April–June 1998
Volume 9, Number 2Publications and Data
For information on how to order the World Bank publications reviewed in this issue, see the order form.
BOOKS
Privatization in Africa
Oliver Campbell White and Anita Bhatia
Directions in Development
This book presents the findings of a World Bank study conducted to determine how privatization has taken place in Africa, what its impact has been, and what the key lessons are for decisionmakers, advisers, practitioners, and donors. The study draws on a database of privatization transactions in Africa, a set of 10 country case studies, and other reports. The book assesses progress, the role and extent of World Bank and donor support of privatization, and ways to improve the process.Household Welfare and Vietnam’s Transition
David Dollar, Paul Glewwe, and Jennie Litvack
Regional and Sectoral Study
Vietnam’s rapid growth has reduced poverty sharply, while its transition from a planned to a market economy has created new challenges for public policy. This volume explores issues such as which macroeconomic and structural reforms led to growth, what effect reform has had on the household economy, and how the transition has affected education, health, fertility, and child nutrition.
JOURNAL
The articles summarized below appear in the May issue of the World Bank Economic Review, vol. 12, no. 2.
A Symposium on Regionalism and Development
Dynamics and Politics in Regional Integration Arrangements: An Introduction
Maurice Schiff and L. Alan Winters
The debate on regional integration has been hampered by the absence of clear analytical models and empirical evidence on many of the factors under discussion. To address some of these issues, a World Bank research program explores new and developing country aspects of regionalism. The articles in this symposium address dynamics, politics, and political economy in regional integration agreements.Returns to Regionalism: An Analysis of Nontraditional Gains from Regional Trade Agreements
Raquel Fernández and Jonathan Portes
This article examines several possible benefits that regional trade agreements may confer on their partners, including credibility, signaling, bargaining power, insurance, and coordination. It assesses the necessary conditions for each possible channel to work, gives stylized examples of policy where the benefit might be applicable, and examines real cases where the explanation might be relevant.Trading Arrangements and Industrial Development
Diego Puga and Anthony J. Venables
This article outlines a new approach for analyzing the role of trade in promoting industrial development. It models economic development as the spread of concentrations of firms from country to country. Different trading arrangements may affect this process by changing countries’ attractiveness as a manufacturing base. The analysis shows that unilaterally liberalizing imports of manufactures can promote industrialization but that membership in a preferential trading arrangement is likely to create larger gains.Regional Integration and Economic Growth
Athanasios Vamvakidis
This article presents empirical evidence that countries with open, large, and more developed neighbors grow faster than those with closed, smaller, and less developed neighbors. The results suggest that small economies should grow faster when they form regional trade arrangements with large and more developed economies. But analysis of five regional trade agreements finds that none led to faster growth, mainly, it seems, because most were among small, closed, and developing economies.Regional Integration as Diplomacy
Maurice Schiff and L. Alan Winters
This article builds a model in which regional integration agreements unambiguously raise welfare by correcting for externalities. It assumes that trade between neighboring countries increases trust and reduces the likelihood of conflict. The optimum intervention in that case is a subsidy on imports from the neighbor. The article shows that an equivalent solution is for the neighboring countries to tax imports from the rest of the world—to form a regional integration agreement—and explores issues relating to optimum tariffs.Endogenous Tariff Formation:The Case of Mercosur
Marcelo Olarreaga and Isidro Soloaga
This article compares the results of the theoretical literature on endogenous tariff formation with evidence from Mercosur. The results show that Mercosur’s common external tariff and member countries’ deviations from it and from internal free trade can be explained by sector or industry lobbying as predicted by the literature. If a viable political economy is a key to success, Mercosur is here to stay.A Review Essay
Half a Century of Development Economics: A Review Based on the Handbook of Development Economics
Jean Waelbroeck
The Handbook of Development Economics provides an unmatched perspective on the past half century of research in the field. This article reviews some of the significant findings of the handbook and identifies areas of development economics not covered there. It describes the evolution of the field, from the emphasis on state planning to the "Washington consensus" on macroeconomic management.
