Abstract

This paper explores the spillover effects of job losses via input linkages during the Great Recession. Exploiting exogenous variation in tradable employment shocks across U.S. counties, the paper finds that job losses in the tradable sectors cause further job losses in local supporting services. The result is not due to reverse causation, construction job losses, or credit shortages. In addition, the paper finds that logistic supporting services are relatively more affected by local tradable job losses, while professional supporting services, such as information technology and management consulting, are more affected by the job losses in neighboring counties. Document type: Book

Abstract

In May 2005, the Bank adopted a new policy and new procedures on Additional Financing (OP/BP13.20) for investment lending, replacing the previous policy on supplemental financing. This policywas later revised in March 2012. This learning product assesses the performance of the AdditionalFinancing (AF) operations approved since then and draws lessons from their implementationexperience. The assessment focuses on AF in projects of the Transport and Information andCommunication Technology (ICT) Global Practice (GP). This was selected as the first batch ofoperations to review because they represent a large share in lending volume, as well as the fact that there is an existing AF study conducted by the former Transport Anchor which this review coulduse to verify the AF portfolio. This note aims to enhance the understanding of the way it has been used and how it has affected the project outcomes, through reviewing a subset of the AF portfolio for which the relevant data was readily available. The review notes the limitation of the small sample. More areas could be investigated when the data of more projects become available.

Abstract

The Channel tunnel and the Eurostar TGV have been a great chance for the Nord-Pas de Calais Region replacing it in a European and French geography. The accompanying 'Transmanche plan' has provided new infrastructures, regional integration and new opportunities. They permitted the openness to Europe and neighbourhood regions and replace definitely the Region in a European dynamic. Nevertheless, the present changing economic context, new political philosophy and the wear dried up the driving forces. If the development conditions are there it lacks a new vision and a new engine. The restructuration around the Channel tunnel concession, the Port of Calais and the rail market with new operators could be the challenge for a new development for the Kent - Nord-Pas-de-Calais integrated maritime region.; Le tunnel sous la Manche et le TGV Eurostar ont été une grande chance pour le Nord-Pas de Calais le replaçant dans une géographie européenne et française. Le «plan Transmanche" d'accompagnement a fourni de nouvelles infrastructures, l'intégration régionale et de nouvelles opportunités. Ils ont permis l'ouverture vers l'Europe et les régions voisines et de replacer définitivement la région dans une dynamique européenne. Néanmoins, le changement actuel de contexte économique, la nouvelle philosophie politique et l'usure ont tari ces forces motrices. Si les conditions de développement sont là, il manque une nouvelle vision et un nouveau moteur. La restructuration autour de la concession du Tunnel sous la Manche, le port de Calais et le marché ferroviaire avec de nouveaux opérateurs pourraient être le défi pour un nouveau développement pour la région maritime intégrée du Kent - Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

Abstract

This article is motivated by the remarkable observation that children of land-rich households are often more likely to be in work than the children of land-poor households. The vast majority of working children in developing economies are in agricultural work, predominantly on farms operated by their families. Land is the most important store of wealth in agrarian societies, and it is typically distributed very unequally. These facts challenge the common presumption that child labor emerges from the poorest households. This article suggests that this apparent paradox can be explained by failures of the markets for labor and land. Credit market failure will tend to weaken the force of this paradox. These effects are modeled and estimates obtained using survey data from rural Pakistan and Ghana. The main result is that the wealth paradox persists for girls in both countries, whereas for boys it disappears after conditioning on other covariates. Document type: Article

Abstract

Proceedings of 11th International IFIP TC6 Conference, ONDM 2007, Athens, Greece, May 29-31, 2007. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-72731-6_46 Typically, core networks are provided with both optical and electronic physical layers. However, the interaction between the two layers is at present limited, since most of the traditional transport functionalities, such as traffic engineering, switching and restoration, are carried in the IP/MPLS layer. In this light, the research community has paid little attention to the potential benefits of the interaction between layers, multilayer capabilities, on attempts to improve the Quality of Service control. This work shows when to move incoming Label Switched Paths (LSPs) between layers based on a multilayer mechanism that trades off a QoS metric, such as end-to-end delay, and techno-economic aspects. Such mechanism follows the Bayesian decision theory, and is tested with a set of representative case scenarios. The authors would like to thank the support from the European Union VI Framework Programme e-Photon/ONe+ Network of Excellence (FP6-IST-027497). This work has also been partially funded by the IST Project NOBEL II (FP6-IST-027305). Document type: Part of book or chapter of book

Abstract

Despite the increasing attention in recent years to the spatial dimensions of economic development, consideration of the importance of space and the recognition that macro, aspatial perspectives can prove to be misleading are not new. Around the world, much of the disappointment with the outcomes from spatial interventions may be traced to a lack of understanding of how regional economies work. This paper reviews the challenges that the consideration of regions brings into economic analysis. This work provides an overview of some of the key methods and tools that can be used to gain a better understanding of how regional economies work. The review aims to guide practitioners and analysts in the use of tools for regional economic analysis and inform discussion of the challenges regions face and the opportunities on which they can build. Document type: Book

Abstract

This paper benchmarks the quality of project economic analysis in South Asia against other World Bank regions, using data on project exits between 1975 and 2015. The results show that the South Asia region performs on par with the other regions, in that the share of project documents that report estimated economic rates of return have declined from 70 to 36 percent for South Asia and the other regions. This finding suggests there is less attention to project economic analysis (especially for sectors where this has been a traditional practice, such as energy, transport, water, and agriculture). The finding also indicates that the incidence of reporting rates of return in project documents and the dispersion or difference between rates of return estimated at project appraisal and completion are significantly correlated with project performance (after correcting for country- and project-level variables). For the project-level variables, the task team effect is a key variable that explains project outcomes. The paper discusses the implications of the analyses for strengthening project performance and risk mitigation. Document type: Book

Abstract

Two options for supplying geothermal energy to the Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC) at Marlin, Texas were compared. One option is to drill a new production well on the VAMC property, and the other is to construct a 6900-ft pipeline from an existing geothermal well to the VAMC. Technical, economic, regulatory, and institutional issues were examined during the comparison. It was concluded that neither option possesses any significant cost or regulatory advantage over the other. The new well option does involve a risk, probably small, of hitting the expected geothermal resource, whereas the pipeline option involves no similar risk. However, the pipeline option will require right-of-way negotiations and a contractual agreement between the VAMC and the owners of the existing geothermal well. Assuming that a new well is successful, that option appears to be in the best interest of the VAMC. Document type: Report