Before the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, Somalia's economy was on an upward trajectory, recovering from the 2016/17 drought. The economy grew at an estimated rate of 2.9 percent in 2019, on par with population growth, and was projected to grow at 3.2 percent in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has...

Despite an initial surge in COVID-19 cases, cross country data suggests that Turkey containedrelatively quickly the spread and worst health effects of the virus. As in other countries, however, continued vigilance is essential to sustain this fragile trend. Turkey's pandemic response may offer...

This report presents an overview of Algeria's recent macroeconomic developments and of its short-term economic outlook. The report is divided into two chapters. Chapter one presents the country's macroeconomic developments in 2019, which establishes the context for the unprecedented developments...

More than three years after the first COVID-19 case was discovered in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region, it is time to take stock of the lasting effects-and opportunities-of the pandemic and identify which policies may have helped stem the economic losses suffered by households and firms....

The Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA) for Africa is an annual diagnostic tool for Sub-Saharan African countries that are eligible for financing from the International Development Association (IDA), the part of the World Bank that helps the world's poorest countries. The CPIA...

Since its independence in 1991 and until prior to the global financial crisis (GFC) in 2008-09, Armenia was considered an important success story among the transition economies. Indeed, over several years, the country displayed a record of sustained macroeconomic achievements, reflected in high...

Ecuador faces the challenge of consolidating the social gains achieved during the last decade while addressing the excesses committed the commodity boom period, when the state was the main drive of economic growth and the private sector remained subdue. This policy note diagnoses the nature of...

This year's economic activity has been slower than previously anticipated due to emerging structural bottlenecks and continued external headwinds. This has prompted a sense of urgency to address the rising economic challenges to sustain growth in the short to medium term. While Cambodia's...

The current downturn in commodity prices provides an opportunity for Indonesia to shift away from its dependence on commodity-driven growth towards higher value-added activities in manufacturing and services. However, Indonesia faces both global and structural challenges in making this...

The report identifies the need for reforms in five complementary areas to boost recovery, productivity, and economic transformation: 1) business regulatory environment; 2) foreign direct investment (FDI); 3) access to productive finance; 4) innovation and entrepreneurship; and 5) participation in...