This publication identifies the key drivers of Ukraine's recent trade performance, assesses current trade policies, and proposes recommendations to strengthen the Ukraine's trade integration strategy. It also identifies core... more
This publication identifies the key drivers of Ukraine's recent trade performance, assesses current trade policies, and proposes recommendations to strengthen the Ukraine's trade integration strategy. It also identifies core bottlenecks in the ongoing integration processes, including global and regional integration. The study concludes that the main obstacles to furthering Ukraine's trade integration are domestic, and relate to deficiencies in the business environment. Problems in customs administration, standardization, and administrative barriers for new entry require immediate attention. The report highlights specific policy issues that hamper World Trade Organization (WTO) accession, such as trade legislation, protection of intellectual property rights, government support for specific industries, and export restrictions. It also recommends improvements in the structure of Ukraine's import tariffs, reform of both the regime of free economic zones and mechanism of ...
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In the second half of the 20th century several world economies have benefited considerably by capitalizing on their links with national Diasporas. China and Israel seem to be the best-known examples of countries that received a major... more
In the second half of the 20th century several world economies have benefited considerably by capitalizing on their links with national Diasporas. China and Israel seem to be the best-known examples of countries that received a major developmental push from their nationals located throughout the world. While in most countries the main Diaspora-related benefit for the domestic economy was and still is associated with private transfers (including remittances), sent by members of Diasporas to their relatives and friends at home, China and Israel managed to complement this traditional financial support by much more active involvement of the Diaspora in their economic development. In these countries, Diaspora investors and entrepreneurs played a critical role in attracting FDI, setting up joint ventures, promoting export of domestic companies, etc. In short, these examples confirm that traditional ethnical and cultural links could be instrumental in facilitating integration into the inte...
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This report reviews the trends in expenditure patterns in public financial management (PFM) in Nigeria since 2001, and assesses the impact thus far o f the ongoing government reform efforts. The PEMFAR covers areas that have been... more
This report reviews the trends in expenditure patterns in public financial management (PFM) in Nigeria since 2001, and assesses the impact thus far o f the ongoing government reform efforts. The PEMFAR covers areas that have been traditionally undertaken by separate Bank reports such as the Public Expenditure Reviews (PER), the Country Financial Accountability Assessment (CFAA), and the Country Procurement Assessment Review (CPAR). The analysis covers fiscal policies and performance at both federal and state government levels.
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Research Interests: Business, Financial management, Child Care, Public sector, Applied Economics, and 15 moreSocial Welfare, World, Health Services, System Analysis, Social Services, Restructuring, Public Service, Small and Medium Size Enterprise, Local Community, Private Sector, Bargaining Power, Level of Service, Subsidy, Public Policy, and Cost Recovery
The paper analyzes the changes in the Russian institutional system in the framework of fundamental interdependence between institutional and economic development. It reviews a number of established international indicators of... more
The paper analyzes the changes in the Russian institutional system in the framework of fundamental interdependence between institutional and economic development. It reviews a number of established international indicators of institutional development. These indicators are used to study the current trends in the development of Russian economic institutions. The authors compare the Russia’s situation with the tendencies in institutional development of the CIS, Eastern European and selected OECD countries. This paper also contains an original multifactor statistical model aimed to explain the fundamental crosscountry institutional differences with a limited set of economic, geographical, cultural and historic factors.
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providing regional fiscal data used in this paper, and to Boris Kopeikin from the Institute of Urban Economy for arranging travel to Yaroslavl. Jorge Ugaz provided invaluable research assistance, and financial support was Sub-national... more
providing regional fiscal data used in this paper, and to Boris Kopeikin from the Institute of Urban Economy for arranging travel to Yaroslavl. Jorge Ugaz provided invaluable research assistance, and financial support was Sub-national fiscal autonomy—the basis for fiscal federalism in modern federations—is meant to serve two roles. First, local control over revenue collection is meant to provide a check on the capacity of central authorities to tax arbitrarily local capital. Second, retention of taxes raised locally is meant to establish incentives for sub-national governmental authorities to foster endemic economic growth as a way of promoting local tax bases. In the Russian Federation, however, fiscally autonomous regions have often resisted market-oriented reforms, the enactment of rule protecting private property, and the dismantling of price controls and barriers to trade. This paper seeks to understand the conditions under which fiscal autonomy prompts regional growth and reco...
