This report addresses the most important challenges facing the Latin America and Caribbean region as it attempts to replace its traditional economic and social structures, including populist institutions, with a modern, efficient, administrative state. The analysis focuses on the political economy of pending reforms and their ramifications. The report discusses (1) recent economic and political developments; (2) systemic issues such as high real interest and unemployment rates and declining export growth; (3) social policies and the need to consolidate macroeconomic stability; and (4) how to define and build the new Latin American state. An appendix provides detailed information on selected country performance.

Why do women in most developing countries lag behind men in literacy? Why do women get less schooling than men? This anthology examines the educational decisions that deprive women of an equal education. It assembles the most up-to-date data, organized by region. Each paper links the data with other measures of economic and social development. This approach helps explain the effects different levels of education have on womens' fertility, mortality rates, life expectancy, and income. Also described are the effects of women's education on family welfare. The authors look at family size and women's labor status and earnings. They examine child and maternal health, as well as investments in children's education. Their investigation demonstrates that women with a better education enjoy greater economic growth and provide a more nurturing family life. It suggests that when a country denies women an equal education, the nation's welfare suffers. Current strategies used to improve schooling for girls and women are examined in detail. The authors suggest an ambitious agenda for educating women. It seeks to close the gender gap by the next century. Published for The World Bank by The Johns Hopkins University Press.

Content Description #Includes bibliographical references (p. ).

International Industrial Networks and Industrial Restructuring in Central and Eastern Europe analyses the role of international industrial networks in industrial restructuring and corporate growth in central Europe, Russia and Ukraine. It shows that two distinct patterns of international industrial integration - domestic vs. foreign led modernisations - have developed in these two regions which have significant effects on patterns of growth and integration of these economies. International Industrial Networks and Industrial Restructuring in Central and Eastern Europe is based on a number of industry and firm case studies which are analysed and interpreted within the current international business and political economy literature. The publication provides valuable insights to managers and policy-makers who are interested in understanding different strategic options for business activity in Central and East European countries. For the academic reader, it offers a new perspective on international, industrial networks in which theories on strategic management and on industry restructuring and corporate growth are merged into a new view of growth and transformation process.

This book provides a coherent analysis of the environmental challenges and achievements in institutional strengthening and policy reform, environmental policy instruments, environmental financing, and environmental management in enterprises in transition countries.

Annotation World Bank Technical Paper No. 346. Although private sector expansion may relieve governments from certain tasks, it also imposes new responsibilities. This paper examines the relative roles of the private and public sectors in the implementation of a two-track strategy for poverty reduction. The first track requires sustained broad-based economic growth that makes efficient use of labor, the main asset owned by the poor. The second promotes investment in people or human resources by ensuring basic social services that are accessible to the poor. Individual chapters examine social safety nets and issues in education, health, population, and nutrition.

"Highly empirical analysis documents increase in poverty and worsening of income distribution during 1980s. Demonstrates that low levels of education increase incidence of poverty and income inequality. Data provided for individual countries. Valuable data reference source"--Handbook of Latin American Studies, v. 57.