DISCUSSION, TECHNICAL, AND RELATED PAPERS
Environmental Management and Institutions in OECD Countries: Lessons from Experience
Magda Lovei and Charles Weiss Jr.
World Bank Technical Paper 391
This study analyzes the experience of several OECD countries to identify factors that influence the role and success of environmental management; possible causes of the discrepancy between national environmental goals and performance; and lessons learned and recommendations for countries establishing or redesigning environmental management systems.Improving Women’s Health in Pakistan
Anne G. Tinker
Human Development Network: Health, Nutrition, and Population Series
Women’s disproportionate poverty, low social status, and reproductive role expose them to high health risks. This report describes the health problems of Pakistani women, whose health and general welfare are among the lowest in the world, and identifies steps to address these problems.Commerical Management and Financing of Roads
Ian Heggie and Piers Vickers
World Bank Discussion Paper 409
Developing and transition economies rely heavily on roads for passenger and freight transport, yet most of their roads are badly maintained and poorly managed. This paper discusses one of the most effective ways to manage and finance road networks—commercialization. It discusses the emerging concept of brining roads into the marketplace, putting them on a fee-for-service basis, and managing them like a business.
POLICY RESEARCH WORKING PAPERS
Working Papers disseminate the findings of work in progress and encourage the exchange of ideas among Bank staff and all others interested in development issues. Working Papers can be downloaded from the Website www.worldbank.org/html/dec/Publications/Workpapers/home.html or requested from the contact person indicated at the Bank’s main address.
How Integration into the Central African Economic and Monetary Community Affects Cameroon’s Economy: General Equilibrium Estimates
Ferdinand Bakoup and David Tarr
WPS 1872 Contact Lili Tabada
room MC3-333, fax 202-522-1159.Wage Misalignment in CFA Countries: Are Labor Market Policies to Blame?
Martin Rama
WPS 1873 Contact Sheila Fallon
room MC3-638, fax 202-522-1153.Health Policy in Poor Countries: Weak Links in the Chain
Deon Filmer, Jeffrey Hammer, and Lant Pritchett
WPS 1874 Contact Sheila Fallon
room MC3-638, fax 202-522-1153.How Deposit Insurance Affects Financial Depth (A Cross-Country Analysis)
Robert Cull
WPS 1875 Contact Paulina Sintim-Aboagye
room MC3-422, fax 202-522-1155.Industrial Pollution in Economic Development (Kuznets Revisited)
Hemamala Hettige, Muthukumara Mani, and David Wheeler
WPS 1876 Contact David Wheeler
room MC2-529, fax 202-522-3230.What Improves Environmental Performance? Evidence from Mexican Industry
Susmita Dasgupta, Hemamala Hettige, and David Wheeler
WPS 1877 Contact David Wheeler
room MC2-529, fax 202-522-3230.Searching for Sustainable Microfinance: A Review of Five Indonesian Initiatives
R. Marisol Ravicz
WPS 1878 Contact Marisol Ravicz
room MC7-789, fax 202-522-3264.Relative Prices and Inflation in Poland, 1989–97: The Special Role of Administered Price Increases
Przemyslaw Wozniak
WPS 1879 Contact Luca Barbone
room J7-133, fax 202-473-8466.Foreign Aid and Rent-Seeking
Jakob Svensson
WPS 1880 Contact Rebecca Martin
room MC3-354, fax 202-522-3518.The Asian Miracle and Modern Growth Theory
Richard R. Nelson and Howard Pack
WPS 1881 Contact Susheela Jonnakuty
room MC2-615, fax 202-522-1154.Interregional Resource Transfer and Economic Growth in Indonesia
Toshihiko Kawagoe
WPS 1882 Contact Rebecca Martin
room MC3-354, fax 202-522-3518.Intersectoral Resource Allocation and Its Impact on Economic Development in the Philippines
Fumihide Takeuchi and Takehiko Hagino
WPS 1883 Contact Kari Labrie
room MC3-347, fax 202-522-3518.Fiscal Aspects of Evolving Federations: Issues for Policy and Research
