World Bank Technical Paper No. 385. MERCOSUR, the Common Market of the Southern Cone, was established to liberalize the movement of goods and services, eliminate customs duties, and coordinate macroeconomic and sectoral polices. Competition policy has been the subject of coordination at the MERCOSUR level. This paper provides an assessment of the legislative and enforcement effectiveness of the competition framework of the four MERCOSUR countries and gives specific recommendations for reform. MERCOSUR, formed in 1991 under the Treaty of Asuncion, currently consists of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay with Chile and Bolivia as associate members.

Air pollution has become part of the daily existence of many people who work, live and use the streets in Asian cities. Each day millions of city dwellers breathe air polluted with concentrations of chemicals, smoke and particles that dramatically exceed World Health Organization guideline values. Deteriorating air quality has resulted in significant impacts on human health and environment in Asia. This book provides a comprehensive and comparative assessment of the current status and challenges in urban air pollution management in 20 cities in the Asian region. It examines the effects on human health and the environment and future implications for planning, transport and energy sectors. National and local governments have begun to develop air quality management strategies to address the deterioration in urban air quality; however, the scope and effectiveness of such strategies vary widely. This book benchmarks these air quality management strategies, examines successes and failures in these cities and presents strategies for improving air quality management in cities across Asia and the rest of our rapidly urbanizing world. Information on air quality in Asia is clearly presented with easy-to-read city profiles, tables and graphs. This is an essential resource for all those concerned with urban air quality management, not just in Asia but in cities across our rapidly urbanizing world. Cities covered Bangkok, Beijing, Busan, Colombo, Dhaka, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Metro Manila, Mumbai, New Delhi, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Surabaya, Taipei and Tokyo

World Bank Technical Paper No. 258. Quality of health care is a complex concept interwoven with value judgments about what constitutes good quality. This lack of linearity partly explains the large number of definitions of the concept of quality an

The steady growth in the number of vehicles on the road, heavy reliance on coal, use of dirty fuels for residential combustion, and extensive open burning are some of the major factors leading to the progressive deterioration of air quality in developing countries in Asia. And despite efforts to establish and implement air quality measurement systems, the development of infrastructure, environmental technology, and management practices continues to lag behind the rate of emission increase. Based on ten years of coordinated research, Integrated Air Quality Management: Asian Case Studies discusses technical and policy tools for the integrated air quality management of developing countries in Asia. The book begins with an overview of major issues of air quality management practices in developing Asia and potential approaches to reduce pollution, including opportunities for integration of air quality improvement and climate migration strategies. It covers the methodology and results of fine particulate matter monitoring using traditional filter-based and satellite monitoring techniques. It examines the applications of a 3D dispersion modeling tool for urban and regional air quality management focusing on surface ozone, fine particulate matter, and acid deposition. The final chapters discuss innovative control technologies for gaseous air pollutants and illustrate the integrated air quality management in developing Asia through case studies for target source categories including agricultural residue field burning, vehicle emissions, brick kilns, and industrial VOC emission. Illustrated with case studies, this book presents an integrated air quality management methodology that employs technical and policy tools to achieve air quality goals. It includes technical information and policy recommendations based on the outcomes of several multi-year air quality research programs coordinated by the Asian Institute of Technology. The text combines fundamental information and advanced knowledge useful to large audiences dealing with subjects of integrated air quality management.

This title was first published in 2002. Environmental degradation resulting from rapid industrialization has become a serious issue for the governments of Southeast Asia. This volume focuses on three interrelated factors in environmental management in Bangkok and other rapidly developing urban areas along the Pacific Rim: government policy and enforcement, non-governmental organization intervention, and community participation.

World Bank Technical Paper No. 266. Critiques both beneficial and detrimental government regulations that affect commodity markets in developing countries. Commodity markets require a regulatory environment that encourages private enterprise

Modern risk management techniques can help countries avoid the financial risks that affect future cash flows and long-term plans. They provide a hedge against profit fluctuations caused by changes in interest rates, exchange rates, and commodity prices. This easy-to-use guide examines the risk management tools developing countries have used successfully, including futures, options, forward contracts, commodity swaps, commodity bonds, commodity linked loans, currency rate swaps, and interest rate swaps. An action plan explains how to use the techniques wisely to avoid costly mistakes. It also describes the economic management and financial regulations countries must have in place before adopting any risk management techniques.

World Bank Technical Paper 245. This document was designed primarily for staff of newly established debt management institutions within governments that are launching borrowing programs, and discusses the entire range of external debt management. Topics include the organizational procedures for negotiating foreign loans and credits, the control and coordination of borrowing decisions, risk management, the administration of new loans, and external debt accounting and statistics. Basic accounting principles are reviewed and the use of computers explored. The authors stress that the government unit with responsibility for meeting future debt service obligations should also play a major role in decisions regarding foreign borrowing. Reporting statistics on external debt is a crucial part of a country's relationship with the World Bank and other donors. The Bank has formal requirements for debt reporting by member nations and accurate accounting is a prerequisite to having loans considered by the Bank's Executive Board. This book is an essential reference for training and technical assistance programs in asset and liability mangement.