After the break-up of the Soviet Union, the economic contraction in the Kyrgyz Republic was among the worst experienced in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Their output declined by fifty percent between the years 1991 and 1995. The fiscal costs to the country were nothing short of disastrous. Just as the Kyrgyz Republic was about to decisively restore growth and macroeconomic stability, a series of natural disasters and a regional crisis caused another fiscal setback. This report details a set of measures which, if implemented, will restore fiscal stability to the country. It...

This report considers a number of important issues including the reform in the national social security system, pension regime for government workers, funded pension plans to supplement the national social security system, and funded plans to guarantee pension benefits or to supplement them. It examines the inter-linkages and balance between them as well as suggesting remedies.

'China: Overcoming Rural Poverty' assesses the state of poverty in China at the end of the 1990s. The book also evaluates the most effective and efficient means of overcoming the remaining absolute poverty in the new decade. It focuses on China's absolute poor who are increasingly concentrated in remote and mountainous townships and villages. The report places considerable emphasis on the macroeconomic context, and finds that the trends in poverty reduction in the 1990s have been partly determined by larger macroeconomic trends.

This report offers an overview of the challenges and opportunities in addressing the problem of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean. It provides a snapshot of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the region, gives examples of ways in which Caribbean countries and regional bodies such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have responded to the epidemic, and discusses alternative actions for addressing the crisis. This book also highlights a range of strategies for donor coordination and cooperation in the region.

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...