The global financial crisis has reignited interest in counter-cyclical fiscal policy as a critical instrument to provide immediate economic stimulus. But policy makers are also increasingly interested in how fiscal policy will impact growth and poverty over a longer run horizon, knowing that any...

Although many studies indicate that both the level and composition of public spending are significant for economic growth, the results in the empirical literature are still mixed. This paper studies the importance of country sample selection and expenditure classification in explaining these...

Although many studies indicate that both the level and composition of public spending are significant for economic growth, the results in the empirical literature are still mixed. This paper studies the importance of country sample selection and expenditure classification in explaining these...

There is a policy measure that can simultaneously save millions of lives, reduce poverty, and increase countries' domestic resources for financing development. The policy measure consists of increasing excise tax rates on tobacco in order to reduce its affordability and, as evidence shows, lower...

Although many studies indicate that both the level and composition of public spending are significant for economic growth, the results in the empirical literature are still mixed. This note is based on a paper of the same title (Bayraktar and Moreno-Dodson 2010) that compares a set of...

Capturing the findings from the Shanghai Global Learning Initiative, Reducing Poverty on a Global Scale attempts to contribute to the broader existing knowledge on poverty reduction and the effectiveness of aid. The objective is to enlighten development practitioners about observed achievements...