World Bank Discussion Paper No. 320. Provides separate estimates of the influence of borrowing by both men and women, through three credit programs, on a variety of household and individual outcomes, including school enrollment, labor supply, the asset holdings of women, recent fertility and use of contraceptives, consumption, and the anthropometric status of children. The findings show that credit provided to women is more likely to influence these behaviors than credit provided to men and has a significant effect on the well-being of poor households in Bangladesh.

This book is about the restructuring of industry in ten East Asian economies at the start of the twenty-first century. It examines the dynamic aspects of the region's industrial structures -- the changes occurring with globalisation fuelled by liberalisation and by a paradigm shift from industrial technology to information technology. The traditional "flying geese" concept is less relevant to explaining the economic and industrial development in the region as the pattern has become less predictable.

At the invitation of the regional authorities, the OECD organised a conference in Tomsk on a regional approach to industrial restructuring in June 1997. This report presents the economic assessment, conference conclusions and recommendations.

Latin America's New Insertion in the World Economy examines the contributions governments can make in order to stimulate efficient and export-orientated manufacturing production in small and medium-sized economies in Latin America in the coming years. The study focuses on the progress that has been made recently to correct policy failures of the past, the obstacles and bottlenecks that have occurred in the process of economic transition and the challenges the selected countries face in order to stimulate in a systematic way the development of an internationally competitive manufacturing sector.

China is the world’s largest ICT exporter, having overtaken Japan, the European Union and the United States, and China’s ICT industry is the largest manufacturing sector within the Chinese economy. This book examines how China has attained this leading position in one of the most capital and high technology intensive industries.

Tomsk is one of the oldest established centres of industry and learning in the Russian Federation. The city of Tomsk and its surrounding region now face challenging economic and resource utilisation problems. These must be overcome if the pace of devel

A wide gap still exists between Western concepts and their application in the ex-socialist countries during transition. Most Western models in financial management make assumptions about the efficiency and stability of markets and the signals that can be obtained and also assume that traditional accounting information is available and can be used for management purposes. A new paradigm is needed to manage the finance function in a transition economy experiencing hyperinflation since stamdard assumptions are not valid in most ex-socialist countries. This book describes the adaptations of financial techniques as it reviews standard financial concepts and tools, adjusts them when necessary to the unique conditions in the ex-socialist enterprises, and then presents the restructuring context and some strategies that are based on the application of these tools.

Summary edition. The full report analyzes the issues affecting income security for the elderly in both developing and industrial nations. Systems providing financial security for the old are under increasing strain throughout the world. Changing demographics have led to an increased proportion of old people in the general population. Traditional means of support for the old, such as extended families, are weakening. Meanwhile, formal systems, such as government-backed pensions, have proven unstable. For these reasons economists, policymakers, and government officials are exploring ways to address such issues as: *How to ensure financial security for the old and the best ways of paying for such security *The roles of the public and private sectors when systems are used to enhance rather than detract from economic growth. This study, the first comprehensive and global examination of old age security, addresses such issues. It identifies three functions of old age financial security programs--redistribution, saving, and insurance. It evaluates the policy options for meeting these functions using two criteria: their impact on the aged and their impact on the economy as a whole. The study suggests that financial security for the old and economic growth would be better served if governments relied on three systems: 1) A publicly managed system with mandatory participation and the limited goal of reducing poverty among the old 2) A privately managed mandatory savings system 3) A voluntary savings system. These three systems would ensure against the many risks of old age. The study concludes that a combination of different income security policies is more effective than any single approach and that all countries should begin planning for their aging populations now. Published for the World Bank by Oxford University Press. Also available: Averting the Old Age Crisis (Full report) (ISBN 0-19-520996-6) Stock No. 60996; Averting the Old Age Crisis (Spanish edition) (ISBN 0-8213-2844-1) Stock No. 12844; Averting the Old Age Crisis Database (diskettes) (ISBN 0-8213-3032-2) Stock No. 13032; Averting the Old Age Crisis Summary (French) (ISBN 0-8213-3001-2) Stock No. 13001; Averting the Old Age Crisis Summary (Spanish) (ISBN 0-8213-2971-5) Stock No. 12971.