David E. Wildasin
WPS 1884 Contact Cynthia Bernardo
room MC2-501, fax 202-522-1154.Aid, Taxation, and Development: Analytical Perspectives on Aid Effectiveness in Sub-Saharan Africa
Christopher S. Adam and Stephen A. O’Connell
WPS 1885 Contact Kari Labrie
room MC3-347, fax 202-522-3518.Country Funds and Asymmetric Information
Jeffrey A. Frankel and Sergio L. Schmukler
WPS 1886 Contact Rebecca Martin
room MC3-354, fax 202-522-3518.The Structure of Derivatives Exchanges: Lessons from Developed and Emerging Markets
George Tsetsekos and Panos Varangis
WPS 1887 Contact Pauline Kokila
room MC3-544, fax 202-522-1151.What Do Doctors Want? Developing Incentives for Doctors to Serve in Indonesia’s Rural and Remote Areas
Kenneth M. Chomitz, Gunawan Setiadi, Azrul Azwar, Nusye Ismail, and Widiyarti
WPS 1888 Contact Teri Charvet
room MC2-522, fax 202-522-3230.Development Strategy Reconsidered: Mexico, 1960–94
Toru Yanagihara and Yoshiaki Hisamatsu
WPS 1889 Contact Kari Labrie
room MC3-347, fax 202-522-3518.Market Development in the United Kingdom’s Natural Gas Industry
Andrej Juris
WPS 1890 Contact Sandra Vivas
room Q7-005, fax 202-522-3481.The Housing Market in the Russian Federation: Privatization and Its Implications for Market Development
Alla K. Guzanova
WPS 1891 Contact Sandra Graig
room H12-095, fax 202-477-0288.The Role of Non-Bank Financial Intermediaries (with Particular Reference to Egypt)
Dimitri Vittas
WPS 1892 Contact Paulina Sintim-Aboagye
room MC3-422, fax 202-522-1155.Regulatory Controversies of Private Pension Funds
Dimitri Vittas
WPS 1893 Contact Paulina Sintim-Aboagye
room MC3-422, fax 202-522-1155.Applying a Simple Measure of Good Governance to the Debate on Fiscal Decentralization
Jeff Huther and Anwar Shah
WPS 1894 Contact Silvana Valle
room G6-079, fax 202-522-3124.The Emergence of Markets in the Natural Gas Industry
Andrej Juris
WPS 1895 Contact Sandra Vivas
room Q7-005, fax 202-522-3481.Congestion Pricing and Network Expansion
Thomas-Olivier Nasser
WPS 1896 Contact Sandra Vivas
room Q7-005, fax 202-522-3481.Development of Natural Gas and Pipeline Capacity Markets in the United States
Andrej Juris
WPS 1897 Contact Sandra Vivas
room Q7-005, fax 202-522-3481.Does Membership in a Regional Preferential Trade Arrangement Make a Country More or Less Protectionist?
Faezeh Foroutan
WPS 1898 Contact Lili Tabada
room MC3-333, fax 202-522-1159.Determinants of Emerging Market Bond Spread: Do Economic Fundamentals Matter?
Hong G. Min
WPS 1899 Contact Eany Oh
room MC3-456, fax 202-522-1155.Determinants of Commercial Bank Interest Margins and Profitability: Some International Evidence
Asl1 Demirgüç-Kunt and Harry Huizinga
WPS 1900 Contact Paulina Sintim-Aboagye
room MC3-422, fax 202-522-1155.Reaching Poor Areas in a Federal System
Martin Ravallion
WPS 1901 Contact Patricia Sader
room MC3-632, fax 202-522-1153.When Economic Reform Is Faster than Statistical Reform: Measuring and Explaining Inequality in Rural China
Martin Ravallion and Shaohua Chen
WPS 1902 Contact Patricia Sader
room MC3-632, fax 202-522-1153.Taxing Capital Income in Hungary and the European Union
Jean-Jacques Dethier and Christoph John
WPS 1903 Contact Jennifer Smith
room H11-093, fax 202-477-1440.Ecuador’s Rural Nonfarm Sector as a Route Out of Poverty
Peter Lanjouw
WPS 1904 Contact Peter Lanjouw
room MC3-555, fax 202-522-1153.Child Labor in Côte d’Ivoire: Incidence and Determinants
Christiaan Grootaert
WPS 1905 Contact Gracie Ochieng
room MC5-158, fax 202-522-3247.Developing Countries’ Participation in the World Trade Organization
Constantine Michalopoulos
WPS 1906 Contact Lili Tabada
room MC3-333, fax 202-522-1159.Development Expenditures and the Local Financing Constraint
Albert D. K. Agbonyitor
WPS 1907 Contact Lorraine James
room J10-282, fax 202-473-8262.How Dirty Are "Quick and Dirty" Methods of Project Appraisal?
