Strong economic growth continued in 2014-15, but the drought slowed down Ethiopia's growth to 8 percent in 2015-16. Exports have had their worst performance in the last decade and the current account balance remained large. Inflation is remarkable stable given the recent drought and even...

Several key policy documents guiding the broader education sector to align with European Union (EU) standards have recently been adopted in Serbia. However, a range of challenges have made it difficult for new policies and the systems they propose to be implemented. The gap between policy...

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...

This brief is based on analysis of the 2011-12 household budget survey (HBS) implemented by Central Administration for Statistics (CAS) with technical assistance from the World Bank. The survey was conducted during the period of September 2011 to November 2012, and was stratified across nine...

This is a semi-annual report series on recent economic developments and economic policies in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia). The report looks at the economic performance and outlook for the Western Balkans region and specific...

This report is the second in a series, presenting labor market developments in the Western Balkan countries in 2017 and comparing with selected member states of the European Union (EU). The report is the result of collaboration between the World Bank and the Vienna Institute for International...

This report is part of a joint study between the European Commission (EC), the World Bank, andthe Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It aims to inform activation and employment support and social inclusion policy making and programs through an improved understanding...

Indonesia has one of the highest rates of cigarette consumption in the world. Tobacco use heavily burdens population health, undermines the quest for universal health coverage, and inflicts heavy direct and indirect economic costs. Higher tobacco taxes to increase cigarette prices contribute to...