Policy Research Working Paper 10989 Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized GDP-Employment Elasticities across Developing Economies Constantin Burgi Shoghik Hovhannisyan Camilo Mondragon-Velez International Finance Corporation December 2024 Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Policy Research Working Paper 10989 Abstract Economic growth is often associated with welfare gains through job creation. However, the number and quality of new job opportunities created in a gro ...

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the primary healthcare (PHC) sector in Armenia. Core Insights - The report emphasizes the urgent need for investment in primary healthcare to effectively address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Armenia, which significantly impacts both health outcomes and economic growth [32][33][34]. Summary by Sections Executive Summary - The report outlines the critical role of primary healthcare in addressing NCDs and highlights the need for effective resource allocation to improve health outcomes and economic resilience [30][34]. Background - Armenia has seen improvements in public health indicators, such as life expectancy, but continues to face significant challenges from NCDs, which account for substantial economic losses estimated at nearly US$9 billion annually [32][33]. Key Findings - Despite geographical access to PHC facilities, utilization remains low due to concerns about service availability, quality, and costs. Only 32% of people visited their PHC facility in the past year [57][58]. - Diagnostic accuracy in PHC is around 80%, with significant variations based on provider type and location, indicating a need for improved adherence to clinical standards [60][62]. - Patient satisfaction with PHC providers is high, with over 90% expressing satisfaction with the care received [66]. Current Capacity of Armenia's PHC System - The workforce composition is skewed, with 61% being nurses and a notable shortage of physicians, particularly in rural areas, where the density of physicians is significantly lower than in urban settings [66][67]. - Infrastructure and equipment availability is inadequate, especially in rural facilities, impacting the quality of care delivered [68][69]. - The report identifies gaps in communication and collaboration among healthcare providers, hindering effective service delivery and integration [80][81]. Policy Recommendations - The report suggests that the Ministry of Health should focus on enhancing financing, governance, and processes within the PHC system to improve service delivery and health outcomes [40][44][87].

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the education sector in Myanmar. Core Insights - The education sector in Myanmar has made significant progress in expanding access and achieving gender parity in enrollment rates before the COVID-19 pandemic, but faced severe disruptions due to the pandemic, military coup, and economic decline, leading to a significant decline in enrollment rates, with 28 percent of children ages 6–17 out of school in 2022–23 [12][13][31] - Despite recent disruptions, primary education net enrollment rate (NER) reached 92 percent in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, and upper secondary NER increased by 28 percent between 2023 and 2024 [13][43] - Disparities in educational access persist across demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, with females exhibiting higher enrollment rates than males at middle and high school levels, and significant gaps between wealth groups, particularly at middle and high school levels [14][66] Summary by Sections Executive Summary - The report highlights significant progress in Myanmar's education sector prior to the pandemic, but severe disruptions have led to a decline in enrollment rates, with 28 percent of children ages 6–17 out of school in 2022–23 [12][31] Introduction - Myanmar's education sector experienced notable improvements in enrollment rates and gender parity before the pandemic, outperforming global averages and regional peers [20][21] Data and Methodology - The analysis is based on data from the Myanmar Living Conditions Survey 2017 and the Myanmar Subnational Phone Surveys conducted in 2023 and 2024, covering 303 out of 330 townships [33][35] State of Education Access: Levels, Disparities, and Changes - Access to education has improved significantly, with primary NER increasing by 27 percent from 2023 to 2024, reaching 92 percent, while upper secondary NER increased by 28 percent [43][44] - The lower secondary NER has declined by 14 percent, indicating a need for targeted interventions [44] - Gender disparities are evident, with females having higher enrollment rates than males at middle and high school levels, and significant gaps between wealth groups [14][66] Coping with Disruptions in Schooling - Economic hardship is the primary reason for school dropout, cited by 41 percent of respondents, followed by school closures and safety concerns [15] - There has been a shift towards non-state schools among wealthier households, with urban children comprising a significant portion of non-state school enrollment [16] Conclusions - Addressing inequalities in educational access is critical for Myanmar's future stability and prosperity, with recommendations for targeted interventions and support mechanisms [19]

i From Knowledge to Action Lessons from early operationalization of Country Climate and Development Reports Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized © 2024 The World Bank Group 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000; Internet: www.worldbank.org This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank Group. "The World Bank Group" refers to the legally separate organizations of the International Bank for Reconstru ...

Report number 194676 Public Disclosure Authorized Preventing A Lost Generation: Understanding The State of Out of School Children in Myanmar November2024 Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized © 2024 The World Bank 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000; Internet: www.worldbank.org Some rights reserved. This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not nec ...

