This paper explores the non-linear relationship between financial development and economic growth. It mainly relies on the Panel Smooth Transition Regression (PSTR) model of Gonzalés et al. (2005) and three metrics of financial development to endogenously assess the impact of financial...

This paper uses 1-2-3 survey data on the Democratic Republic of Congo to analyze heterogeneity in the informal sector. It empirically identifies three types of entrepreneurs in the sector. The first group of entrepreneurs?top performers -- is growth oriented and enjoys greater access to capital....

How big is the financing gap to achieve the 2030 sustainable development goals (SDGs)? Can private capital fill the gap? This note provides an updated overview of estimates of SDG financing in low- and middle-income countries and gives an analytical and data-based foundation for discussion....

The strong economic performance of Sub-Saharan Africa's resource-rich countries since the start of the 21st century has been celebrated as a return to more buoyant growth and renewed convergence with the advanced economies.Despite the recent progress in improving living standards and reducing...

Sustainability-Linked Bonds (SLBs) – an innovative debt product that incorporates incentivized sustainability targets – are becoming increasingly popular to encourage issuers to improve their sustainability performance. However, existing SLB structures allow issuers to weaken the link...

Sustainability-Linked Bonds (SLBs) – an innovative debt product that incorporates incentivized sustainability targets – are becoming increasingly popular to encourage issuers to improve their sustainability performance. However, existing SLB structures allow issuers to weaken the link...

Sustainability-Linked Bonds - an innovative debt product that incorporates incentivized sustainability targets - are becoming increasingly popular to encourage issuers to improve their sustainability performance. However, existing Sustainability-Linked Bond structures allow issuers to weaken the...

Sustainability-Linked Bonds-an innovative debt product that incorporates incentivized sustainability targets-are becoming increasingly popular to encourage issuers to improve their sustainability performance. However, existing Sustainability-Linked Bond structures allow issuers to weaken the...

This paper analyses the role of good governance in fostering pro-poor and inclusive growth. Using a sample of 112 countries over 1975–2012, it shows that growth is generally pro-poor. However, growth has not been inclusive, as illustrated by a decline in the bottom 20 percent of the income...