The objective of this chapter is to evaluate the theoretical debate on the choice of an exchange rate regime in light of the empirical evidence with a view to suggesting appropriate exchange rate regimes that are conducive for poverty reduction. Due to its obvious implications for poverty, the...

There is now a consensus that economic growth is a dominant determinant of poverty. That is, poverty reduction requires sustained economic growth significantly above the population growth so that per capita income continues to rise. Economic growth raises mean income and reduces the proportion...

High unemployment in most OECD countries seems intractable. The reduction of unemployment rate to an acceptable level requires a growth rate of the economy well in access of the current rate. However, policy makers are uneasy of pursuing an expansionary policy for the fear of igniting...

This research was motivated by current constraints on macroeconomic policy-making in Indonesia. On the fiscal side, the government is burdened with debt and the pressure to maintain social expenditure. On the monetary side, there is a preoccupation with a lower inflation rate which conflicts...

This paper examines the relationship between inflation and real income in Australia, Canada, Finland, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden and the UK which have adopted a "formal" policy of low or zero inflation target. Using cointegration analysis and a vector error correction model (VECM), it is found...

Examines the financial sector reform experience of Bangladesh. Finds that, while there have been some improvements in competition and efficiency, loan defaults still remain a significant problem. Also finds urban bias in loan allocation and shift of resources away from the rural sector. The main...

Where large-scale investments are needed, especially for infrastructure projects, public-private partnerships (PPPs) have been touted as an option. With encouragement by the international financial institutions, PPPs have been promoted in developing countries, especially those facing large...

This paper discusses Uzbekistan’s recent experience with structural shifts and industrial policy, with a particular focus on various industry policy instruments, and its implications for the existing theories of industrial policy. In particular, two major hypotheses are discussed: (1) the...

The past two decades have seen increasing sophistication in software work. Now and in the future, the work of both practitioners and researchers would be helped by a more objective and finer granularity recognition of types of software evolution and software maintenance activities as actually...

This thesis gives a voice to the chronically poor people of rural Bangladesh, enabling them to tell their own stories about the nature of their financial decision making which is taking place within the marketing systems that are operating in all poor villages in the region. Financial decision...