From East to West, the economies of Europe and Central Asia (ECA) are not taking full advantage of the internet to foster economic growth and job creation. The residents of Central Asia and the South Caucasus pay some of the highest prices in the world for internet connections that are slow and unreliable. In contrast...

Ineffective policies can persist, while potentially effective policies are often not adopted. World development report 2017: governance and the law explores why some policies fail to achieve desired outcomes and what makes other policies work.

Whenever disaster strikes, it leaves more than just a trail of devastation - it also leaves communities further in the grip of poverty. And yet, when we hear of natural disasters today, their financial cost - that is, the damage inflicted on buildings, infrastructure, and agricultural production - is what catches the headlines. New research...

Five years on from the adoption of ‘A Public Financial Management Roadmap for Forum Island Countries’, a roadmap for Public Financial Management (PFM) reform in Forum Island Countries, this report examines experiences of PFM reform in two Pacific island countries in order to inform future improvements.

Pacific Island countries face unique development challenges. They are far away from major markets, often with small populations spread across many islands and vast distances, and are at the forefront of climate change and its impacts. Because of this, much research has focused on the challenges and constraints faced by Pacific Island countries, and finding...