Russia saw strong growth in 2021, with momentum weakening late in the year. Growth will slow as Russia battles COVID-19 and elevated inflation. Globally, environmental sustainability is becoming central to the economic agenda. The challenge for Russia is to fundamentally transform its economic...

This report provides an assessment of the policies devoted to supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Czech Republic. It presents an original analysis of all national-level SME-related policy instruments, totaling 93 instruments operational from 2013 to 2017 and disbursing 108.5...

Micro and small enterprise (MSME) insolvency is particularly likely to impact not only the business, but also the personal and family life of the owner-operator(s) of such businesses, raising particular concerns that apply much less frequently in the context of corporate insolvency. This report...

In the last three years, household debt has risen by a third as disposable income declined. Declining interest rates, ease of access to credit for consumers and poorly regulated microfinance lending practices led to fast growth in consumer debt. Consumer lending in the banking and microfinance...

The World Bank Group assessed the insolvency and creditor/debtor regimes ('ICR') of Bulgaria pursuant to the joint IMF/World Bank initiative on the observance of standards and codes ('ROSC'). The assessment has been undertaken on the basis of the ICR Standard. The conclusions in this assessment...

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are among the largest commercial users of insolvency systems. MSMEs are a significant part of the global economy - and just as there are large numbers of MSMEs, there are large numbers of MSME insolvencies. However, there are a very few specialized...

The post disaster needs assessment (PDNA) assesses the impact of the April 25, 2015 earthquake in Nepal and defines a recovery strategy. In the analysis, damage is defined as the cost to replace durable physical assets (buildings, equipment, facilities, and machinery) that were damaged or...

This Report examines if and how expert witnesses impact the integrity, impartiality and efficiency of adjudication in four countries—Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The report is part of a broader World Bank initiative to raise awareness of reform...

This note will examine the distributional and efficiency issues associated with the fiscal response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis in Da Nang city and nationally in Vietnam. More specifically, we look at the social assistance (cash transfer) programs. Did these programs efficiently reach...

The national economy of Vietnam was affected by the April 2020 lockdown meant to contain the domestic spread of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) virus and subsequent outbreaks in Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. Nevertheless, the economy showed exceptional resilience. Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by...