This paper describes the serious fiscal
crisis faced by cities around the world following the Great
Recession of 2008. Five years later, the after-effects of
this major crisis continue to be felt and limit economic
opportunities in cities. Section 1 summarizes how the crisis
was triggered and how it unfolded in the US, then spread to
the rest of world -- highlighting the links between
financial sector and housing sector. Section 2 discusses the

The rural sector, defined here as the
economic sector that falls under the scope of the Ministry
of Agriculture and Water (MAH), the Ministry of Animal
Resources (MRA), and the Ministry of the Environment and
Sustainable Development (MEDD), is one of the pillars of the
Burkina Faso economy. Although its contribution to GDP has
decreased in recent times from 35 percent in 1999 to 30
percent in 2011 due to the development of the other sectors

Following the Great East Japan
Earthquake (GEJE), the government of Japan responded
promptly to stabilize markets and ensure a swift recovery.
Economic activity has since started picking up, in part to
domestic demand driven by the massive reconstruction effort.
Uncertainties remain, however, surrounding the restructuring
of power supply and both national and global economic
prospects. The year 2011 will be remembered for the severe

The World Development Report (WDR) has
become such a fixture that it is easy to forget the
circumstances under which it was born and the Bank's
motivation for producing such a report at that time. In the
first chapter of this essay, the authors provide a brief
background on the circumstances of newly independent
developing countries and summarize some of the main strands
of the emerging field of development economics. This

A focus on development results is at the
heart of the Latin America and Caribbean Region s approach
to delivering programs and policy advice with partners in
middle-income and low income countries alike. Through
knowledge, convening activities, and financial services we
strive to help people across the region create better
opportunities and build a better future for themselves,
their families and their country. Documenting, measuring and

A Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) was
undertaken to assess the returns to land management
practices of major land use types, namely forests,
rangelands, and selected crops (rice, maize, cotton, and
millet). Also the public expenditure on SLM was reviewed
and an assessment carried out how the expenditure is aligned
to land policies and how it is targeted to land degradation
hotspots. The results show that, without some form of

This study responds to the need for
information and analysis on the urban sector in South Sudan,
to inform the Bank's policy dialogue with the
Government of the Republic of South Sudan (GoSS) on urban
and local government issues, and to inform the design of
future Bank assistance. The first phase of this analytical
exercise, which is the focus of this report, develops an
overview of the urban landscape. A second phase of this

The Government of Burkina Faso (GoBF)
has indicated that it wishes to relocate the current
international airport of Ouagadougou, which lies close to
the centre of the capital, to an alternative site at Donsin,
35 km northwest of the city. This report briefly describes
the economy of Burkina Faso within which the airport
operates, the current infrastructure of the existing airport
and examines the reasons why the GoBF believes that it is

The main objective of this study is to
identify the major impediments to access to financial
services in rural areas, and provide practical
recommendations to address the identified problems. The
study aims to inform on rural finance policies and
innovative instruments by examining both supply and demand
sides including an identification of non-financial issues
that restrict development of the rural financial sector.

The infrastructure gap is one of the
most significant impediments to India realizing its growth
and poverty reduction potential. Although India s transport
network is one of the most extensive in the world,
accessibility and connectivity are limited. Only 20 percent
of the national highway network (which carries 40 percent of
traffic) is four-lane and one-fourth of the rural population
does not have access to an all-weather road. It is estimated

As the world recovers only slowly from
the 2008 financial crisis and Europe is facing a looming
debt crisis, concerns have increased that the "new
normal" -- a period of high unemployment, low returns
on investment, high risks, and low growth -- may become
protracted in advanced economies. If growth remains weak,
unemployment rates and debt levels will be slow to recede.
Consequently, the global recovery may continue to be fragile

This brief includes the following
headings: increasing access to land by the rural poor in
India; and KCP projects on service delivery for the poor.