After a massive international campaign calling attention to the development impact of foreign debt, the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative is now underway. But will the HIPC Initiative meet its high expectations? Will debt relief substantially raise growth? How do we make sure...

Though labour market regulations have been blamed for the poor economic performance of many developing countries, the evidence on which this argument rests is weak. Through a survey of different labour market institutions in developing countries, this book reaffirms the importance of labour...

With representatives from different disciplines stressing the central importance of freedom in analyzing poverty and emphasizing some important policy issues, this book offers a view of poverty that will orient research in directions previously neglected, and help those in charge of implementing...

This book provides insights into the evolving debate regarding the mobilization of domestic resources and the crucial role that financial development can and should play in this regard, exploring aspects of the financial development-domestic resource mobilization nexus, including country case...

This book explores country case studies and works that detail the exact transmission mechanisms through which financial development can enhance pro-poor development in order to derive best practices in this field. This is an important companion for professionals and policymakers, and also a...

A positive chapter has begun in finance for poor countries. Yet progress remains tentative. This book looks at how to make international finance better serve the needs of poor countries and poor people. It contains contributions by economists and political scientists who have been at the centre...

There is a growing realization that business development is the most effective weapon in fighting world poverty. How the for-profit model can be harnessed to provide the poor with a share in the world's prosperity is discussed through actual cases, and nested in innovative theories of business,...

Microfinance is a comprehensive analysis of the operational, managerial and financial aspects of microfinance. The text provides a contemporary analysis of microfinance business covering the risks, returns and management issues associated with such activity. It analyzes the main products and...

This book discusses the relationship between financial liberalization, financial deepening and economic performance from both a theoretical and a policy perspective, comparing several 'big' emerging countries: Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Russia, South Africa and India, amongst others

The deregulation of domestic financial markets and the capital account in developing countries has frequently been associated with financial turmoil and macro volatility. The book analyzes the experiences of several countries, drawing implications for building development-friendly domestic and...