This publication considers the range of financing options available for the design of cost-effective and equitable social welfare systems, giving a thorough analysis of their advantages and disadvantages and their financial and economic implications. Written by practitioners for practitioners, the book discusses the design and maintenance of national social protection systems that seek to ensure effective and efficient use of available resources at the community, national and international levels while supporting long-term economic development. The book explores theoretical and practical policy questions, as well as looking at the policy process that determines the affordable levels of and scope of social protection in a given country.

The first part of the book provides designing a social accounting system. The second part shows how the relationships between the economy and the social protection system can be translated into a quantitative model which permits projections and simulations to be carried out. Includes two concrete country applications.

This report discusses several different approaches that support reforming health care services in developing countries. For some time now, health care services have been supported by government funds. As demands for improving health care services continue to increase additional demands will be placed on governments to respond. This, however, will not be easy. Slow economic growth and record budget deficits in the 1980's have forced reductions in public spending. Alternative approaches to finance health care services are needed. Such possible changes could involve: decentralization of federal government involvement; the promotion of nongovernment involvement; the imposition of user fees; and, establishing health insurance. Finally, the role of the Bank in pursuing new financing strategies is discussed.