Introduction : why Russia matters and how -- Russia's historical roots -- Russia's new political system and succession -- Economic revival and financial crisis -- Policy on oil and gas -- International economic integration : trade and investment policies -- Challenges of demography and health --...

In this paper, I discuss the reasons for Costa Rica's economic performance over the last quarter of a century. Three complementary sets of policies (investments in human capital, careful stabilization, and an intelligent and aggressive integration into the world economy) explain the successful...

The current paper, first, documents Ghana's "success" story. Second, it identifies the strategy employed. Third, it provides a brief history of why and how the strategy was adopted. Fourth, it provides some rationale for the success of the strategy, including the roles of domestic and...