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 |

Detailed data on the spatial distribution of jobs is crucial, but such data are rarely available. This study develops a machine learning algorithm that relies on widely available public data to…

Paolo Avner, Jun Rentschler, Samira Barzin, Neave O'Clery |

Las empresas privadas son la columna vertebral de la mayoría de las economías en desarrollo. Proporcionan 9 de cada 10 empleos, generan ingresos fiscales para financiar proyectos de…

Martin Spicer |

Despite Romania’s great success in catching up with the European Union, progress on living standards remains fragile.

Donato De Rosa, Alexandria Valerio |

The force of digitalization is driving the global economy, creating distinct groups of leaders and laggards. Through institutional reform that leverages the advantages of digitalization, the…

Carlo Maria Rossotto, Marolla Haddad |

Few countries can match Cabo Verde’s development progress over the past quarter of a century. Its Gross National Income per capita (GNI) grew six-fold. Extreme poverty fell by two-thirds from 30%…

Rob Swinkels, Rohan Longmore |

Photo: The central square of the old town. Brasov. Transylvania. By Ann Stryzhekin/ Shutterstock When U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in Yokohama in 1854, it was a backwater village in Japan…

Marcel Ionescu-Heroiu, Yuko Arai |

We all have regular bills to pay for the ubiquitous services we consume – whether they be for utilities (water, heating, electricity etc.), credit cards, memberships, or car payments.  But, not…

Georgia Harley, Svetozara Petkova |

For the poor and vulnerable of the world, jobs are key to ending poverty and driving development. But not all jobs are equally transformational.  Photo: Jonathan Ernst / World Bank Jobs are what…

Alvaro Gonzalez |