Fiscal Policy Effectiveness - China's fiscal policy effectively reduces inequality by approximately 10.3 Gini points, positioning it around the median of upper-middle-income countries in terms of redistribution achieved[15] - The analysis covers 63% of total revenues and 43% of total government spending, focusing on personal income tax, social insurance contributions, VAT, consumption tax, cash transfers, pensions, and education and health spending[14] Revenue and Expenditure Insights - Total fiscal revenue in China was 26,197 billion RMB (approximately 3,950 billion USD) in 2018, accounting for 29.1% of GDP[18] - Tax revenues constitute nearly 60% of total revenue, with VAT being the largest source, contributing 50% of total tax revenue[26] - Total public expenditure reached 22,090 billion RMB (24.5% of GDP), with social expenditure making up 36.9% of total expenditure[30] Social Spending and Inequality - China's spending on direct transfers is only 0.5% of GDP, the lowest among upper-middle-income countries, indicating a need for increased direct support to reduce inequality[33] - Education and health spending are the primary drivers of inequality reduction, but high user fees may limit access to essential services for low-income families[16] Recommendations for Improvement - The fiscal system could enhance its progressivity by increasing personal income tax rates and cash-based social benefits, thereby providing more support to those in need[16] - There is significant room for improvement in the overall redistributive capacity of the fiscal system, particularly through more effective use of progressive taxation[15]

Economic Activity - Economic activity grew slightly in three Districts, while nine Districts reported flat or declining activity, up from five in the previous period[8] - Consumer spending declined in most Districts, with auto sales varying significantly due to high interest rates and vehicle prices[8] - Manufacturing activity declined in most Districts, with two Districts noting ongoing contractions in the sector[8] Labor Markets - Employment levels were generally flat, with five Districts reporting slight increases, while some firms reduced hours or left positions unfilled[9] - Wage growth was modest, with skilled tradespeople seeing stronger increases due to continued shortages[9] - Competition for workers eased, leading to longer job search times for candidates[9] Prices and Costs - Prices increased modestly, with three Districts reporting only slight increases in selling prices[10] - Nonlabor input costs rose modestly, with some Districts noting moderation in cost pressures for food and construction materials[10] - Contacts generally expected price and cost pressures to stabilize or ease further in the coming months[10] Regional Highlights - Boston reported mixed economic activity, with strong single-family home sales but softer retail and restaurant sales[11] - New York's economic activity remained flat, with stable consumer spending and solid housing markets[12] - Philadelphia experienced a slight decline in business activity, with modest wage growth and flat nonmanufacturing activity[13]

Economic Growth - Real GDP is estimated to grow by 6.7% in Q1 of FY 2024-25 compared to 8.2% in Q1 of FY 2023-24[2] - Nominal GDP growth rate is 9.7% in Q1 of FY 2024-25, up from 8.5% in Q1 of FY 2023-24[2] - Real GVA growth is 6.8% in Q1 of FY 2024-25, down from 8.3% in Q1 of FY 2023-24[2] Sector Performance - The Secondary Sector shows significant growth at 8.4%, driven by Construction (10.5%), Electricity, Gas, Water Supply & Other Utility Services (10.4%), and Manufacturing (7.0%)[2] - Nominal GVA growth for Q1 of FY 2024-25 is estimated at 9.8%, compared to 8.2% in Q1 of FY 2023-24[2] Expenditure Components - Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) grew by 7.4% and Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) by 7.5% in Q1 of FY 2024-25[2] - Net Taxes at Current Prices grew by 8.0% in Q1 of FY 2024-25, resulting in a 0.1% point gap between GVA and GDP growth rates[3] GDP Estimates - Real GDP at Constant Prices for Q1 of FY 2024-25 is estimated at ₹43.64 lakh crore, compared to ₹40.91 lakh crore in Q1 of FY 2023-24[4] - Nominal GDP at Current Prices for Q1 of FY 2024-25 is estimated at ₹77.31 lakh crore, up from ₹70.50 lakh crore in Q1 of FY 2023-24[4] Sectoral Composition - The sectoral composition of Nominal GVA in Q1 of FY 2024-25 includes Public Administration, Agriculture, and Services, with Services contributing 26%[6]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry or companies involved. Core Insights - Equinor has become the most valuable Nordic brand with a brand value of EUR15.6 billion, marking a 24% increase from the previous year, driven by rising revenues and a strategic shift towards renewable energy [19][20][21] - IKEA, which held the top position for 11 years, has dropped to second place with a brand value of EUR14.7 billion, reflecting a 4% decrease due to market challenges [19][20][21] - Volvo has re-entered the top three most valuable Nordic brands, with a brand value increase of 29% to EUR10.9 billion, attributed to its transformation towards sustainability and electric vehicles [21][22] - LEGO is recognized as the strongest brand in the Nordic region, achieving a Brand Strength Index score of 87.9 and a brand value increase of 3% to EUR7.4 billion [24][25] - Novo Nordisk has seen a significant brand value increase of 59% to EUR4.7 billion, driven by the demand for its diabetes and weight-loss medications [27] Summary by Sections Ranking Analysis - Equinor's brand value increased by 24% to EUR15.6 billion, surpassing IKEA, which decreased by 4% to EUR14.7 billion [20][21] - Volvo's brand value rose by 29% to EUR10.9 billion, reflecting its commitment to sustainability [21][22] - LEGO's brand value increased by 3% to EUR7.4 billion, maintaining its position as the strongest brand in the region [24][25] - Novo Nordisk's brand value surged by 59% to EUR4.7 billion, driven by strong demand for its medications [27] Brand Value Ranking - The top three most valuable Nordic brands in 2024 are Equinor (EUR15.6 billion), IKEA (EUR14.7 billion), and Volvo (EUR10.9 billion) [23][30] - The report highlights the significant changes in brand values and rankings compared to the previous year, with notable increases for Equinor, Volvo, and Novo Nordisk [23][30] Sustainability Perceptions - Equinor has the highest Sustainability Perceptions Value at EUR1.4 billion, indicating strong consumer consideration for sustainability in the oil and gas sector [30][31]