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - Green public procurement (GPP) in Bulgaria constituted approximately 10% to 20% of total public procurement spending from 2011 to 2019, indicating a significant presence despite Bulgaria being a sustainability laggard within the EU [2][14] - GPP is associated with improved competition, as it increases the entry of new firms into the market by 3 to 7 percentage points, while also reducing the likelihood of single bidders by 0.6 to 1.5 percentage points, thus lowering corruption risks [2][14] - GPP contracts are awarded to firms with 14% higher labor productivity, and this effect is even more pronounced in contracts with lower corruption risks, where productivity can be 19% higher [2][14] Summary by Sections Introduction - Public procurement accounts for about 12% of global GDP, with increasing emphasis on sustainability and environmental impact in recent years [8] - GPP is increasingly recognized as a policy tool, yet evidence on its interaction with traditional procurement objectives is limited [9] Methodology - The study utilizes a comprehensive dataset of 148,637 contracts from Bulgaria's national e-procurement portals, covering the period from 2011 to 2019 [42] - A keyword-based matching algorithm is employed to identify GPP contracts, resulting in approximately 6,500 GPP tenders and 11,000 green contracts [47] Results - GPP spending as a share of total public procurement fluctuated between 8% and 26% from 2011 to 2019, with a notable decline after 2016 [78] - The highest GPP spending was observed in sectors such as sewage and environmental services, construction, and water purification [83] - GPP enhances competition by encouraging new market entrants and reducing the market share of winning suppliers [90]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry discussed Core Insights - The climate mitigation policies of the EU, US, and China are expected to reshape trade dynamics for developing countries, impacting demand for fossil fuels and energy-intensive manufacturing while creating opportunities in critical minerals and renewable energy technologies [2][9] - The policies will likely lead to reduced oil prices and increased prices for critical minerals, facilitating a decrease in green technology costs and promoting green foreign investment [2][9] Summary by Sections Section 1: Introduction - The EU, US, and China are responsible for nearly half of global greenhouse gas emissions and are implementing various climate policies to mitigate these emissions [7] - The EU focuses on emissions pricing through the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), while the US emphasizes subsidies via the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and China utilizes an intensity-based ETS [7][9] Section 2: Climate Change Mitigation Policies - The EU's Fit for 55 package aims for a 55% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030, while the US IRA allocates approximately $370 billion over ten years for green energy initiatives [14][15] - China's climate policy includes significant investments in renewable energy, with nearly $760 billion spent from 2010 to 2019, making it the largest investor in this sector [16] Section 3: Impacts on Trade - The report identifies three main channels through which climate policies affect developing countries: shifts in supply and demand, price changes, and access to technology [9][66] - Developing countries that produce low-carbon goods may benefit from increased export opportunities, while those reliant on fossil fuel exports may face significant challenges [25][73] Section 4: Policy Recommendations - The report suggests that developing countries should adapt their policies to leverage opportunities from the green transition while mitigating negative impacts from climate policies enacted by major economies [2][9]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the power market industry Core Insights - The design of power markets is crucial for addressing economic, social, environmental, and engineering challenges to deliver sustainable and reliable electricity at the lowest cost to consumers [2] - There is significant heterogeneity in electricity market designs globally, with no universal blueprint, emphasizing the importance of country-specific contexts [11] - The report utilizes a unique Global Power Market Structures Database covering 230 economies from 1989 to 2024 to analyze the evolution of power market structures [12] Summary by Sections Section 1: Introduction - Electric power systems began in the late 19th century, initially dominated by private investors, transitioning to state-owned monopolies by the mid-20th century [8][9] - The performance of integrated monopolies has been mixed, leading to reforms aimed at introducing market mechanisms to enhance efficiency and attract private investment [9] Section 2: Power Market Structure Design Options - Between 1989 and 2024, 158 countries transitioned from vertically integrated utilities (VIUs) to models incorporating private sector engagement, particularly in generation [15] - The four overarching market structures identified are: (1) VIU, (2) single-buyer model (SBM), (3) competitive wholesale markets, and (4) competitive retail markets [19] 2.1 Vertically Integrated Utility (VIU) Model - In 1989, 215 economies operated under the VIU model, serving 92% of the global population; by 2023, this reduced to 72 economies covering 7% of the population [21] - 84% of VIUs are state-owned, with only 11 economies privatizing their VIUs while maintaining them as the sole provider [24] 2.2 Single Buyer Model (SBM) - The SBM is currently the most prevalent structure, utilized by 87 countries covering 29% of the global population [30] - Variations of the SBM exist, including models where the single buyer retains ownership of generation assets or is detached from generation functions [33] 2.3 Wholesale Competition - 69 countries have some form of wholesale competition, covering 63% of the global population [43] - The majority of these countries allow bilateral contracting between generators and large consumers, with organized spot markets complementing this structure [44] 2.4 Retail Competition - 66 economies allow some degree of retail competition, enabling end-users to choose their electricity supplier [61] - Full retail competition is primarily found in advanced European countries, with technology advancements facilitating further competition in developing nations [67]

Policy Research Working Paper 10983 Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized The Potential Cascading Impacts of Climate Change in Cambodia Hector Pollitt Migle Petrauskaite Public Disclosure Authorized Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment Global Practice November 2024 Public Disclosure Authorized Policy Research Working Paper 10983 Abstract This paper develops a "plausible worst-case" scenario for Cambodia to illustrate how a severe, 1-in-10-year flood could trigger cascading impacts, inclu ...

Policy Research Working Paper 10984 Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized From Fiscal Cyclicality to Fiscal Stress The Role of Asymmetric Public Consumption Rigidities in Emerging Markets Daniel Riera-Crichton Pilar Ruiz Orrico Guillermo Vuletin Latin America and the Caribbean Region Office of the Chief Economist November 2024 Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Policy Research Working Paper 10984 Abstract Macroeconomic textbooks warn that procyclical public spendin ...