The Russian Federation faces important economic and social challenges. By 1998 national income was little more than half its level in 1990. Life expectancy for men is now about 61 years, compared to 65 years a decade ago. The rate of suicide and self-inflicted injuries is more than three times...

Coming In from the Cold provides a road map of options to help transition economy policy makers sort through key district heating issues. It finds that district heating systems in formerly socialist countries could save the equivalent of 80 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year through...

Housing finance markets in Central and Eastern European countries are typically small in scale and under-developed, though it is generally recognized that fostering housing finance markets contributes to economic development and brings social benefits to the public. This book presents a...

Transition and emerging economies have difficulties developing their financial markets to a level that would provide access to long-term debt finance at an affordable cost. This report examines opportunities beyond the public sector for financing water and other environmental infrastructure....