World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
Not a member yet
39632 research outputs found
Sort by
Firm-level Evidence from Textual Analysis of Patents and Earnings Calls
No full textThis paper uncovers new stylized
facts on the emergence and diffusion of green technologies
across countries, sectors, and firms. It draws on the
textual analysis of patents and corporate earnings calls
matched with multi-country, firm-level panel data for
2012–2021. The paper documents the growing importance of
green technologies after 2019, as revealed by a rapid
increase in the share of earnings calls transcripts
mentioning keywords associated with them. Among initially
high-emissions firms, those that mentioned green
technologies in earnings calls tended to observe a decline
in carbon emissions in subsequent years. Buyer-supplier
relationships and innovation partnerships with these firms,
especially when they had high-emissions intensity, are
systematically linked with the diffusion of green technologies
Regulating Markets So More People Find Better Jobs
No full textThis paper proposes a dynamic
regulatory framework that adapts to the evolving
structural transformation of economies across sectoral,
spatial, occupational, and organizational dimensions. It
highlights how well-designed and appropriately enforced
labor and product market regulations (LMRs and PMRs) can
enhance labor market outcomes, support job creation, and
improve employment quality. A dynamic approach involves
tailoring regulations to economic shifts, market failures,
and administrative capacities, fostering structural
transformation while addressing emerging challenges
associated with service-led growth and digitalization. The
paper advocates for a much greater investment in labor
market observatories (LMOs) as tools to guide data-driven,
agile regulatory responses akin to monetary policy
adjustments. By integrating LMR and PMR, it outlines a path
toward sustainable economic transformation, while discussing
political economy challenges inherent in implementing
dynamic regulatory frameworks
Reviving Demand, Regaining Momentum
No full textChina’s gross domestic product (GDP)
growth has moderated since the second quarter of 2024, owing
to subdued domestic demand. The government has responded to
the domestic demand slowdown with incremental policy
stimulus, balancing short-term growth support with longer
term de-risking objectives. While monetary policy has been
eased, its impact has been constrained by subdued credit
demand. Despite lower down payment ratios and mortgage
rates, state-financed purchase of housing inventories, and
liquidity support to developers, the property sector remains
weak in the face of dampened housing demand. The outlook is
subject to domestic and external risks. Domestically, a more
persistent downturn in the property sector could further
temper investment and local government revenues. Tighter
local government financing, in turn, can lead to
under-execution of fiscal policies, dampening growth.
China’s growth slowdown is partly driven by structural
factors, such as structurally low consumption, high property
developer and local government debt, and an aging
population. Addressing these challenges requires structural
reforms to address vulnerabilities and sustain growth. Key
priorities include (i) fostering domestic demand by
strengthening social safety nets, redirecting fiscal
resources to social spending, and promoting market-oriented
reforms to encourage private sector investment; (ii)
supporting a sustainable property sector recovery by
addressing shortcomings in the property financing mechanism
and resolving the sector’s debt overhang; and (iii) managing
local government financial risks through reform in the
fiscal framework and medium-term subnational fiscal consolidation
Country-Level Impact of Adaptive Safety Nets in the Sahel
No full textIn the Sahel, adaptive social protection (ASP) is a set of social protection policies, systems, and programs that promote human capital, productivity, and resilience of the poorest and strengthen their capacity to prepare for, cope with, and adapt to shocks. Through the delivery of regular social safety nets, economic inclusion interventions, and shock-responsive programs, ASP has demonstrated strong positive impacts on various dimensions in the Sahel. For the poorest and most vulnerable, it has resulted in improvements in household welfare and food security, productivity, and resilience. More broadly, it has shown significant positive impacts on the economy, society, and future generations.Au Sahel, la protection sociale adaptative (PSA) est un ensemble de politiques, systèmes et programmes de protection sociale qui renforcent le capital humain, la productivité et la résilience des plus pauvres, tout en améliorant leur capacité à se préparer, faire face et s’adapter aux chocs. Grâce à la mise en place de filets sociaux réguliers, d’interventions d’inclusion économique et de programmes réactifs aux chocs, la PSA a démontré des impacts positifs significatifs sur diverses dimensions du bien-être au Sahel. Pour les plus pauvres et les plus vulnérables, elle a permis des améliorations du bien-être des ménages, de la sécurité alimentaire, de la productivité et de la résilience. Plus largement, elle a montré des effets positifs importants sur l’économie, la société et les générations futures
Insights and Recommendations
Get PDFVietnam has witnessed impressive economic growth in recent decades, but it continues to have a large share of its workers in the informal sector. The lack of a labor contract for workers in the informal economy excludes them from payroll financed mandatory social insurance (SI) coverage. Among lifecycle risks an individual faces, Vietnam has successfully extended health insurance coverage to those in the informal sector, but similar results have not been replicated for pensions and other short-term benefits. International experience on expanding pension coverage in voluntary schemes suggests that innovation in design, delivery, and incentives is still needed. Vietnam has set a bold target under Resolution 28, of attaining contributor coverage of 60 percent of the labor force and beneficiary coverage of 60 percent of older adults by 2030. The voluntary SI scheme (VSIF) introduced in the 2006 SI Law and implemented from January 1st, 2008, is targeted towards Vietnamese citizens aged 15 years or older who are not eligible to participate in compulsory SI. Expanding coverage in the voluntary scheme will require a multi-stakeholder strategy encompassing the effective use of fiscal incentives, innovation in program design, and strengthening administration as well as service delivery aspects. Section 1 of this report includes an overview of the voluntary pension scheme including institutional arrangements and recent legislative and administrative changes. Section 2 covers the results of the delivery chain assessment while section 3 includes findings of the voluntary scheme desirability survey (VSDS) of 900 individuals across three provinces carried out to understand respondents’ awareness and perception of the scheme and their preferences for alternate design options in the VSIF. Section 4 concludes with recommendations for improvement to design, delivery, and incentives in the scheme with the aim of informing the 2024 SI law revision and aiding the coverage expansion efforts
