The study aims to contribute towards a
national urban strategy, in an effort to maximize
Mexico's cities competitiveness, and livelihoods, in
the urban economists' terms - to maximize agglomeration
economies, while minimizing congestions costs. The country
is in a good position for this challenge: it has relatively
a mature urban system, implying an overall urban population
growth, and, a reasonably balanced system of cities.

The Review suggests the outlines of an
architecture for microfinance in Fiji in which the National
Centre for Small and Micro-Enterprise Development (NCSMED),
as envisioned by the Government of Fiji, is the primary
source of funding and technical assistance for microfinance
institutions. But to assure a sound financial sector
building approach to policy it is desirable that the Royal
Bank of Fiji also have substantial input. The Review also

Aunque parezca una verdad de Perogrullo, el título del presente artículo refleja la constatación de que los matices de análisis sobre la realidad de la actividad agrícola campesina varían según el punto geográfico desde el cual se realicen. Tal es el caso de esta mirada particular de un ruralista cusqueño que se asoma a las políticas estatales peruanas sobre la agricultura con la solvencia de quien viene trabajando desde hace años en el sector y, por lo mismo, ha visto pasar mucha agua bajo ese puente.

This regional study encompasses three
Central American countries: Nicaragua, Guatemala, and
Honduras. The focus of this report is Honduras. The
objective of the study is to understand how broad-based
economic growth can be stimulated and sustained in rural
Central America. The study identifies "drivers" of
sustainable rural growth and poverty reduction. Drivers are
defined as the assets and combinations of assets needed by

This study explores the international
development community's understanding of poverty and
illustrates how it is related to environmental degradation.
the study relies on three sources: a comprehensive general
literature review, a review of past donor interventions in
Nigeria, and original empirical evidence. The linkages found
between poverty and environmental degradation are based on
240 household surveys analyzed by income quintiles

This report represents a snapshot of a
dialogue between the State of Piaui and the World Bank and
focuses on the strategies and actions the State Government
may wish to adopt. Piaui's challenge is to build
institutions that address its weaknesses and exploit its
strengths. Addressing weaknesses implies continuing with
efforts to improve education, raising productivity in
small-scale agriculture, increasing public participation in

International experience suggests that
the effect of globalization on economic growth, poverty and
income distribution can vary significantly among countries,
and that its impact depends crucially on national policies.
This report assesses the possible patterns of inequality in
China in the future, and outlines policy options that could
help accomplish China's objective of growth with
equity. For sustaining growth, the report emphasizes the

Progress in Vietnam has been substantial
when other dimensions of poverty, apart from expenditures,
are considered. The broader Vietnam Development Goals
(VDGs), which are a localized version of the Millennium
Development Goals, show a consistent improvement of social
indicators, from education enrollment to infant mortality.
While some regions and some population groups gained more
than others, Vietnam continues to reduce poverty

The major constraints to RNF growth,
according to a large survey of rural entrepreneurs,'
include (1) flood and natural disasters; (2) access to
electricity; (3) road conditions, (4) access to finance and
(5) transportation to markets. Bangladesh's
vulnerability to frequent floods and other natural disasters
severely hampers operations of more than a third of rural
firms. The next most important constraint to RNF growth is

T his report analyzes natural resource
management and governance in the Philippines, identifying
recent trends, current challenges, and future goals. The
first half of the report summarizes the status of the
country's natural resources, describes sector policies,
institutions, and budget mechanisms, and identifies
impediments to improvements. The second half focuses on
three crucial issues for natural resource governance:

In 1989, Albania's rigid political
and socioeconomic structure shattered beyond repair.
Turbulence soon invaded every domain of life. As the state
imploded, so did the state-run economy. This review explores
ongoing consequences of this difficult transformation that
took place since 1989 and of policy initiatives to mitigate
or ameliorate its effects. Albania has been much studied;
the review addresses important information gaps. It

Regulatory reform in all its
aspects--deregulation, re-regulation, simplification, and
building new institutional capacities for developing and
applying high quality market rules--should be integrated
throughout Mauritania's efforts to generate the growth
and market development needed to combat poverty, improve
standards of living, and lay the foundation for a
sustainable development. This report identifies practical