The value of funded pensions can depend critically on the funds' investment performance. To try and protect people's savings, governments often regulate pension funds strictly, particularly when contributions are mandatory. For example, the new funded pension systems in Latin America and Eastern...

The World Bank's Country Assistance Strategy 2004-08 (CAS) indicates that the Bank is prepared to enter into a credit agreement to finance an integrated Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector reform program. The project aims to improve access to post-primary education and...

This paper reviews labor market performance in Georgia, and examines the link between labor market outcomes and poverty. At over 15 percent, the unemployment rate in the country is high by European standards. Georgia faces three main labor market issues: (a) underutilization of labor resources,...

Employment and skills are at the core of Europe 2020, the European Union's (EU) competitiveness strategy, and are decisive for high productivity and sustained growth. Romania has overcome significant challenges on its path to EU membership and in the early years thereafter. However, the Romanian...

Education and skill development have played a crucial role in economic growth, poverty reduction and social transformation in Bangladesh, particularly the inclusion of women in the labor force in the last decade. Bangladesh has made impressive gains in improving access to education, reaching the...

Bulgaria implemented sweeping decentralization and efficiency-focused reforms in basic education in 2007 and 2008. The education system adjusted to the negative demographic trends by optimizing the network of schools (closing and merging schools), introducing per-capita based financing and...

Improved access to and quality of upper secondary schools, teacher training colleges, Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs), and demand-driven Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) courses to supply the demand for the higher-level skills and competencies relevant to labor market...