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At Home or Away: Graduate Aspirations and the Search for Economic Mobility in Myanmar
No full textThis report presents findings from the Myanmar INsights on Graduate Aspirations and Labor Activity (MINGALA) Panel Survey conducted in 2024 and 2025, tracking the
aspirations, labor market experiences, and migration intentions of tertiary-educated
youth ages 20–45. Against the backdrop of prolonged political instability, economic
contraction, and labor market disruption, the survey offers rare insights into the
evolving priorities and constraints faced by Myanmar’s emerging generation.
The findings highlight strong and persistent aspirations for economic mobility. Respondents across all backgrounds reported high income goals—typically three to four times their current earnings— alongside ambitions to own homes, businesses, and vehicles. Over half identified entrepreneurship as their primary professional goal, with a marked desire to transition out of wage employment, particularly among those who feel underutilized in their current roles. Financial stability and career advancement are the most cited personal priorities, underscoring the economic orientation of youth ambitions
Thailand Economic Monitor, February 2026: Advanced Green Manufacturing for Growth
No full textGrowth is projected to slow to 1.6 percent in 2026 before edging up to about 2.3 percent in 2027 as global and domestic demand conditions stabilize while foreign direct investment (FDI) in new industries begins to materialize. Thailand’s 2025 downturn has brought long-standing structural constraints into sharper focus - an aging industrial base, eroding export and tourism competitiveness, high household debt, and tightening fiscal buffers, and clarified reform opportunities to support stronger investment, consumption and labor markets. While manufacturing momentum softened even as exports temporarily surged, the economy continues to benefit from solid external linkages, a current account surplus, and contained inflation. Downside risks dominate, underscoring the need to strengthen competition, upgrade skills, and rebuild fiscal space to lift productivity, boost quality investments in rising industries, such as advanced green manufacturing, and support more resilient, job-creating growth
Myanmar Digital Sector Monitoring Note
No full textThe analysis contextualizes recent developments within the trajectory of post-2021 institutional evolution, examining how political transition consequences—including operator market exit, regulatory fragmentation, infrastructure damage during civil unrest, internet shutdown proliferation, and the enactment of the Cybersecurity Law 2025—created structural constraints distinct from pre-2021 market conditions. Where necessary for sectoral comprehension, the report provides existing infrastructure architecture and regulatory background to establish contextual knowledge regarding operational constraints and institutional frameworks shaping current digital service delivery. Baseline data (2010-2020) from before the change in authority, are referenced selectively where appropriate for establishing magnitude-of-change benchmarks (such as smartphone connection growth from 6,700 in 2010 to 52.9 million in 2024), but these historical series are treated as contextual rather than predictive frameworks, given that pre-2021 operating conditions—including four competing mobile operators, functional rule-of-law institutions, and open internet policy regimes—no longer characterize Myanmar's digital ecosystem. By anchoring the analytical timeline to post-2021 developments while acknowledging pre-transition baselines, this report provides policy-relevant monitoring that reflects contemporary constraints and opportunities rather than extrapolating from obsolete institutional arrangements
Electric Mobility in Developing Countries: Cost Benefit Analysis and Policy Guidance
No full textThis report builds on the analytical framework first developed in a 2023 World Bank publication. While the earlier study focused on passenger vehicle electrification across 20 countries through 2030, the analysis in the present report expands to both passenger and freight vehicles and extends across 40 developing countries through 2035, providing a more complete picture of electrification in the transport sector. Meanwhile, the present study refines the earlier model using more granular
and up-to-date data and parameters and expands the capacity to assess the financial viability of electric vehicles (EVs) from the perspective of individual users or operators over a vehicle’s lifetime. Additionally, this study provides initial insights into how the shift to EVs may affect manufacturing jobs. The report addresses when, where, and for which vehicle segments the transition to EVs makes economic sense, and how the transition can be governed and integrated into broader mobility development strategies. Segment-specific policy recommendations informed by the analytical
findings are offered to support decision-makers seeking policy guidance in the evolving EV market
Livable Pacific Cities and Towns. Spotlight: Mapping Risk, Building Resilience - Exposure Analysis of Pacific Urban Areas
No full textCities and towns in the Pacific region face significant risks from natural hazards. These risks are projected to increase with climate change and increasing urbanization, yet they are not well understood. As a complementary technical report to Livable Pacific Cities and Towns: Urbanization Strategies for Resilience, Sustainability, and Inclusion, this Spotlight details the results from risk modeling and scientific analyses designed by World Bank staff to identify the exposure at risk (EaR) from critical natural hazards in 38 urban areas in 10 Pacific Island Countries (PICs). The key findings are summarized in Box 4 of the Livable Pacific Cities and Towns main report. These results can support more technical decision-makers and practitioners by informing urban planning and risk reduction interventions, guiding disaster risk financing, shaping adaptive social protection measures, and providing a baseline for future assessments and analyses