Technology Sophistication across Establishments
No full textThis paper examines technology
sophistication in establishments. To comprehensively measure
technology sophistication, a grid is created that covers key
business functions and the technologies used to conduct
them. Analyzing data from over 21,000 establishments in 15
countries, the authors find that the most widely used
technology is usually not the most sophisticated available
in the business function. There is significant variation in
technology sophistication across and within countries,
explaining 31% of productivity dispersion and over half of
the agricultural productivity gap. The sophistication of
widely used technologies is more relevant for productivity
than the most advanced technologies. More sophisticated
technologies are appropriate for both developed and
developing countries
E-mobility Transition in Viet Nam
No full textViet Nam’s real GDP growth reached 7.1 percent in 2024, driven by a strong rebound in exports, outpacing most regional peers. External demand strongly rebounded in 2024 after a contraction in 2023. Final consumption and investment growth also accelerated in 2024 reaching 6.6 and 7.2 percent, respectively, supporting the growth momentum. However, private consumption remained a moderate driver of aggregate demand relative to the region (54 percent of GDP compared to a median of 61.7 percent, respectively) as household savings increased amid heightened uncertainty in recent years. Viet Nam’s GDP growth is forecast to moderate to 6.8 percent in 2025 before settling at 6.5 percent in 2026. The rebound in exports in 2024 is expected to ease in 2025 and further into 2026 due to projected economic slowdown in China and the United States in the near-team - Viet Nam’s largest trade partners – and uncertain global trade prospects from shifts in trade policy. Domestic activities and services are expected to continue to firm up in 2025 and into 2026 as the real estate market recovery gathers steam. The outlook for Viet Nam remains positive but with heightened uncertainties. Given Viet Nam’s openness to the global economy, the main uncertainty stems from slower-than-expected global growth and trade disruptions, particularly among major trading partners such as the United States, European Union, and China. Such developments, including heightened uncertainties from trade policy shifts and deepening trade fragmentation, could impact Viet Nam’s manufacturing exports, industrial production, and growth. On the other hand, increased public investment could further support demand and contribute to growth. An accelerated recovery in the real estate market thanks to faster project clearance could further boost domestic demand. The special focus of this edition focuses on preparing e-mobility transition in the transport sector. This analysis examines the critical steps required to decarbonize road transportation in Vietnam by using electric vehicles and rolling out a network of public charging stations. It explores the implications of this transition on electricity demand, greenhouse gas emissions, and job creation. The report presents a set of recommendations to achieve the Government’s ambitious target of having 50 percent of urban vehicles and 100 percent of urban buses and taxis powered by electricity or green energy by 2030, and subsequently reaching 100 percent for all road vehicles by 2050
Transforming Fiscal Policy into an Engine of Inclusive Growth
No full textFollowing a decade of low and unstable growth, Lesotho has a unique opportunity to build a new foundation for robust and inclusive development. As real GDP growth pivoted from a 6.3 percent expansion in 2012 to an 8.2 percent contraction in 2020, per capita income levels declined sharply, and Lesotho’s hopes of improving living standards slipped away. However, the country now has a chance to return to a convergence path, as the second phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP-II), increased revenue transfers from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), and the renegotiation of water royalties from South Africa are expected to drive economic activity and provide resources for much-needed social spending and infrastructure investment. Seizing this opportunity will require effective prioritization of policies and investments, sound public financial management, and the restoration of sufficient fiscal buffers (savings) to counter negative shocks. This economic update highlights the critical role of fiscal policy in mitigating macroeconomic volatility and fostering sustainable and inclusive growth. It stresses the need for effective fiscal and public investment management reforms to address Lesotho’s economic challenges and unlock opportunities for development. Aligning fiscal policies with the goal of inclusive growth is essential to ensure that benefits reach all segments of society
Public and Private Transit: Evidence from Lagos
Get PDFPrivate minibuses dominate transport in many developing country cities. They serve 62% of motorized trips in Lagos, the largest city in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper uses original panel data to measure how private minibuses respond to the rollout of a new public bus network. When the government enters a route, minibuses depart less frequently, drivers’ profits fall, and drivers switch to connected routes, reducing prices. A custom application was developed to estimate how commuters trade off prices and wait times using a RCT. The private response harms commuters on treated routes, who wait longer, but benefits those on connected routes, who face only lower prices. The disciplining effect of the new system on prices dominates on average, so that commuters overall benefit from the introduction of public transit, while minibus drivers lose revenue. Over one quarter of the commute welfare gains of building the public transit system arise from the response of private transit. Drivers lose welfare equal to 60% of the commuter gains
An Apple a Day: The Impact of Healthier School Meals on Children in Jordan
Get PDFPoor nutritional choices and unhealthy behaviors are considered responsible for the rise in childhood overweight and obesity and may reinforce each other, creating a vicious cycle. This paper studies a primary school intervention designed to break the cycle early in life by replacing date bars with calorie-equivalent meals lower in sugar and fat. Leveraging the randomized pilot of a menu change in Jordan’s national school feeding program, the study shows that children consuming the alternative meals spend 8 percent less money to buy processed snacks, are more physically active (0.1 standard deviation), and go to school one extra day per year