This paper exploits variations in the timing of telecommunications reforms across Europe to analyze the relationship between the rise of alternative work arrangements and the emergence of the Internet. The paper evaluates whether sectors that are technologically more dependent on information and...

This paper briefly describes primary health care and accessibility to health care provision in Gabon, and the social health insurance architecture of the GIS. The paper is not intended to provide an analytical and detailed study on health insurance in Gabon. It simply aims to provide a...

The World Bank Group (WBG) Data Council endorsed the 2016-2030 Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Action Plan in December 2015. The CRVS plan aims to achieve universal civil registration (CR) of births, deaths, and other vital events for all individuals by 2030. The WBG has been...

This paper measures the causal effects of parent enrollment into voluntary health insurance on healthcare utilization among insured and uninsured children in Nicaragua. The study utilizes a randomized trial and age-eligibility cut-off in which insurance subsidies were randomly allocated to...

In December 2012, the government of the Philippines passed the Sin Tax Law (RA 10351) which restructured and raised tobacco and alcohol taxes, while earmarking 85 percent of the incremental revenues for health. Of this 85 percent, 80 percent was intended to be used to provide free health...

Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was established in 2003 as a major vehicle to achieve the country's commitment of Universal Health Coverage. The government has earmarked value-added tax to finance NHIS in addition to deduction from Social Security Trust (SSNIT) and premium payment....

High levels of trade costs persist in the world trading system, despite recent progress in tariff reduction, trade facilitation, and logistics. At least some of these costs can be attributed to non-tariff measures (NTMs), policies imposed by governments other than ordinary customs duties which...

After mediocre growth in 2018 of 0.7 percent. LAC is expected to perform only marginally better in 2019(growth of 0.9 percent) followed by a much more solid growth of 2.1 percent in 2020. LAC will face bothinternal and external challenges during 2019. On the domestic front. the recession in...

After a period of rapid economic growth associated with high commodity prices, the region had entered a phase of lackluster performance. Recent developments, including a new oil price shock, and the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic will push the region into recession. Many countries are...

Trade can dramatically improve women's lives, creating new jobs, enhancing consumer choices, and increasing women's bargaining power in society. It can also lead to job losses and a concentration of work in low-skilled employment. Given the complexity and specificity of the relationship between...