The Czech Republic arrived at the end of the 1990s with an unfinished transformation agenda. Especially apparent were the lingering problems in the major banks and large segments of the corporate sector which led to an unsatisfactory economic performance. The root cause for the poor performance stems from the weak internal and external mechanisms of corporate governance. While the Czech government has made efforts to improve the situation, there are still elements of the restructuring agenda that remain largely absent. This report aims to assist the Czech authorities in their ongoing efforts...

Despite Panama's relatively high-income per capita, poverty remains pervasive. The distribution and magnitude of poverty varies significantly by geographic area, but it is most extreme in the rural and indigenous areas. Disparities in education cause most of the poverty, malnutrition, and inequality. This report on these and other issues of poverty in Panama was prepared as a result of a collaborative process between the government and the World Bank. The process was established to build capacity for, and ownership of, the analysis in the government. The objectives of the report are as...

'Early retirement and lax eligibility for disability are bad for the economy because they reduce labor productivity and the supply of experienced workers, and they are bad for the system because they impose a heavy financial burden that makes it nonsustainable.' Costa Rica is at a turning point with respect to its social security system. While half the work force is covered and beneficiaries have fared well in the past, the pay-as-you-go (PAYG) pension system is unsustainable for the future. This publication describes the present pension system, its shortcomings, and defends the need for...

'Huge sums have been spent on water and sanitation services in Tanzania, but much of that investment is standing idle in the country, producing little or no water for the intended beneficiaries. A major question is whether any of the investment can be salvaged to reduce the burden of water gathering on the population.' - From 'Tanzania: Social Sector Review' Tanzania's social indicators remain among the poorest in the world. This report describes the trends in the social sectors and analyzes the factors that influence these trends. These trends include the performance of the economy,...

Analyzing the efficiency of capital markets is a useful exercise for any country, as a well-functioning capital market can contribute significantly to better resource mobilization and ultimately to a better growth performance. The Czech Republic implemented major reforms in the early 1990s and achieved impressive economic results. However, macroeconomic performance started faltering in 1996. Although the reforms contributed to the Czech economy's early successes, the regulatory framework for enterprises and financial institutions contained several flaws that limited the potential gains from...

'The poverty of individuals and households in Moldova have mirrored the causes of the overall slowdown in the economy. Many enterprises found that the post-Soviet economic structure resulted in a vast increase in the ratio of their input prices to the market price of their output.' Moldova is having an arduous transition from being a centrally-planned economy to one that is guided by market signals. This and the regional crisis in 1998 have exacerbated poverty and inequality levels in Moldova. This report provides a detailed analysis of the situation regarding living standards in the country...

After being immersed in almost three decades of civil conflict, the prevailing peace and political stability in Ethiopia allowed its government to focus on rebuilding its economy. As an integral part of this undertaking, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is seeking to overhaul the landscape of human capital development in the country. This report discusses the situation and trends in education, health, nutrition, and population. It also examines the barriers to improvement from the points of view of Ethiopian households and public and private suppliers of services. It also attempts...

A combination of economic development, improved education, increased access to safe water, and improved basic health programs has enabled Honduras to improve the health status of its population over the last three decades an accomplishment of which the country can be justly proud. This paper examines the achievements of the Honduran health sector and discusses the challenges that need to be faced to modernize public sector financing, to improve public sector service provision, and to develop an appropriate policy and regulatory framework for pharmaceuticals and social security."

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