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... with higher fiscal decentralization. As the size of municipalities grows, they become capable of providing a wider range of public goods and services, which could not be provided within smallrural communities. The study by the... more
... with higher fiscal decentralization. As the size of municipalities grows, they become capable of providing a wider range of public goods and services, which could not be provided within smallrural communities. The study by the Inter-American Development Bank (1997) found ...
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Russia’s institutional development is characterized by negative dynamics of business environment indicators and positive dynamics of investment and credit risk indicators. Reforms for which the state is responsible (legal reform,... more
Russia’s institutional development is characterized by negative dynamics of business environment indicators and positive dynamics of investment and credit risk indicators. Reforms for which the state is responsible (legal reform, enforcement, regulation, public goods) are stagnating. In 2000-2007 the progress in developing basic market institutions (property rights, shareholders’ rights, land and real estate markets, state property management, bankruptcy and creditors rights) compared with other emerging markets was insufficient. The analysis suggests that legal and regulative support of economic institutions’ development is inadequate. Legislation chronically lags behind economic reality.
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Research Interests: Marketing, Intellectual Property, International Business, Literature, Manufacturing, and 15 moreImmigration, Economic Growth, Developing Countries, Media, Best Practices, Competitive advantage, Immigrants, Information Exchange, Immigrant, Government Policy, Natural Resource, Government Policies, Information Flows, Degrees, and Innovation
ABSTRACT The main objectives of the study were the following: - foster a better understanding of key drivers of recent trade performance; - assess current trade policies and provide additional recommendations to strengthen the... more
ABSTRACT The main objectives of the study were the following: - foster a better understanding of key drivers of recent trade performance; - assess current trade policies and provide additional recommendations to strengthen the Government’s trade integration strategy; - identify core bottlenecks in the ongoing integration processes, especially with respect to WTO accession; and - develop recommendations for Ukraine’s international partners with respect to providing, (a) Ukraine with a level playing field in terms of its access to international trade, and (b) the government with additional technical assistance that would help Ukraine upgrade its trade policies and institutions.
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ABSTRACT Despite a common parentage for most of the 20 century, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan followed seemingly different paths in transition. Whereas Uzbekistan adopted a gradual and cautious approach to market reforms, Kazakhstan followed... more
ABSTRACT Despite a common parentage for most of the 20 century, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan followed seemingly different paths in transition. Whereas Uzbekistan adopted a gradual and cautious approach to market reforms, Kazakhstan followed a more aggressive strategy. Yet, while Kazakhstan may have achieved a better policy environment today, its overall economic performance has not been better than Uzbekistan's. This paper examines the interplay between policies, institutions, and initial conditions, to examine several competing and complementary hypotheses about why they may have led to different macroeconomic outcomes.
ABSTRACT This Report discusses the challenge of budget financing of core structural reforms within a broader framework of fiscal management reforms in Russia. It argues that explicit financing of structural reforms is fully justifiable... more
ABSTRACT This Report discusses the challenge of budget financing of core structural reforms within a broader framework of fiscal management reforms in Russia. It argues that explicit financing of structural reforms is fully justifiable because these are the investments in the institutional infrastructure with a high rate of return. In addition, Russia currently appears to have a fiscal room for some incremental spending. However, the number of simultaneous reform initiatives should be kept limited to ensure that the accumulation of new liabilities do not undermine fiscal sustainability. In addition, the Government’s commitment to explicit reform financing should be accompanied by additional steps in strengthening the fiscal management system. The adoption of formal fiscal rules could strengthen the government’s ability to manage external shocks, as well as provide budget support for the reform process in a predictable and affordable way.
