"The United States imports around 25 percent of its merchandise under some form of preferential trade regime. The authors examine both the origins and consequences of U.S. trade preferences in the context of the gravity model of international trade. First, they provide estimates of the impact of...

This study provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of the business environment in six South Asian countries, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, to examine whether business regulatory requirements in these countries hinder them from fully benefiting from BRI...

"This paper examines the role of male-dominated international migration in shaping labor market outcomes by gender in migrant-sending households in Albania. Using detailed information on family migration experience from the latest Living Standards Measurement Study survey, the authors find that...

"The contribution of return migrants to economic development in source countries can be significant. Overseas savings of returnees may lead to improvements in household welfare and provide liquidity for investments in the face of credit market failures. Labor market experience and skills...

Most economies with a legacy of central planning are changing in fundamental ways. With the rapid economic, social, and political changes in these economies an update of the first edition of Historically Planned Economies (HPEs): A Guide to the Data, has become necessary. In addition to...

The objective of this study is to fill the knowledge gaps to help advance Albania's vision of the Blue Economy, in the context of the country's aim of joining the EU. The two most important sectors with this regard are fisheries and tourism. Both industries are well established and offer the...

In many countries absent or poorly functioning prepayment mechanisms for health care expose families to the financial risks associated with accidents and sickness. The report exploits a specially designed health governance and accountability module that was added to the 2008 wave of the Albania...

Since 1998 Albania has experienced an important transformation that has lifted it into the ranks of upper middle income countries and has allowed a sharp reduction in poverty. Growth averaged more than 6 percent per year between 1998 and 2010, the best performance in Europe. This helped to...

This report provides a concise overview of the current situation of the mining sector in Albania. It evaluates the major events that took place in the last two decades (especially regarding the privatization process), and examines its governance, overarching policies and its legal frameworks...