This technical background paper delves into the role and importance of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) within Africa's digital economy, along with the potential risks they pose to competition and market dynamics. Drawing upon new data on selected SOEs, the analysis focuses on the presence of SOEs...

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted daily life and exacerbated global inequalities, leading policymakers to seek innovative, evidence-based solutions to mitigate its impacts. By March 2023, the pandemic had resulted in approximately 6.88 million reported deaths and 14.83 million excess...

One of the main explanations put forth on why access to health workers is so low in developing countries is that there are insufficient resources within the public sector to pay the wage bill - the salary and allowance payments - of an expanded health workforce. In turn, the lack of wage bill...

The report on the transforming Indonesia's teaching force is divided in two volumes. The executive summary is the first volume of a two-volume comprehensive report on teacher management in Indonesia. This volume summarizes the key findings of the detailed technical analysis in volume two, but...

This note discusses how human capital is a job connector and driver of entrepreneurship. It first presents ideas on how to unlock the barriers to accessing productive employment, with particular attention to the challenges facing women and youth. It then discusses human capital as a job creator,...

"Security is increasingly viewed as a key condition for economic growth and development. The authors argue that the work and impact of all development partners would be enhanced if the multiple linkages between public finance, security, and development were explicitly taken into account. At the...

"Can a brain drain be good for development? Many studies have established the theoretical possibility of such a brain gain. Yet it is only recently that the relaxation of data constraints has allowed for sound empirical assessments. In utilizing the dramatic policy change that accompanied...