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The paper examines ways to expand the contribution of the Armenian diaspora to Armenia’s long-term development agenda. It identifies factors that could explain the involvement and dynamics of a small group of entrepreneurs from the... more
The paper examines ways to expand the contribution of the Armenian diaspora to Armenia’s long-term development agenda. It identifies factors that could explain the involvement and dynamics of a small group of entrepreneurs from the diaspora who have been active in and with Armenia. Based on these findings, it develops recommendations, consistent with the diaspora’s institutional capabilities, for increasing the number of such business activists and transforming diaspora efforts from humanitarian relief campaigns to business initiatives and development projects. The findings are based on detailed interviews with a group of prominent diaspora activists.
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The paper develops additional economic arguments to emphasize the potential importance of the Diasporas’ contribution to economic transformation of former socialist economies. At the same time, it argues that so far this potential has... more
The paper develops additional economic arguments to emphasize the potential importance of the Diasporas’ contribution to economic transformation of former socialist economies. At the same time, it argues that so far this potential has been grossly underutilized, especially in the economies of the Former Soviet Union (FSU). Based on the analysis of such underutilization for a case of Armenia, the paper provides a set of simple recommendations on how to rationalize the Diaspora’s involvement and assistance to home countries in the course of transition.
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Research Interests: Health Education, Social Protection, Financial management, Public sector, Urban Economics, and 12 moreFiscal policy, Regional Economics, Public Good, Federal Government, Poverty Reduction, Local governance, Local Authority, Economic performance, Budget Deficit, Fiscal Decentralization, Transition Economy, and Tax Revenue
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ABSTRACT The chapter aims to develop an indirect or pragmatic approach to facilitate this virtuous cycle of diaspora-home country interactions. This approach favors “high-resolution” diaspora policies — ones that cultivate the... more
ABSTRACT The chapter aims to develop an indirect or pragmatic approach to facilitate this virtuous cycle of diaspora-home country interactions. This approach favors “high-resolution” diaspora policies — ones that cultivate the project-specific relationships and commitments of movers and shakers (both in the diaspora and in homeland institutions) that might make a significant difference and are counted in tens and hundreds, not thousands or tens of thousands. This novel indirect approach is contrasts conventional direct, or administrative, approaches. The indirect approach is currently in its infancy, which is why we had to rely on our personal policy experience perhaps more than is usual in the context of academic literature.
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Research Interests: Information Technology, Literature, Higher Education, Immigration, Health Care, and 15 moreHuman Development, Media, Middle East, Power, Immigrants, Nation Building, Emigration, Education Systems, Feelings, Latin American, Professional associations, Entry Barriers, Immigration Policy, Prejudices, and Emigrants
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In September 2008, the IET’s Department for Economic Situation Surveys conducted a business survey among Russian industrial enterprises aimed at identifying the existing obstacles to successful economic development. Within the business... more
In September 2008, the IET’s Department for Economic Situation Surveys conducted a business survey among Russian industrial enterprises aimed at identifying the existing obstacles to successful economic development. Within the business survey’s framework the directors of enterprises were offered questions concerning their assessment of the influences of various factors on their enterprises’ development.
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The objective of this paper is to review the structure of the Russian exports and its dynamics over the last decade (the period of 1999-2006 is under review here) in the light of recent theoretical and empirical research findings on the... more
The objective of this paper is to review the structure of the Russian exports and its dynamics over the last decade (the period of 1999-2006 is under review here) in the light of recent theoretical and empirical research findings on the importance of export structures to ensure sustainability of economic growth. A brief overview of the basic results of the modern approach to the study of the relationship between the structure of exports and economic growth is provided. Taking into account these results, the papers reviews both the Russian exports structure and its dynamics and also points the most promising (in terms of a longterm growth potential) products for future expansion of Russia's exports.
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Industrial performance in Belarus remained strong in 2005-08. Industrial productivity growth was broad based, driven by within-firm-improvements of the existing industrial enterprises rather than by new entry. However, below the... more
Industrial performance in Belarus remained strong in 2005-08. Industrial productivity growth was broad based, driven by within-firm-improvements of the existing industrial enterprises rather than by new entry. However, below the surface, there are a number of warning signs regarding the quality and sustainability of the Belarusian industrial growth: wage growth exceeded productivity gains, adversely affecting competitiveness of industry (especially manufacturing) and casting a shadow over medium-term prospects. This reflects, among other things, rigid labor markets and wages and predominance of state owned enterprises in the industrial structure.