This paper attempts to answer these questions, first by defining what small-scale enterprises are and describing what their contribution to economic development and employment creation is It then presents evidence on the productivity differences between small and large firms, and then explores...

Inequality can be addressed through a combination of social service provision, social transfers and taxation. Looking at the past two decades, this paper examines the extent to which inequality has been affected by changes in national tax systems and government expenditure on social transfers....

This paper summarizes the findings of the UNRISD-Commonwealth Secretariat research project on Social Policy in Small States. The findings are based on the in-depth country studies of several small states and of the cross-cutting issues that they face. It looked at small states in the Caribbean...

Increasing coverage and maintaining infrastructure are two of the biggest challenges confronting the water supply sector in both industrialized and developing countries. The last two decades have witnessed reform in this sector that has resulted in increased private sector participation (PSP),...

This paper looks at the different policy packages adopted by countries during past financial and economic crises in an attempt to draw lessons for the 2008 crisis. Though it is important to note that the current crisis is unique both in its causes and global scope, its social impact will likely...

This article tries to understand today’s debates on PSP in water supply from a historical perspective. It presents the history of PSP in the water supply. It then presents the current situation of the water debate and explains how it is shaped by international organisations. In the final...