Sudden, asymmetric shifts in investor sentiment known as 'flights-to-safety' typically emanate from center economies but propagate globally. In the absence of policy intervention, these financial shocks can spill over and destabilize macroeconomic conditions in many countries. This paper...

Africa has come a long way since the economic turmoil of the 1980s, the decade of "structural adjustment". Growth has been strong, yet poverty remains high. Underlying the shortage of good livelihoods and high social inequality is the lack of diversification in Africa's economies-in contrast to...

The role of fiscal austerity has been questioned for centuries, but a rapidly increasing deficit along with the financial crisis in 2007 / 2008 influenced a renewed debate on the economics of austerity. This paper analyzes the role of austerity versus the role of economic growth. It also...

The concept of "the crisis after the crisis" recently introduced in the academic debate refers to the fact that, since the outbreak of the health crisis generated by SARS-CoV-2, the pandemic has had a major impact on all economic, social, political and cultural activities of the daily life,...

Drawing on a unique set of surveys, this article explores the question of whether Russia's post-communist business associations are generally antithetical to or supportive of the broad objectives of economic restructuring. Contrary to the most widely cited analysis as to the purposes of...

20 years after unification, the East German twin's economic position is relatively stagnant compared to most of the West German productivity and income variables. The strong initial takeoff until the mid-end 1990s ended at a level of 70% to 80% of the western reference. In this paper, two...

This paper reviews the issues involved in determining the appropriate speed of adjustment and the sequencing of economic reforms, focusing on considerations relevant to policymakers. It points out that the debate between the protagonists of a high-speed approach and those favoring a gradualist...

Recent studies have highlighted the adverse impact of corruption on economic performance. This paper advances the hypothesis that corruption is largely a symptom of underlying weaknesses in public policies and institutions, a formulation that provides deeper insights into economic performance...

Transition finance offers a flexible approach for development partners to respond to the changing financial needs of developing countries undergoing transition. The transition finance ABC methodology, part of the transition finance toolkit, provides methodological guidance, metrics, data...