Investing in better data systems is critical to maximize the impact of social protection programs as more and more countries around the world are aiming to not only reduce poverty and inequality but also to achieve Universal Social Protection (USP). Globally the expansion of social safety net...

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 second Lao PDR investment climate assessment identifies the key constraints of the country's non-resource sector firms. This Assessment summarizes the results of a national survey conducted in late-2009 and draws on extensive interviews with policymakers and practitioners. Survey results...

Lao PDR is at a point on its development trajectory where strategic attention to administrative performance is crucial. An efficient and high-performing civil service, with the compensation and human resource management systems to attract and motivate qualified personnel, will be essential to...

The purpose of the Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) assessment is to provide the Government of Lao PDR (GOL) with a concise, standardized, objective, indicator-led assessment of the country's public financial management (PFM) systems to provide a benchmark against which to...

Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) is making effort to integrate itself into the regional and international economy. It is seeking membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO); participating in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); the ASEAN free trade agreement (AFTA), and...

This report presents policy, market, and agriculture transition in the Northern Uplands of Lao People's Democratic Republic aims to contribute to such a dialogue by providing: (a) a policy-relevant typology of the structural characteristics and transition patterns of the principal small-holder...