The prospect of European integration presents huge opportunities and challenges for the development of non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) in Ukraine. By most measures, the development of the NBFI sector in Ukraine lags far behind that of recent accession countries in Central Europe. To address the main impediments facing the development of the sector, the Ukrainian authorities need to implement a strategy based on six main pillars: 1) strengthen the capacity, independence, funding, and accountability of the NBFI regulators; 2) develop money markets, government bond markets, and municipal bond markets; 3) restructure equity markets; 4) accelerate the introduction of funded pension schemes, and improve transparency and consumer protection in the insurance industry; 5) radically transform corporate governance; and 6) broaden access of NBFI finance.

Discusses the policies, practices and outcomes of privatization in six transition economies: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Slovenia and Ukraine, paying particular attention to cross-country differences and to interrelations between the processes of privatisation and the political transition from communism to a new system.The analysis is restricted to the privatisation in those fields where its methods have been strongly different from privatisations in advanced market economies and where differences of privatisation principles and techniques among our six countries were also rather various. This is basically the privatisation of middle-sized and large enterprises, not including banks, non-bank financial companies, natural monopolies and agricultural entities.

The SME Policy Index is a benchmarking tool designed for emerging economies to assess SME policy frameworks and monitor progress in policy implementation over time.

This review, which was prepared in close co-operation with the Ukrainian authorities, analyses Ukraine’s general framework for investment, as well as recent reforms, and shows where further efforts are necessary.

Examines the key policies that would increase competitiveness in the countries of the region through developing human capital, improving access to finance for SMEs and creating more and better investment opportunities.

The studies contained in this volume demonstrate that despite the economic crisis, there still is much potential in this region and that the measures that need to be taken to realise that potential are feasible and affordable.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of global goals that meet some of the most pressing challenges facing our world today. Goal 10 concerns reducing global inequalities. Inequality is currently seen in the social, political, and economic structures of communities at both the national and international level. The United Nation’s approach to sustainable development is to create a set of goals and targets try to minimize the accelerating gaps of inequality. The book presents new insights for evaluating the progress on SDGs (especially goal 10), it also boldly sets new economic, social and environmental targets for reducing inequality. Using case studies, this book encourages readers to view economic development through the lens of growing inequalities and disparities. Such inequalities are clearly becoming more obvious as the world is better connected, and information is quickly shared. The books main aim is therefore to direct the efforts of scholars, practitioners and policymakers to swiftly find the balance between the three pillars of sustainable development. The main challenges and focus of each chapter are different and collectively they give an integrated understanding of the phenomenon of sustainable development and its diverse aspects. This book will be useful for policymakers, social and environmental activists, agencies, educators and practitioners in the sphere of social or environmental economics. The methodology of the research can be replicated and taken forward by future researchers in the field.

Building on theories of finance and distribution, and the political economy of finance, this book explains the influence of financial cooperatives on wealth and income distribution, and institutional factors that determine the development of financial cooperatives. The book discusses the dynamics of income and wealth distribution with and without financial cooperatives, and defines the economic objective for financial cooperatives. Through explaining the influence of political institutions and regulations on the development of financial cooperatives, this book examines why financial cooperatives grew in some emerging economies and not in other similar ones. The book is of interest to scholars interested in financial economics, political economy of finance, alternative banking and development finance, and banking regulation. The book also gives valuable output to central bankers and financial and monetary policy makers in underdeveloped economies. In addition, it will be of particular interest to practitioners in international development institutions, especially those engaged in development finance and rural finance.

This 2016 Article IV Consultation shows that following a severe crisis in 2014–15, the economy of Ukraine is growing again. The flexible exchange rate and tight fiscal and monetary policies have greatly reduced internal and external imbalances. The current account deficit fell sharply, from more than 9 percent of GDP in 2013 to 3.6 percent of GDP in 2016. The overall fiscal deficit declined to 2.3 percent of GDP in 2016. Growth will remain at 2 percent in 2017 due to the impact of the blockade in the eastern part of Ukraine, but is expected to reach 3 percent in 2018 as the economy adjusts and about 3.5–4.0 percent over the medium term.