Dominique van de Walle and Dileni Gunewardena
WPS 1908 Contact Cynthia Bernardo
room MC2-501, fax 202-522-1154.Capital Market Responses to Environmental Performance in Developing Countries
Susmita Dasgupta, Benoît Laplante, and Nlandu Mamingi
WPS 1909 Contact Roula Yazigi
room MC2-622, fax 202-522-3230.
ELECTRONIC INFORMATION AND DATA
The World Bank has adopted different strategies to identify policy problems and to communicate the findings of analysis of those problems. Aware that much of the development community does not yet have access to electronic communications, the Bank continues to channel most of its dissemination and outreach through other media, including the Bulletin. But electronic media are providing new avenues for interchange between Bank researchers and the broad development community that can improve the relevance of Bank research and the dissemination of findings.
Electronic communications, by allowing direct and frequent interaction between researchers and the broad development community, can bring pressing issues to the attention of researchers more quickly and help them better understand the needs of the community. And it can reduce the time lag in addressing the issues and in getting the benefits of data, research results, and best practice to the recipients.
The World Bank is one of the many agencies worldwide working to expand the reach of electronic communications. Some of the more notable efforts in which it is involved are described below.
Global Knowledge Partnership
www.globalknowledge.org
An informal, evolving partnership of public, private, and not-for-profit organizations, the Global Knowledge Partnership emerged from an international conference, Knowledge for Development in the Information Age, cohosted by the World Bank and the Canadian government in 1997. Out of a belief that knowledge is becoming an increasingly important tool in development, the partnership seeks to include the world’s poor in the global information economy through the sharing of information, experience, and resources.A key tool in this effort is the partnership’s website. The website serves as an information resource on harnessing knowledge and information for development. And it provides a virtual meeting place where partners cooperate through such initiatives as workshops, pilot projects, and information sharing.
The website provides a venue for an ongoing virtual conference in which participants discuss a range of issues relating to knowledge and information as tools of sustainable development. It also hosts virtual working groups to discuss specific development issues. One of these, on African women and economic development, was started in 1998 in support of a conference on the same topic hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Another focuses on the impact of the information revolution on jobs and work and the challenges it poses for developing countries.
infoDev
www.worldbank.org/infodev
The Information for Development Program (infoDev), a multilateral grant program, was established by the World Bank with the aim of helping developing countries integrate into the information economy. It supports the use of information and communications technology in development through grants for projects that demonstrate innovative applications in solving development problems, and by providing a link to technical, informational, and communications expertise. The program disseminates experience and best practice through workshops, training, and other activities.Through its website, infoDev offers a public forum, an electronic mailing list called INFODEV-L, through which participants share practical knowledge and experience relating to infoDev and information and communications technology projects. INFODEV-L is open to anyone with an interest in these topics. The Website also provides information on the projects that infoDev has funded and guidelines for applying for grants.
TechNet
www.worldbank.org/html/fpd
The Technology Network (TechNet) grew out of a joint World Bank–National Research Council symposium in 1994. It consists of a series of World Bank Group initiatives focusing on science and technology for development. These initiatives are aimed at improving the understanding of the impact of new technologies on developing countries and enhancing countries’ ability to take advantage of them.TechNet is mainly an information resource and discussion forum for professionals involved with science and technology as tools for economic development. The TechNet Website offers a conferencing space for discussions on science and technology, serves as an information center on relevant events, and provides an archive of key resources and contacts.
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