This paper discusses and illustrates the analytical foundations of international comparisons (or benchmarking) for assessing a country's potential for improvement along various dimensions of social and economic development. By providing a methodology for international benchmarking, discussing...

Firms and entrepreneurs of all types - from microenterprises to multinationals - play a central role in growth and poverty reduction. Their investment decisions drive job creation, the availability and affordability of goods and services for consumers, and the tax revenues governments can draw...

The outlook for the global economy has darkened. Global financing conditions have tightened, industrial production hasmoderated, trade tensions have intensified, and some large emerging market and developing economies have experiencedsignificant financial market stress. Faced with these...

Global growth appears to be stabilizing after a period of marked weakness, but it remains fragile. A modest recovery inemerging market and developing economies continues to be constrained by subdued investment, which is dampeningprospects and impeding progress toward achieving critical...