Innovative Approaches to Forest Fire Management and Agricultural Transformation in Northern Thailand: Developing Fire Risk Mapping and Management Systems - Integrating Disruptive Technologies for Impact Monitoring
No full textThis report presents the findings from the first of two activities conducted under the World Bank’s Advisory Services and Analytics project, with the primary aim of gaining insights into the increasing threats posed by wildfire outbreaks to both forests and local communities in Thailand. This report focuses on fire risk; the report for the second activity, to be published separately, will focus on the agriculture value chain and its relationship with fire risks. The key goal of this report is to outline recommendations to increase the effectiveness of wildfire management, particularly in early warning systems and emergency response. Key components of this report include: an analysis of fire risk mapping (FRM) and its role in improving wildfire management; a proposed framework for the design of a Fire Management Information System (FMIS); and a summary of key findings from stakeholder consultations; policy recommendations for fire management that are applicable to Thailand as well as to other countries facing similar challenges. Through these recommendations, the report aims to provide actionable strategies to strengthen fire risk management and support more effective wildfire prevention and response efforts
The Effects of Digital Literacy on Wages in Europe and Central Asia
Full text linkDigital skills are becoming increasingly more important in the labor market as demand for them is increasing in all sectors. This paper explores the determinants of digital skill acquisition and estimates the impact of digital skills on wages in developing countries by using the latest round of the Life in Transition Survey from 30 countries in the Europe and Central Asia region. The results show that acquisition of digital skills is correlated with individual characteristics including age, education, and gender but also with household characteristics such as household income, place of residence, and parents’ educational attainment. These disparities translate directly into labor market outcomes: individuals with advanced digital skills earn, on average, 18.9 percent higher wages than those without such skills, with substantial heterogeneity within and between regions. The wage premium for high digital skills is higher in Central Asia, the South Caucasus, Eastern Europe, and Central Europe. Moreover, the results show that larger firms offer significantly higher premiums for digital skills
How Do Organizations Learn? The Diffusion of Scientific Evidence on Generative AI
Full text linkThis paper studies information diffusion in a large organization through a field experiment at the World Bank. The paper focuses on transmission of scientific evidence on the impacts of generative artificial intelligence by experimentally varying whether research findings are shared with senior or junior staff, and varying beliefs about peer adoption and evidence credibility. Providing evidence to senior staff significantly increases transmission and diffusion as measured by engagement with study materials and colleagues’ recall of study details. In contrast, changing beliefs about peer adoption or credibility has no detectable effects. The results highlight the importance of organizational hierarchy in shaping informal information flows
La Mujer, la Empresa y el Derecho 2026: Comparación de las leyes que influyen en el empleo y el crecimiento inclusivo
Full text linkWomen, Business and the Law 2026 is the 11th in a series of annual studies measuring the laws and policies that affect women’s economic opportunity in 190 economies.
The 2026 edition presents an updated Women, Business and the Law 2.0, a new framework that assesses three pillars capturing both de jure and de facto dimensions of gender equality: legal frameworks, supportive frameworks, and enforcement perceptions.
Women, Business and the Law 2026 updates its index of 10 topics structured around a working woman’s life cycle: Safety, Mobility, Work, Pay, Marriage, Parenthood, Childcare, Entrepreneurship, Assets, and Pension. This edition also includes important methodological updates, including a new partial-credit scoring approach and revisions to several questions across topics.
By examining laws affecting the economic decisions that women make throughout their lives, the frameworks supporting the implementation of those laws, and the perceptions of experts on the extent to which those laws are enforced, Women, Business and the Law continues to gather new evidence of the critical relationship between legal gender equality and women’s economic empowerment. Data in Women, Business and the Law 2026 are current as of October 1, 2025.Les Femmes, l’Entreprise et le Droit 2026 est la onzième d’une série d’études annuelles qui mesurent les lois et politiques qui influent sur les opportunités économiques des femmes dans 190 économies.
L’édition 2026 présente une version actualisée du rapport Les Femmes, l’Entreprise et le Droit 2.0, un nouveau cadre qui évalue trois piliers qui saisissent les dimensions de droit et de facto de l’égalité des genres : les cadres juridiques, les cadres favorables et les perceptions en matière d’application.
Le rapport Les Femmes, l’Entreprise et le Droit 2026 actualise son indice de 10 sujets structurés autour du cycle de vie d’une femme active : sécurité, mobilité, travail, rémunération, mariage, parentalité, garde d’enfants, entrepreneuriat, actifs et retraite. Cette édition comprend également d’importantes mises à jour méthodologiques, y compris une nouvelle approche de notation partielle des crédits et des révisions de plusieurs questions couvrant tous les thèmes.