Public Disclosure Authorized Policy Research Working Paper 10883 A Learning Agenda for Community-Driven Development Responding to Complex Contextual, Evaluation, and Inference Challenges Patrick Barron Patricia Fernandes Stephen Winkler Michael Woolcock Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Social Sustainability and Inclusion Global Practice & Development Research Group August 2024 Public Disclosure Authorized Policy Research Working Paper 10883 Abstract | --- | |------------------------ ...

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Building Evidence to Enhance the Welfare of Refugees and Host Communities Public Disclosure Authorized Insights from the Kenya Longitudinal Socioeconomic Study of Refugees and Host Communities Public Disclosure Authorized ORLD BANK Building Evidence to Enhance the Welfare of Refugees and Host Communities 2 Building Evidence to Enhance the Welfare of Refugees and Host Communities Building Evidence to Enhance the Welfare of Refugees and Host Communitie ...

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The paper emphasizes the importance of investing in skills to facilitate job transitions and structural transformation across various economies, highlighting the need for a balance between human capital and physical capital investments to achieve efficient labor market outcomes [6][19][38] Summary by Sections 1. Introduction - The introduction discusses the contrasting job outcomes in Vietnam and Indonesia despite similar investments in education, illustrating the critical role of labor market demand and complementary factors in determining job outcomes [17][18] 2. Human Capital and Structural Transformation - Skills accumulation is identified as a key driver of structural transformation, with evidence showing that increased education correlates with a decline in agricultural employment and a shift towards more skill-intensive sectors [21][22] - The report highlights that higher education levels are associated with better job transitions, with a significant portion of formal wage workers holding tertiary degrees [27][35] 3. Balancing Skills Supply and Demand - The report outlines the dynamics of education in the workforce and the returns to education, emphasizing that when human capital improvements are not matched by labor demand, returns to education decline [57] - Successful structural transformations are characterized by higher educational attainment levels at the onset compared to static periods, with significant differences in gross enrollment ratios across education levels [59]

VIEWPOINT 2024 S C A L I N G I N N OVAT I O N S U C C E S S V I A B R E A K T H R O U G H INNOVATION FACTORY AUTHORS Meeting the growing need to industrialize breakthrough innovation delivery Arnaud Siraudin Sandro Bacan Growing global mega challenges and rising competition mean that generating a steady stream of breakthrough innovations is central to organizational success. However, traditional corporate structures and capabilities are geared toward supporting incremental innovation programs, which require ...

Public Disclosure Authorized Policy Research Working Paper 10877 Public Investment Quality and Its Implications for Sovereign Risk and Debt Sustainability Amat Adarov Ugo Panizza Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Development Economics Prospects Group August 2024 Policy Research Working Paper 10877 Abstract This paper introduces a novel index to measure public investment quality, utilizing the World Bank's investment project performance data from 120 count ...

Public Disclosure Authorized Making Waves Public Disclosure Authorized World Bank Support for the Blue Economy, 2012–23 An Independent Evaluation Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized © 2024 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 1818 H Street NW Washington, DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000 Internet: www.worldbank.org ATTRIBUTION Please cite the report as: World Bank. 2024. Making Waves: World Bank Support for the Blue Economy, 2012–23. Independent Evaluat ...