This paper reviews the evidence about the effects of urbanization and cities on productivity and economic growth in developing countries using a consistent theoretical framework. Just like in developed economies, there is strong evidence that cities in developing countries bolster productive efficiency. Regarding whether cities promote self-sustained growth, the evidence is suggestive but ultimately inconclusive. These findings imply that the traditional agenda of aiming to raise within-city efficiency should be continued.

This strategic framework serves to guide and support the operational response of the World Bank Group (WBG) to new development challenges posed by global climate change. Unabated, climate change threatens to reverse hard-earned development gains. The poorest countries and communities will suffer the earliest and the most. Yet they depend on actions by other nations, developed and developing. While climate change is an added cost and risk to development, a well-designed and implemented global climate policy can also bring new economic opportunities to developing countries.

Agriculture is vital to the economies of Sub-Saharan Africa: two-thirds of the region’s people depend on it for their livelihoods. Nevertheless, agricultural productivity in most of the region is stagnant or declining, in large part because of land degradation. Soil erosion and soil nutrient depletion degraded almost 70 percent of the region’s land between 1945 and 1990; 20 percent of total agricultural land has been severely degraded. If left unchecked, land degradation could seriously threaten the progress of economic growth and poverty reduction in Africa.

BACK COVER: This book is a case study of Vietnam’s efforts to fight poverty using market-oriented land reforms. In the 1980s and 1990s, the country undertook major institutional reforms, and an impressive reduction in poverty followed. But what role did the reforms play? Did the efficiency gains from reform come at a cost to equity? Were there both winners and losers? Was rising rural landlessness in the wake of reforms a sign of success or failure?

In this paper we address the often sterile and circular debates over relationships between poverty and deforestation. These debates revolve around questions of whether forest loss causes poverty or poverty contributes to forest encroachment, and questions of whether it is loss of access to forests or dependence on forest-based livelihoods that cause poverty. We suggest that a way beyond the impasse is to set such debates within the context of agrarian change.

ABSTRACTED FROM SUMMARY: Many ethnic groups practice a system of land use and resource management which is uniquely adapted for upland areas. This has developed over generations as part of traditional ways of life, and is underpinned through ritual and customary practices. This study looks at how women’s land and property rights are established and maintained under these customary or traditional tenure systems. Five different ethnic groups were studied: Brao, Trieng, Hmong, Khmu and Tai Dam.

El estado mundial de la agricultura y la alimentación 2008 analiza las consecuencias del rápido crecimiento de la producción de biocombustibles derivados de productos básicos agrícolas. La expansión de los biocombustibles líquidos ha sido provocada en gran parte por las políticas de los países desarrollados, basadas en una previsión positiva de los efectos de sus esfuerzos orientados a la mitigación del cambio climático, la seguridad energética y el desarrollo agrícola.

يستكشف تقرير حالة الأغذية والزراعة 2008 انعكاسات النمو السريع الذي حدث مؤخراً في إنتاج الوقود الحيوي القائم على السلع الأساسية الزراعية. والازدهار الذي شهده إنتاج الوقود الحيوي السائل تقف وراءه، إلى حد كبير، سياسات في البلدان المتقدمة تستند إلى مساهمات ذلك الوقود الإيجابية المتوقعة في التخفيف من تغير المناخ وتحقيق أمن الطاقة والتنمية الزراعية. والطلب المتزايد على السلع الأساسية الزراعية، من أجل إنتاج الوقود الحيوي، تترتب عليه عواقب كبيرة بالنسبة للأسواق الزراعية، ويتصاعد القلق بشأن تأثيره السلبي على الأمن الغذائي لملايين البشر في مختلف أنحاء العالم.

La situation mondiale de l’alimentation et de l’agriculture 2008 examine les conséquences de la croissance rapide de la production de biocarburants à base de produits agricoles. L’essor des biocarburants liquides a été largement favorisé par les politiques adoptées dans les pays développés, qui ont considéré que cette nouvelle forme d’énergie pouvait atténuer les effets négatifs du changement climatique et contribuer à la sécurité énergétique et au développement de l’agriculture.

《2008年粮食及农业状况》探讨了近年来建立在农产品基础之上的生物燃料生产快速增长所带来的影响。液态生物燃料的兴旺很大程度上是发达国家的政策导致的，因为预期液态生物燃料会对气候变化减缓、能源安全和农业发展做出积极贡献。生产生物燃料对农产品日益增长的需求正对农产品市场产生重大反响，人们日益关注它们对全球亿万人口的粮食安全造成的负面影响。同时，生物燃料对环境的影响也正在得到密切的审视。然而，如果执行适当的政策并进行恰当的投资，生物燃料也为农业和农村发展提供机遇。本报告考察了就生物燃料争论的现状以及关于这些重要问题的现有证据。报告发现，如果要减少与生物燃料相关的风险并更加广范地共享机遇的话，必须在政策改革和农业投资方面做出协调一致的努力。

В док ладе 2008 год а о Положении дел в области продовольствия и сельского хозяйства рассматриваются последствия недавнего стремительного роста производства биотоплива на основе сельскохозяйственной продукции. Бум в области жидкого биотоплива в значительной степени обусловлен политикой развитых стран, основанной на представлении о том, что биотопливо внесет позитивный вклад в смягчение последствий изменения климата, достижение энергетической безопасности и развитие сельского хозяйства.