This study examines the dynamic change in the regional e-commerce transactions divides in China from 2013 to 2019 using convergence analysis methods. We use population-adjusted annual e-commerce transaction data from 31 provinces. These provinces are categorized into the three varying levels of...

The highly contagious Delta variant is fueling new outbreaks in East Asia and the Pacific (EAP). It is becoming evident that COVID-19 (coronavirus) is not leaving any time soon and may be here to stay. Countries with high vaccination coverage show, however, that transition to a relativelybenign...

Since early 2020, the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has spread to most countries and territories around the world. For many countries, the second wave of infections is turning out to be more serious than the first. Notwithstanding the global spread of the virus, public policy responses have...

Narrowing the gender gap is critical to sustainable and inclusive growth. This brief discusses how moving toward gender equality can improve female labor force participation, human capital, and total factor productivity, leading to higher economic growth. The analysis simulates the cross-country...

Universal health coverage is a social goal that enables everyone to receive the quality health care they need, irrespective of ability to pay, without suffering financial hardship in the process. To move toward that goal, policy makers should address three main considerations: the population to...

This paper studies economic growth in Malaysia, with the purpose of assessing the potential to attain the status and characteristics of a high-income country. Future economic growth is simulated under a business-as-usual baseline, where the growth drivers follow their historical or recent...

One of the most important lessons in economics is that productivity is key to economic growth. Productivity is defined in economic theory as the ratio of output over input. Productivity is mainly driven by four components: innovation, including the creation of new technologies: education to...

This is the background paper for the productivity extension of the World Bank's Long-Term Growth Model (LTGM). Based on an extensive literature review, the paper identifies the main determinants of economic productivity as innovation, education, market efficiency, infrastructure, and...

This is the background paper for the productivity extension of the World Bank's Long-Term Growth Model (LTGM). Based on an extensive literature review, the paper identifies the main determinants of economic productivity as innovation, education, market efficiency, infrastructure, and...