This paper looks at firm-level evidence on the African business environment from surveys undertaken for Investment Climate Assessments by the World Bank in 2000-2004. These surveys confirm a pattern of generally low "factory-floor" productivity, and show that this is partly due to business...

The objective of the Lesotho Investment Climate Assessment (ICA) is to evaluate the investment climate in Lesotho in all its operational dimensions and promote policies to strengthen the private sector. By comparing the investment climate in Lesotho to investment climates in other countries, it...

The nearly 750 million people who live in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are among the world's poorest. To foster the economic growth required to create jobs, raise living standards, and hasten development, SSA nations need to attract more foreign capital, which, by enhancing imported technology and...

The effect of foreign ownership in Africa is based on an analysis of survey data of firms in Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Kenya compiled by the Regional program on Enterprise Development (RPED). This study attempts to show the relationship between foreign ownership and firm-level value added in...

The forces unleashed by the Arab political awakening have the power to be transformational. One critical parameter of success will be whether the Arab political awakening is accompanied by a concurrent economic awakening. Economic integration through increased trade and foreign direct investment...

The forces unleashed by the Arab political awakening have the power to be transformational. One critical parameter of success will be whether the Arab political awakening is accompanied by a concurrent economic awakening. Economic integration through increased trade and foreign direct investment...

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has played a significant and positive role in driving economic growth and upgrading economic structure in Shanghai. The shift in the pattern of FDI over the last decade towards services has been particularly crucial. Given its importance, Shanghai municipal...

Climate Friendly Technologies (CFT) reduces the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) by reducing the carbon content of economic activity. Climate change due to greenhouse gases is expected to affect many sectors, and present risks to many Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies in...

This Investment Climate Survey Report (ICSR) for Cote d'Ivoire evaluates the country's business environment by (i) analyzing barriers to private sector investment and growth and how they vary among different types of firms, (ii) benchmarking the Ivorian investment climate and firm performance to...

To assist the Economic Development Board of Madagascar (EDBM) in setting-up such a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system, this report defines the goals and impacts and objectives and outcomes of the EDBM interventions, proposes a list of key outcome and impact indicators to monitor the...