Access to basic services plays an important role in both individual well-being and a country's economic development. For this reason, general availability of these services to citizens, regardless of income level and geographical location, has generally been viewed as an important public policy...

This is the fourth annual edition of the World Bank's statistical reference. It provides an expanded view of the world economy for 148 countries with chapters focusing on world view, people, environment, economy, states and markets, and global links as well as introductions highlighting recent...

This book is intended for the wide range of people around the world who need basic information about the work of the Bank Group. This audience includes people working in all aspects of development, students, members of the general public, and staff members of the Bank Group itself. Because this...

This first World Bank for Results report provides the Bank's shareholders, partners, and external stakeholders with an integrated view of results and performance in recent years. It serves as a companion to the World Bank Corporate Scorecard. Aggregating results that countries have achieved with...

The Little Green Data Book represents a succinct collection of information from the World Development Indicators 2002, and its accompanying CD-ROM. The data compiled in this issue corresponds to the period between 1997 and 2000, unless otherwise noted, for the headings of agriculture, forests,...

This report summarizes the findings of the study on Competitive Commercial Agriculture for Africa (CCAA). The objective of the CCAA study was to explore the feasibility of restoring international competitiveness and growth in African agriculture through the identification of products and...

This report provides information about some of the common issues that have arisen and lessons that have been learned in countries implementing Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), and to which the World Bank's EITI team has been exposed through its involvement in supporting EITI...

A pocket-sized reference on key development data for over 50 countries in Africa, this book provides profiles of each country with 54 development indicators about people, environment, economy, technology, infrastructure, trade and finance. A must have for anyone interested in today's development...

This report focuses on the economic rather than the social and cultural dimensions of education. Its approach in answering the questions raised is analytical and comparative in nature. Education outcomes in the region are compared with education outcomes in other developing countries. The...

Societies and economies around the world are becoming more integrated. Integration is the result of reduced costs of transport, lower trade barriers, faster communication of ideas, rising capital flows, and intensifying pressures for mitigation. Integration--or "globalization"--has generated...