 pandemic in the rear-view mirror, now is the time to prepare for future public-health crises. Governments should focus on boosting their health systems’…

This blog is a biweekly feature highlighting recent working papers from around the World Bank Group. It introduces six papers published in January of 2023 on various topics, including gender,…

The sharp rise in U.S. interest rates over the past year poses a significant threat to emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). Its monetary tightening on financial conditions and…

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…

According to the latest Global Economic Prospects report, global growth will slow from 2.9 percent in 2022 to 1.7 percent in 2023. The outlook has several downside risks, including the possibility…