En examinant les lois qui influent sur les décisions économiques prises par les femmes tout au long de leur vie, les cadres soutenant la mise en œuvre de ces lois et les perceptions des experts quant au degré d’application de ces lois, le rapport Les Femmes, l’Entreprise et le Droit continue de recueillir de nouvelles preuves de la relation essentielle entre l’égalité juridique des sexes et l’autonomisation économique des femmes. Les données du rapport Les Femmes, l’Entreprise et le Droit 2026 sont à jour au 1er octobre 2025.La Mujer, la Empresa y el Derecho 2026 es el undécimo de una serie de estudios anuales en los que se analizan las leyes y políticas que inciden en las oportunidades económicas de las mujeres en 190 economías.
En la edición de 2026 se presenta una versión actualizada de la versión actualizada de Mujer, empresa y el derecho 2.0, un nuevo marco que evalúa tres pilares que reflejan las dimensiones de la igualdad de género tanto de jure como de facto: marcos jurídicos, marcos de apoyo y percepciones de cumplimiento.
La Mujer, la Empresa y el Derecho 2026 actualiza su índice de 10 temas estructurados en torno al ciclo de vida de la mujer trabajadora: seguridad, movilidad, trabajo, remuneración, matrimonio, parentalidad, cuidado infantil, emprendimiento, activos y jubilación. En esta edición también se incluyen importantes actualizaciones metodológicas, como un nuevo enfoque de calificación parcial de créditos y revisiones de varias preguntas sobre distintos temas.
Al examinar las leyes que afectan las decisiones económicas que las mujeres toman a lo largo de sus vidas, los marcos que respaldan la aplicación de esas leyes y las percepciones de los expertos sobre la medida en que se aplican esas leyes, La Mujer, la Empresa y el Derecho continúa recopilando nuevas pruebas de la relación crítica entre la igualdad de género ante la ley y el empoderamiento económico de las mujeres. Los datos del informe La Mujer, la Empresa y el Derecho 2026 están actualizados al 1 de octubre de 2025.Mulheres, Empresas e a Lei 2026 é o 11º de uma série de estudos anuais que medem as leis e políticas que afetam as oportunidades econômicas das mulheres em 190 economias.
A edição de 2026 apresenta uma atualização sobre Mulheres, Empresas e o Direito 2.0, um novo marco que avalia três pilares que capturam as dimensões de jure e de fato da igualdade de gênero: marcos legais, marcos de apoio e percepções de aplicação.
Mulheres, Empresas e o Direito 2026 atualiza seu índice de 10 tópicos estruturados em torno do ciclo de vida de uma mulher trabalhadora: Segurança, Mobilidade, Trabalho, Remuneração, Casamento, Paternidade, Cuidados com os Filhos, Empreendedorismo, Ativos e Pensão. Esta edição também inclui importantes atualizações metodológicas, inclusive uma nova abordagem de pontuação de crédito parcial e revisões de várias perguntas em todos os tópicos.
Ao examinar as leis que afetam as decisões econômicas que as mulheres tomam ao longo de suas vidas, as estruturas que sustentam a implementação dessas leis e as percepções de especialistas sobre até que ponto essas leis são aplicadas, Mulheres, Empresas e o Direito continua a reunir novas evidências da relação crítica entre a igualdade jurídica de gênero e o empoderamento econômico das mulheres. Os dados sobre Mulheres, Empresas e a Lei 2026 estão atualizados em 1º de outubro de 2025
From Risk to Resilience: Helping People and Firms Adapt in South Asia
Full text linkSouth Asia is the most climate-vulnerable region among emerging market and developing economies. With governments having limited room to act due to fiscal constraints, the burden of climate adaptation will fall primarily on households and firms. Awareness of climate risks is high; more than three-quarters of households and firms expect a weather shock in the next 10 years. Climate adaptation is widespread, with 63 percent of firms and 80 percent of households having taken action. However, most rely on basic, low-cost solutions rather than leveraging advanced technologies and public infrastructure. Market imperfections and income constraints limit access to information, finance, and technologies needed for more effective adaptation. If these obstacles were removed, private sector adaptation could offset about one-third of the potential damage from rising global temperatures on South Asian economies. The policy priority for governments is therefore to facilitate private sector adaptation through a comprehensive policy package. The package includes climate-specific measures such as improving weather information access, promoting resilient technologies and weather insurance, and investing in protective infrastructure in a targeted manner. Equally important are broader developmental initiatives with resilience co-benefits: in other words, policies that generate double dividends. These include strengthening core public goods like transportation, water systems, and healthcare; addressing barriers to accessing markets, inputs, and finance without causing unintended responses that increase vulnerabilities; and supporting vulnerable groups through shock-responsive social protection